The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-11-01
TURNING THE
TABLE
BY VIRGINIA LEILA VENT
Copyright, 1905, by Virginia Leila wentz

In the beginning Greta had dreamed
of romantic love and army or navy
officers. That was while her father
lived. When he died, failing to leave
either her mother or her red copper
nothing but the big mansion with tho
enormous mortgage on 1t - Greta,
prompted by her mother, was ready to
marry anything eligible, provided there
vs good, substantial bank account.
=, 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
capital and the infinite trlfles that
make up form and manners In that
arena-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 being
from a world he had never known,
She was rather q 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 tho face Of an
angel, and his love for her was a mute
idolatry. In allahis life, not even on
the dear old New England farm. had
he known anything IKE It.
When John paid OF the mortgage
and settled princely few hundred
thousands on Greta. Mrs. Weston saw
no reason why the patrician feelings Of
herself and daughter should longer be
repressed.
III 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 I'M
speakable kind Of skinned milk
among the social cream, when you
have finished course 1t 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 We'll 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 remlssnesses Of the night be-
fore. For example, 1t appeared that he
hoa OF no
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
MT the table. In fact, he had been a
bull In the china shop from beginning
to last.
to Greta trifie sadly, completely ig-
noring her mother-"just 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-
" In love with his wife. But that very
idolatry helped him in other ways, for
love Is a famous school mistress. He
had mastered big, practical problems
in life, and he was quite confident that
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, her
cheeks more exqulsitely pink her eyes
brighter. But likewise she grew more
and more capricious and manifested
Increased annoyance at his presence.
At first he wondered helplessly. Little
by little the scales began to fall from
bis eyes.
There was copy Of Sichels MA
donna and Child" which hung directly
over the hall mantel. John had bought
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 80 richly colored and
beautiful Absentmindedly he stepped
on her train and ripped the waist seam
ever so slightly. She turned on him
contemptuously when he apologized,
with an anger born Of her condition:
do you mean to keep on begging
pardon all your life7"
ut was little accident, dear. l
wouldn't get angry" he demonstrated
soothingly, at heart very sorry and
very much annoyed at himself.
"Don't call me my dear!" she flashed
back. II despise you! might as well
tell you first as last! r.
"Greta, Gretar' cried Mrs. Weston
warningly. But Greta, for the first
time in her life. was beyond the con-
troll Of expediency.
II can't bear you! / never, never,
never loved you, and now-1 can't even
breathe where you are! oh. If could
never see you again. II could never
see you again. She began to cry and
sob violently, and her mother led her
upstairs.
When Mrs. Weston came down a
half hour later the dinner table, brill