Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-12-21
TURNING THE
TABLE
BY VIRGINIA LEILA VENT
Copyright, 1906, by Virginia Leila Wentz
Copyright, 1905, by Virginia Leila Vent

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 a good. substantial bank account.
As far as his physical appearance
went John Selwyn did fairly well. He
was deep chested and broad shoulder
ed and a 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 Il
capital and the infinite trifies 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 world he had never known,
She was rather Il 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 all 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 princely few hundred
thousands on Greta, Mrs. Weston saw
no reason why the patrician feelings of
herself and daughter should longer be
repressed.
eff / may make a suggestion" she re-
marked haughtily one morning at
breakfast. the morning following a 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 course 1t is customary
to lay your knife and fork on your
plate side by side"
$50 sorry. But You see Pm 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 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 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. IL fact, he had been
bull in the china anop from beginning
to last
"Give me little time, dear" he said
to Greta a trihe sadly, completely ig-
noring her mother-Niust q 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 idoiatrous-
" In love with his wife But that very
idoiatry helped him In other ways, for
love is n 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 pretter and prettier, her
cheeks more exquisitcly pink, her eyes
brighter Bat likewise she grew more
and more capricious ana manifested
increased annoyance at his presence.
At first he wondered helplessly, Little
by little the scales began to fall from
his eyes
There was copy of Sichers MA
Gonna and Child" which hung directly
over the hall mantel. John had bought
the picture because he fancled 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 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 lifef"
at was a little accident, dear. /
wouldn't get angry" he demonstrated
soothingly, at heart very sorry and
very much annoyed at himself.
Don't call me my donrp" she flashed
back i uo'".-e ..se you! 1 might as well
III you first as last! T.
"Greta, Greta" cried Mrs. weston
warnlngly. But Greta, for the first
time in her life, was beyond the con-
troll OF expediency.
81 can't bear youi / never, never,
never loved you, and now-l can't even
breathe where you are! Oh, II | could
never see you again, If / could never
see you ugalnw She began to cry and
sob violently, and hey mother led her
upstairs.
When Mrs. Weston came down n
| half hour later the dinner table, bril-
dantly lighted, cleaning with damask
and silver, was still untouched. John,
who sat bowed In surprise and crushed
grief, slowly raised his head. There
was pause. The thought that occur
red to Mrs. Weston was that he was
sitting while she was standlng-a dis
| tlnct NlOlHtlOn Oh elluucltc. hb ioi
| hIm-wel he was thinking of other
things Bewldcredly, he brushed away
a heavy lock that had fallen over his
| forehead
"She said"-be stopped, his voice was
husky-"she said she'd never cared for
me-" He swallowed hard again. "Nev-
| er-is that trueY
The woman was frightened. She felt
| the sudden iron OF his will and was
spcechless.
Answer me. Is itT' His command
rang out like n pistol shot, and dan
gerous CLEAN lay level In his eyes
"Yes," she admitted, utterly thrown
| Off her guard.
"At least" he said finally, and his
voice sounded miles and miles away,
1--WE have the truth Mt last. Now we
may understand each other"
From that time on Greta was as
| completely ignored AK If she had been
the bisquc shephcrdess on the drawing
room cabinet From being everything
IN the house she and her mother had
suddenly become nothing Ii was al
| most as II they were remaining there
| like the maids on two weeks notice.
nnc ,uornfut, fhpv told him that hlg