Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-10-03
really don't know each other much

It's got out of the West Hampstead
stage, and come west really; but 1t Is
a little trying when one Is expected to
enthuse over Impossible Madonnas with
woodworking babies in their arms,
and that sort of thing"
Miss Graham looked at her sister
wistfully, but Lady Ellsworth only
laughed
Poor Phyl! Is he trying to educate
you? 1t sounds rather awful"
No, that's the worst of it! He i'm
AGNES the education, artistic feeling,
and all the rest of it, is there. That's
the fault of what mother calls the
Graham manner We've got a knack
of appearing intelligently sympathetic;
and because we are pretty people take
us for granted. Haven't you found
that?"
Lady Ellsworth nodded, and a slight
color rose in her cheeks.
1--WE can't help it," went on Phyllis !;
''but they have a nasty knack of turn
ing round on us when they find us out,
and being generally horrid."
"And you think Mark"
'Oh, he won't find out for ever SO
long. He's very much in love; and l.
well, like him well enough to try and
live up to him, for time, at any rate.
But it's good stretch on ones nerves
to be always on the tiptoe of admira-
ton about things one really does not
care button for. Pm afraid It's the
beauties Of nature that will bowl me
over. A sunset at his majesty's, where
it's well done, Is pretty enough one
in way. But you know, honestly, I'd
rather look at bonnet shop in Bond
street any ddy than ON the finest seem
cry anywhere. I'm afraid it will be a
shock to Mark when he grasps the
fact"
What is he exactly?"
"He's rather ugly, and ridiculously
rich; colonial, you know, proprietor
of mines, and all the rest of 1t. His
manners are not quite like everyone
else's. oh, you need not raise your
eyebrows; it is not In that way mean
at all. Only don't think he'd have
careu the least bit IL I'd been butch
ers or bakers daughter. II he'd
cared for me, he'd have married me
just the same. I'm afraid I'm rather
proud of the fact"
you do care for him, then?" Lady
Ellsworth stopped little toward her
sister and looked into her face.
'I"-Phyllis blushed. well, yes, 1
think do, because, IL did not, l
don't suppose should care whether lie
discovered what shallow little soul
am or not after We are safely mar.
ried."
Clare bent and kissed her sister.
me won't find 1t out If you love him,
Phyl! oh, you don't know how glad I
ann"
Phyllis was startled at her sisters
sudden earnestness. What she had
said was quite true. The four years
difference in their ages had always kept
them apart. Phyllis remembered dis.
tinctly the time when Glare had been
"out" when she herself was in the
schoolroom. She remembered, too, all
the talk she had overheard as to her
sisters successes. Looking back, she
realized that Glare must have refused
many opportunities of brilliant matches.
although she had finally done exceed.
ingly well for herself in marrying Lord
Elmsworth. True, he was nearly TWEEN.
ty years older than Glare; and surely
among those she had refused before
Suddenly Phyllis started. What had
there been at the bottom of Clare's be
ing ordered off to winter at Davos the
year before she married? 1t had never
occurred to the girl. But had there
really been anything the matter with
her sisters lungs?
Glare" she said, impulsively, "tell
me something. Were you really Ill when
you went to Davos that time, or"
Lady Elmsworth laughed outright.
"Or was sent of to be out of some.
body's way, you mean? No, my dear
believe was really III, and before !
went to Davos had never cared two
straws for anyone in my life"
"And-after?"
81 don't know why should tell you,'
saiu Lady Ellsworth. 1--WE never told
anyone. / don't believe anyone ever
guessed except"
Except him. Go on, Clare"
"Oh, there's not much to tell. It's
like everyone else's story, expect; and
you'll only think me fool for remem.
bering all these years. You know how
1 went out. Mother could not, or would
not, come with me. She would have
hated to give up her visits, and the
Riviera, and all that. So she lust
packed me off with dear old Downey.
the governess, you remember. Downey
had always been my abject slave, and
never dreamed of interfering with me
at all.
81 had a good time at Davos when /
first went, but did not do anything
the doctors expected. don't believe
there was much the matter with me
when went, but know | felt rather
bad after I'd been there n month; but
the air had got into my head and did
not care. fiirted and behaved gener.
ally badly all round, until one day met
man had never seen before. He
was not a patient, but had just come
up for the scenery.
81 don't know how it was, but we be-
gan to talk, and liked him. Somehow
wherever l went met him, and IL l
missed him the day seemed blank and
miserable. He lectured me as to my
carelessness about my health, and all
that; and to please him obeyed orders
and took care. Oh, there was nothing
particular; 1t all went on smoothly,
and, l suppose, stupidity enough. We
never even knew each others names. l
used to call him LIE Passant,' and he
called me his Incognita. But l was
idiotically, unreasonably happy, until
one day the doctor said was we'll
enough to go home, and that he would
write the good news to my mother.
II had been crying when met him.
l had realized at once what it all
meant, and what it would be like to 90