The Press., 1904-08-10
~OsNfsNSSNbsOSSO
IN SPITE OF
PREJUDICE
By KEITH GORDON
Coprio,.t. lsos. By 4. O. Mcclure

| mo" said Constance In tone Of
unsuitable conviction as she lay, her
chin propped upon her hands. amid
the subdued richness Of the oriental
| pillows. "No; might love a convict or
I might love Hottenot, but widow
er. never!'t ST ra its
Her cousin, Mary Singleton, prac-
teal young woman more given to jests
than sentiment. eyed her curiously. but
did not speak. .f
"Just fancy" Constance continued,
with scornfui derision. being a mans
| second choice, listening to a rehash
Of his first levemaking! Graciousw
Her tone implied that the thing was
well nigh unimaginable, but her cousin
only laughed bit skeptically and took
the other side OF the question.
do you mean to say that because
person has loved once he - or she,
for that matter-cannOt love again
without feeling that 1t Is rehash Of
the old love?' she asked, with yawn.
my dear girl, you're all wrong! The
second love is simply different mat
ter" 5s4 aH# 4@
1.-THE average human being" she
continued shrewdly, 'fs capable Of q
good many loves. don't at all believe
In these one love individuals-the sort
who mourn forever. you know. That
sort of thing Is simply emotional
poverty" ,fg-f@A
Having delivered herself of this
worldly observation, she glanced at the
clock and began to coil up her lOOsened
hair in q way that signified that it was
time that she went to her room to dress
for dinner. si
"Soulless creature!" taunted Con-
stance, with an indulgent but gently
superior air. Defend widowerS II
you choose, but none Of them for me!'
"You girls with fine sentiments -
Mary retorted teasingly, her hand on
the doorknob, ''are just the ones to
look out for" And she passed out,
smiling, into the hall. A moment later
she opened the door again and. thrust
ing her head into the room. said in an
enigmatical manner:
by the way, Con, be sure to tell
Douglas Stane that when he asks
you'll! Then, before her cousin could
reply, she vanished, slamming the door
behind her. @
Constance. stood in the middle Of the
room for a moment perfectly motion
less, wondering If she could have heard
Alright. Douglas Stane a widower!
nf h0$ vuho In pU
ment. Douglas Stane a widower! And
In the four months in which they had
been growing daily fonder of each 9th
CT she had never before heard the fact
mentioned.
With a quick movement she glided
toward the door and locked 1t. Then,
with her hands clasped with painful
| tightness, she stood in the middle of
the room and repeated with growing
incredulity: "a widower! Douglas
| Stane a widOwery'
"It can't be true-it can't belt
can't bev' she protested, with q moan.
His likeness rose before her-tall
broad and bit stern of face. Then
going hot and cold by turns, she sank
down upon the divan once more and
buried her head in the pillows.
| Her loyerr' That was what her
heart cried out and, though she would
not permit herself to say it, there was
a wild, sweet bliss in the thought
| Subtly she had known 1t almost from
the first But widOwer!
She shivered now at the very remem-
brance of things tl.at had once thrilled
Il hnn %hn of
keen eyes when tLey met hers, the
elusive but unmistakable tenderness of
his touch when he helped her over a
rough place or held her wrap. Time
was when the caress of his glance
made her blood tingle. Now she re-
membered 1t with a sort Of loathing
Had his eyes not softened for some
other woman? ..s
Thus she wrestled with love and pain
until the striking Of the clock reminded
her that the dinner hour was at hand.
Jumping up, she began to dash cold
water over her flushed face and wet
eyes, while she tried to steady hel
surging emotions.
Everything went wrong" she apol.
| ogized when she appeared at the din.
ner table rather Hurried and breath.
less. Couldn't get my hair up right,
hooks wouldn't hook, and buttons
wouldn't button"
Her cousin smiled.
"Methinks the lady doth protest too
much" she thought to herself.
"Dick just telephoned," she announc
ed, feeling rather small and guilty al
Il - Co.
| feverish eyes. HE and Douglas Stane
are coming up after dinner to take M
down 10 the Spouting Rock" hn@-
Constance opened her lips with the
evident intention of declining, but be
fore she could speak her cousin con-
tinued glibly:
ST just accepted for both Of us be
cause knew you would like to co.
Then she continued under her breath:
"Poor old Douglas! Wouldn't like to
hear what she says to him! How shall
I ever make my peace with them,
wOnderf' -Hf s
When, the dinner over, they sat on
the broad piazza In the twilight she
half regretted her prank and decided
to speak. but before her good inten.
ton crystalIized into words Constance
spoke to her, and at the studied indif,
ference Of the latter's voice and the
marked ennui Of her manner all hez
love of mischief returned.
81 never before heard you mention
that Mr.. Stane is widower," she said
p.tttInS her lips with Ole of her fingers
to discourage yawn.
didn't your queried Mary limo
Gently. Perhaps / never did mention
It." Then at the sound Of footsteps on
the gravel she added rather hurriedly,
"Don't lay it up against the poor fell
low, though"
Two dark figures were approaching
from the foot Of the lawn. II Con-
stance jumped at the conclusion that
Douglas Stane was a widower just be-
cause she had said, ''Tell that to Doug
las Stane when he asks you," It was
her own fault tA5f sat