Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-07-09
Prisoners and CaptiVes
-=@=--
BY Il. s. MERRIMAN

| the American minister. Moreover, sho
recollected perfectly the form and fsa-
lures of Matthew Mark Easton.
The occasion was a vast assembly OF
| the fashionable, diplomatic, artistic and
| literary worlds for the collection OF
| money and ideas toward the solution OF
socia! problem. The tickets were guinea
| each; there were choice refreshments at
| a stated and ruinous price soft carpets,
al exhibition of pictures. and the same
of dresses. I believe also that several
gentlemen read papers on the subject un-
der discussion. but that was In the small
room at the end where no one ever went.
CIadd Tyars was there. OF course,
During the last month or two he mad
been going out so much that one almost
expected 20 meet him, just as one ex-
poets to meet certain wellknown faces
at every assembly. Miss Winter saw
him immediately after noticing Matthew
Mark Eas.On, and before long he began
to make his way across the room towarI
her. Wherever they had met during tina
last few weeks, Tyars had invariably
succeeded in exchanging few words
With Miss Winter, seeking her out with
equal persistence, whether Helen Grace
were with her or not IT, az the lady
| opined, he was determined to be-
come one OF their intimate friends.
he displayed no indecent haste, no
undue eagerness; and Ia so doing
he was perhaps following the surest
method. He had not hitherto showed the
slightest desire to cross the line which
separates acquaintance from friendship.
There was mutual attraction existing
between these two capable, practical p,o.
pie, who met tonight as they usually aid
with that heightened nonchalance which
almost amounts to indifference. There
was vacant seat. for wonder, beside
Miss Winter, which Tyars promptly up.
propriated.
"Who," she asked. after few conven-
tiona!ities had been exchanged, lis tina.
gentleman talking to the American min.
lister. and apparently making him laugh
which is, should say, no easy matter? 2"
lie is generally making some one
Easton-Matthew Mark Easton. The
sort of name that sticks In the wheel
work OF ones memory. A name one does
not forget"
"And." added Miss Winter, lightly, "a
face tina. one does not forget. lie inter-
ests me-a little"
Tyars laughed at the qualification i'm
piled by the addition OF the last two
words
THAT il always something" he said
"A small mercy. fIe is one of my great
es. f.iends-may introduce him"
"Certainly," murmured the lady, with
little bow of the head, and then she
changed the subject at once.
"IIelen," she said, "is not here to.
night"
Tyars looked befittingly disappointed.
"She does not always care to leave the
ADMIRAL. and he objects to dissipation on
large scale. Is that not sow he sug-
gested.
"Yes. That is the case tonight"
She wondered little at his intimate
knowledge of Helen's thoughts. but said
nothing. 1t was probable that he heard
this from Oswin. and his singular men,
DRY had retained it.
Miss Grace" said Tyars presently,
has a strong sense of duty. and il un.
conscious Of it. An unconscious sense Of
duty is one OF the best Of human mo-
tivrs. At least it seems so to me-"
Although Agnes Winter was bowling
and smiling to an old lady near at hand,
SHE had followed him perfectly.
"Wel." she answered, "a sense of duty
OF any description Is not a bad thing
in these time. Indeed" she added, turn
ing suddenly toward him. "a motive is
in Itself rather rare. Not many of us
have motives"
Her manner implied as plainly as II
she had spoken it 1--WE are not, all of us.
like you"
There was something In the expression
Of his eyes that recalled suddenly their
first meeting at the precise moment when
he, entering the drawing room, overheard
a remark Of hers respecting himself. 1t
was not an unpleasant expression. but it
led one to feel instinctively that this man
might under some circumstances be what
is tersely called In France. difficult. 1t
was merely suggestion. cloaked beneath
his hgh-class repose of manner, but she
had known many men of his class. some
Of whom had made name in their sew
crnl callings. and this same suggestion
of stubbornness had come beneath her
quick. fleeing notice before. He looked
era ely around the room, as IL seeking to
penetrate the smiles and vapid affecta.
ton.
"Oh," he said placidly. II am not 30
sure. There are good many people who
pride themselves upon steering a clea-
course. The prevailing motive tonight
is perhaps desire to prove a superiority
over ones neghbors, but it is still a mo-
tive"
Miss Winter looked at him critically.
"Remember." she said. warningly, that
this Is my element. The motives Of all
these people are my motives-their pleas
ures my pleasures--their life. my life"
apparently So" he replied, ambigu-
ously.
80 that" she pursued, II am indicted
OF the crime of endeavoring to prove my
superiority over my neighbors."
He laughed in an abrupt way.
mo more than myself"
THAT Is mere prevarlcation." she
persisted, gayly. TELL me. please, in
what particular this coveted superiority
lies"
I'm desire to appear moro aimless
than you are" he retorted. gravely.
IL deny that. l plead not guilty" she
said. II am a person of many motives,
but the many receive their life from one
source. That one source Is an earnest
endeavor to please myself in all things,