The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-12-01


omeers That was while her father
lived. When he died failing to leave
either her mother Or her a red copper
nothing but the big mansion with the
ENORMOUS mortgage ON It = Greta
prompted bJ her mother, was ready to
marry anything eligible. provided there
gEas a good ubstantial bank account
As far az his physical appearance
went John SelyFyn did fairly well. Hs
was deep chested and broad shoulder
ed and bit above medium height. Hfs
chin was drm, hts mouth was sensitive
and his eyes were dark and quiet. IL
big. practical things, in the hnanci1
world, in mines and stock markets ht
was at home. In the nrenn of more
cIrcumscribed things-society with
capital and the Infinite tribes that
make up form and manners in that
arena-he humbly acknowledged that
be was out of place.
AZ 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 al rare gems. Her lovely.
delicate face was to him the face Of an
angel, and his love for her was a mute
idolatry. In all his life, not even on
the dear old New England farm, had
be known, any thing like It.
When John paid of 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 he
repressed
6'If may make suggestion she re
marked haughtily one morning az
breakfast, the morning following n 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 y"l
have nnIShed a 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 humbIy-
".oh, we know" observed Mrs. Yves
ton Jelly, 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, 1t appeared that he
had offered the wrong arm to the lady
whom he took In to dinner; he hao
shaken hands when he should nod and
failed to shake when he should; he
hadn't taken the right seat In the car
rage; he hadn't risen when the ladies
left the table. In fact he had been
bull In the china shop from beginning
to last.
@GIvS me a little time, dear" he said
TO Greta trihe sadly, completely ig-
noring her mother-'tjust a little time
and I'll promise you won't be ashamed
Of me"
reared mdfgnIfed 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.
PatheticaIly enough, however, his
rapid daily Improvement passed all IN
noticed in the eyes OF his young wife.
She grew prettiRr and prettler' her
cheeks more e1quisitely pink, her eyes
brighter. But likewise she grew more
and more caprIcIous and manifested
Increased annoyance at his presence.
At hrst he wondered helplessly- Little
by little the scales began to fall from
his eyes.
There was a copy of SicheFs ma
donna and Child which hung directly
over the hall nantel. John had bought
the picture because he fancied the Ma
donna resembIed Greta. One evening
following his wife into dinner, the fan
cfed likeness struck him with renewed
force-she was so richly colored and
beautiful! Absentmindedly he stepped
| on her train and ripped the waist seam
| ever 80 slightly. She turned on MIN
CONTEMPORARY when he apologized
with an anger born of her condition:
'.Do you mean to keep on begging
pardon all your nfeF"
eft was a little accident, dear.
wouldn't get angry" he remonstratet
| aoothingIy, at heart very sorry ant
very much annoyed at himself.
Don't call me my dearP" she hashet
back. "I despIse you! might as wei
tell Won frst as lastI r.
4'Greta, GretaH' cried Mrs. Weston
| vyarninRly. But Greta, for the frs
time in her life. was beyond the con
troll of expedIency.
| ct cant baRr you! never, never
never loved you, and now-I can't even
breathe where you are! oh, If coult
never see you again, If could neve
see you againr' She began to cry ant
sob violently, and her mother led he
upstairs.
half hour later the dinner table, bril-
lIantly lighted. cleaning with damasl
and silver was still untouched. John