Smyrna times., 1905-11-08
TURNING THE
TABLE
By VIRGINIA LEILA WENTZ
Copyright, 1905, by Virginia Leila Wentz

either her mother or her a red copper
nothing but the big mansion with the
enormous mortgage on it =. Greta,
prompted by her mother, was ready to
marry anything eligible, provided there
was good, substantial bank account.
AS far as his physical appearance
went John Selwyn did fairly we'll. He
was deep chested and broad shoulder.
ed and bit above medium height. His
chin was firm, his mouth was sensitive
and his eyes were dark and quiet. In
big, practical things, in the financial
world, in mines and stock markets he
was at home. In the arena of more
circumscribed things-society with a
capital $ and the infinite trifles that
make up form and manners in that
areEa-he humbly acknowledged that
he was out of place.
AS for Greta Weston-well. the
young creature whom God permitted
him to call wife was to John a being
from a world he had never known!
She was rather a pretty girl and cul
tured, but to him she was fairer than
lilies, sweeter than roses. more pre-
cious than all rare gems. Her lovely.
delicate face was to him the face of an
angel, and his love for her was mute
idolatry. In ali his life, not even on
the dear old New England farm, had
he known anything like it,
When John paid off the mortgage
and settled a princely few hundred
thousands on Greta, Mrs. Weston saw
no reason why the patrician feelings of
herself and daughter should longer be
repressed.
IF may make suggestion" she re-
marked haughtily one morning at
breakfast, the morning following din
ner at which Johns ignorance of table
etiquette had marked him as an un.
speakable kind of skinned milk
among the social cream, when you
have finished a course it is customary
to lay your knife and fork on your
plate side by side'
$50 sorry. But you see I'm not much
used began John humbly.
"Oh. we know" observed Mrs. Wes-
ton icily, "but Wen do what we can to
polish you, at least to save you from
being ridiculous" And then, with his
permission, she began to point out to
him his remissnesses of the night be-
fore. For example, it appeared that he
had offered the wrong arm to the lady
whom he took in to dinner; he had
shaken hands when he should nod and
failed to shake when he should; he
hadn't taken the right seat in the car
riage; he hadn't risen when the ladies
left the table. In fact, he had been a
bull in the china shop from beginning
to last.
"Give me little time, DEAR" he said
to Greta a trifie sadly, completely ig-
noring her mother-'just a little time
and I'll promise you won't be ashamed
of me-"
If during this scene the man ap-
peared undignified and weak 1t must
be remembered that he was idolatrous
ly in love with his wife. But that very
idolatry helped him in other ways, fol
love is a famous school mistress. He
had mastered big, practical problems
in life, and he was quite confident thai
he could conquer these smaller ones.
Pathetically enough, however, his
rapid daily improvement passed all un
noticed in the eyes of his young wife
She grew prettier and prettier, he
cheeks more exquisitely pink, her eye
brighter. But likewise she grew NOR,
and more capricious and manifested
Increased annoyance at his presence
At first he wondered helplessly. Littl
by little the scales began to fall iron
his eyes.
There was a copy of Sichefs "Ma
donna and Child" which hung directl.
over the hall mantel. John had bough
the picture because he fancied the Ma
donna resembled Greta. One evening
following his wife into dinner, the fan
cied likeness struck him with renewed
force-she was so richly colored ant
beautiful Absentmindedly he steppe'
on her train and ripped the waist sean
ever SO slightly. She turned on hir
contemptuously when he apologized
with an anger born of her condition:
'Do you mean to keep on begin
pardon all your lifeT"
at was a little accident, dear.
wouldn't get angry" he demonstrate
soothingly, at heart very sorry an
very much annoyed at himself.
Don't call me my dearp" she fiashe
back. 81 despise you'll might as we
tell you first as last! T.
"Greta, Gretar' cried Mrs. Westo
warningly. But Greta, for the firi
time in her life, was beyond the col
troll of expediency.
81 can't bear you! l never, neve
! never loved you, and now-I can't eve
breathe where you are! oh, if l cou
never see you again, if l could new
see you again!' She began to cry al
$ sob violently, and her mother led h
upstairs.
! When Mrs. Weston came down