The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-05-13
summer, and Alice, although neitae,

uaCiouS, AFRAID OIL lOtnlnR she a re
covered partial health to find hersel
r~elegated, by the more timid and retir
ing Laura's overmastering tenderness!
and solicitude, to a niche she by nc mean:
lifted, from which she lOnged to escape
Gradually she became partially recon
ciled to her position of housekeeper anc
homemaker for "the firm" as Laura
merrily called their association, she hao
never allowed Laura to suspect that she
too, would have loved to enter the bread
winning arena, to become happily self
supporting.
With the coming Of success to Laura
her life had grown less physically ardu-
Gus. She no longer performed the prac-
teal work Of housekeeping or darned
stockings. But she had known no in
creased happiness because of the un-
wonted ease and indulgence. And with
the advent of the little fortune that had
placed both beyond the need OF financial
restrictions or limitations, heT occupa-
ton had finally vanished. She was no
longer necessary, even to Laura, who
might now order gowns and furniture
without thought Of economy, whose time
was now at her own disposal. Hence
forth she devoted her efforts to philan-
thropic endeavOr and was very useful
but no happier. And her thoughts, not
unnaturally, turned back to Jim Benson
now and then.
He had been her first and only lover.
Her first, because he had loved her from
childhood, her only lover because she
would allow no other. And Laura, as he
had said, had quietly but potently kept
them apart.
Time, meanwhile, had done much for
Jim Benson. The unfortunate relatives
had disappeared from sight and COgniz-
ance, he had successfully ccmbated pov-
renown as a war hero. But none OF
these changes, while perfectly apparent
to Laura's intellect, had touched her
heart in the slightest.
She, herself, had been long untouched
by playful Cupid. Her whole soul and
heart had been bent to the work of pro-
viding ~splendidly for Alice, of winning
professional success. The coming of the
money that had lifted her beyond the re-
gions of struggle had also caused her real
disappointment, since Alice no longer
needed her devoted ministratiOns. The
firm and determined resolve to keep
Huntley at a distance-for the
sake of Alice-had taken the place of the
earlier idea of self-sacrifice. But never
until tonight had she dreamed that her
heart had suffered ~unknowing implica-
ton. Tonight, leaning Back in the
low chair over which he had bent in
leaving, she knew that she was in love.
ITO think of it," she sighed and smiled,
half satirically. in love at So, and for
goodness knows now long, too. |, who
have diagonsed-and treated-so many
owe cases, to be in love myself and so
suddenly learn it. But, of course, l shall
have to put this madness quite into the
background tomorrow, and no one will
know"
Why" her own heart, strangely in
kept asking.
alice" her mind made reply.
Then, too, although she would not for
have owned this, her pride suf-
cred at the thought of lowering her
g-launted flag Of preferred maiden
God. Could she, who had so long be-
herself far removed from any soft
ming touch of this pure human weak
tess. consent to capitulate, to yield?
In the end she, too, cried herself to
leep like a lonely child, and woke, in the
forming, to smile bitterly at ~vagaries
nd the tears of the previous evening,
. resolve never, never to desert Alice,
would never consent, she felt sure,
share a married home with her, SO
ong as she retained her reason. Her
cart ached sorely, at bottom, but a
ense of exaltation upheld her; the men,
al composition of the kindly but decided
that should prevent Arthur Hunt
sys coming strengthened and nerved
er. She went down to breakfast quite
aim and steady. but SO distracted and
that she failed to notice
err sisters similar state of mind.
Each woman, although %ostensibly
usied with the morning papers, thought
nd saw little but a mans dear face.
aura, with a swiftly depressed tender
was thinking how tender and
lanly was the man she would presently
end from her forever; how unlike the
,ss noble men of her common acquaint-
nee. How very different, with a quick
atural transition of feeling, from the
men who had sc long wished to
larry Alice, who had
Il saw Jim Benson yesterday" she
aid, suddenly. 4 suppose he is in town
Or the winter.
YES" answered Alice, once more
lushing and qufyering in that long-for-
often girlish manner, "he-he was hereI
lst night before you came home"
Gle was. was he? Still faithfully" be-
Laura, in the light, half-railing tone
he always used when speaking of Jim
But she stopped, speeches.
18th amazement, at sight of her sisters
yes.
Yes" answered Alice, bravely. al
aough the hand holding her coffee cup
rembled, he was, and-I may as well tell
gu Laura, although / don't know how
o-that newell, Laura, he wants me to
!, a v.rS Mn opJ y - 80 ~ L. x~...,a K H@M