The Somerset reporter., 1904-04-21
IN SPITE OF
PREJUDICE
By KEITH GORDON
COPYRIGHT, 1908. By T. c. Mcclure

NO" said Constance in a tone of
unshakable conviction as she lay, her
chin propped upon her hands, amid
the subdued richness of the oriental
pillows. NO; l might love convict or
| might love a Hottenot, but a widow
er. never.'
Her cousin, Mary Singleton, a prac-
teal young woman more given to jests
than sentiment, eyed her curiousy. but
did not speak.
Just fancy Constance continued,
with scornful derIsion, being a mans
second choice, listening to rehash
of his first loyemaking! Gracious"
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
d person has loved once he = or she,
for that matter-cannot love again
without feeling that it is a rehash of
=
My dear girl you're all wrong The
second love is simply a different mat
ter"
The average human being" she
continued shrewdly, lis capable of a
good many loves. don't at all believe
in these one love indiyiduals-the sort
who mourn forever, you know. That
sort Of thing is simply emotional
poverty"
Having delivered herself of this
worldly observation, she glanced at the
clock and began to coil up her loosened
hair in way that signitied that it was
time that she went to her room to dress
for dinner.
"Soulless creature" tainted Con
stance, with an indulgent but gently
superior air. Defend widowers If
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
your' 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 widowerl
For of course that was what Mary
ment. Douglas Stane widower! And
In the four months In which they had
been growing daily fonder Of each 9TH
or she had never before heard the fact
mentioned.
With a quick movement she glided
toward the door and locked it. 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 widowerw
at can't be true-it can't bet
can't be-" she protested with a 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 lover" That was what her
heart cried out, and, though she would
u wild, sweet bliss in the thought
Subtly she had known 1t almost from
the first But a widower!
She shiyered now at the very remem-
branee OF things that had once thrilled
her-the unconscious softening of his
keen eyes when they met hers, the
elusive but unmistakable tenderness of
his touch when he helped her over n
rough place or held her wrap. Time
was when the caress of his glance
made her blood Jingle. Now she re
membered it with sort of loathing
Had his eyes not softened for some
other woman?
Thus she wrestled with love and pain
until the striking of the clock reminded
her that the dinner hour was ut hand.
Jumping up she began to dash cold
water over her flushed face and wet
eyes. while she tried to steady her
surginE 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 as
she noted Constances flushed face and
teverish eyes. lie and Douglas StanC
are coming up after dinner to take US
down to the Spouting Rock"
Constance opened her lips with the
evident intention Of declining but be
fore she could speak her cousin con-
tinued glibly.
Il Just accepted for both of us be
cause | knew you would like to ge.'
Then she continued under her breath:
Poor old Douglas, Wouldn't ! like to
hear what she says to him How shall
l ever make my peace with them, l
wonder?"
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 crystallzed into words Constance
spoke to her, and at the studied indif
ference of the latters voice and the