Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1906-12-20
FRESH MIR IN A GREENllousE:.

.,y'S bell. was taken through the draw
ing room into hat sane library. The
curtains over the double doorway be
'""en the TWO rooms We're almost
! drawn. She presently entered from the
hall. ! admired the picture she made
In the d~oorway-hcr big hat, her EN-
broidercd dress of white cloth. and that
small. sv Get. old face OF hers. And
as | looked. ! knew that nothing. moth
ing-no. no; ever her wish. her com
mand-couid stop me from trying to
make her my own. That resolve must
have shown in my FACET or the pas
sion that inspired it--for She paused
and paled.
What is ito" | asked. Are you
afraid OF me-"
She caIne Onward proudly. a fine
scorn i'm her eyes. NO." she said. But
II you knew. you might be afraid of
me-"
II am confessed. Il am afraid of
you because you inspire in me a feel
ing that is beyond my control. I've
committed many fnllies in my life
! have moods in which it amuses me to
defy fate. But those follies have al
ways been of my own willing. You
Il laughed-'you are II folly for me-.
But one that compels me"
She smiled-!lot discouragingly-and
seated herself OH II Tiny sofa in the
corner. "A curiously impregnable in
t~renchmcnt. as | ~noted-for my impulse
was to carry her by storm. 1 WAS as
-onished at my own audacity: l was
wondering where my fear of her had
gone. my awe of her superior fineness
and breeding. Mama will be down
IN n few minutes" she said.
II didn't come to see your mother"
replied /. II came to see YOU"
She flushed. then froze-and 1 thought
1 had once more got upon" her nerves
with my rude directness. How eagerly
sensitive our nerves are to had I'M
%pressions OF n we don't know. and
how coarsely insensible to bad impress
sions of n we do like.
Il see I've offended again. as usual"
said j. You attach so much import
ance to petty little dancing-master
tricks and c%aperings. You live-always
have lived-in an artificial atmosphere.
Real things act on you like fresh air on
a dollhouse flower"
You are-fresh air." she inquired,
with laughing Sarcasm.
Il am that" retorted l. And good
for you--.4s you'll find when you get
used to me-"
1 heard voices in the mex room
her mothers and some MANS. We
waited until 1t was evident we were
not To he disturbed. AS I realized that
fact and surInised its meaning. 1 looked
triumphantly at her. h drew furth-
er back into her corner. II the al
most stern %firinness of her contour told
me she had set her teeth.
II see you are nerving yourself" said
/ with Il laugh. You are perfectly
certain l am going to propose to YOU"
She famed scarlet and half started
up.
Your mother-in the next room-ex-
poets it, too" l went on, laughing ever
more disagrceably. Your parents need
m~oney-they have decided to sell you,
their only large income producing as
set. And ] am willing to buy. What
do you say"
l was blocking her way out OF the
n vas standing. her breath
coming fast. her eyes blazing. You
are-frightful..' she exclaimed in a low
voice.
Because / am frank. because I am
honest? Because l want to put things
on IA sound basis" l suppose. If l came
lying n pretending. and let you lie
II pretend. you would lind me-almost
tolerable. Well. I'm not that kind.
When there's nc especial reason one
way or the other. I'm willing TO smirk
and grimace and dodder and driyel.
like the rest Of your friends, those
ladies and gentlemen. hui when there's
business to be transacted. / am bus
mess like. Let's not begin with your
tuitiAihk YOU aIe uecelN1hB ule. and 80
hating me n despising me and try
ing to keep up the deception. Let's be-
gin right"
She Was listening: she was no longer
longing to fly from the room: she was
curious. I knew 1 had scored,
I'm any event" l continued" Won
would nave married for money. You've
been brought up to 1t. like all these
girls of your set. You'd be miserable
without luxury. IL YOU had vonr
choice between o V without luxury and
luxury without love. it'd be as EASY ID
foretell which you'd 90 as to foretell
how Il starving poet would choose be.
tween u loaf of bread and a volume OF
poems. You may love love; but Won
o v iife-your kind of life-better!"
She lowered he head. 1T il true
she said. 1T is low and vile. but IL /,
true"