Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-02-13

capital 8 and the infinite trifles 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 a being
from world he had never known!
She was rather pretty girl and cul'
tured, but to him she was fairer than
lilies, sweeter than roses, more pre-
cions 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 1t.
When John paid of the mortgage
and settled a princely few hundred
thousands on Greta, Mrs. Weston saw
no reason why the patrlcian feelings of
herself and daughter should longer be
repressed.
''If may make suggestion" she re
marked haughtlly one morning at
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 you
have finished n 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 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 relnissnessei 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; lie 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 trife sadly, completely ig.
norlng her mo.her-'just lt..e time
and ri promise You won't be ashamed
Of me-"
IL during this scene the man ap-
peared undignined and weak II must
be remembered that he was ido!atrous
ly In love with his wife. But that very
idolatry helped him in other ways. foi
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 hel
cheeks more exquisitely pink. her eyes
brighter. But likewise she grew more
and more capricious and manifested
increased annoyance ut his presence
At first he wondered helplessly. Little
by little the scales began to fall from
his eyes.
There was a copy Of Sichel's Ma
donna and Child" which hung direct!
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 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 conditions:
"Do you mean to keep on begging
pardon all your life?"
"It was 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 dear!" she flashed
back. II despise you! might as well
tell you first as last! r.
"Greta, Gretaw cried Mrs. Weston
warningly. But Greta, for the first
time in her life, was beyond the con-
troll Of expediency.
81 cant bear you! I never, never
never loved you. and now-I can't even
breathe where you are! Oh, If could
uever see you again, II I could never
zee you again. She began to cry and
sob violently, and her mother led hef
upstairs.
When Mrs. Weston came down q
half hour later the dinner table. bril-
llantly lighted, cleaning with damask
and silver, was still untouched. John
who sat bowed in surprise and crushed
grief, slowly raised his head. There
was a pause. The thought that occur
red to Mrs. Weston was that he was
sitting while she was standing-a dis.
tinct violation of etiquette. AS fol
him-well, he was thinking Of Other
things. Bewilderedly, he brushed away
q heavy lock that had fallen over biz
forehead.
"She said"-he stopped, his voice was
husky-"she said she'd never cared for
me-" He swallowed hard again. "Nev-
er-is that trueT
The woman was frightened. She felt
the sudden iron Of his will and was
speeehless.
Answer me. Is Ii" His command
rang out like q pistol shot, and dan
gerous CLEAN lay level in his eyes.
"Yes," she admitted, utterly thrown
of her guard.
"At least" he said finally, and bis
voice sounded miles and miles away,
1--WE have the truth at last. Now we
may understand each other"
From that time on Greta was al
completely ignored as II she had been
the bisque shepherdess on the drawing
room cabinet. From being everything
In the house she and her mother had
suddenly become nothing. 1t was al'
most as II they were remaining there
like the maids on two weeks notice.
One morning they told him that Ms
wife was calling for him. They led him
into O cool, dim room. When he be-
came accustomed to the half light he