Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-04-12

Mss Winter, which Tyars promptly ap-
propriaIeG.
Who" she asked, after a few conven-
tiona!ities had been exchanged SIS thar
gentleman talking to the American min
lister, and apparently making him laugh,
which IS | should say, no easy matter"
lie is generally making some one
laugh" replied Tyars. His name is
Easton-Matthew Mark Easton. The
sort of name that sticks in the wheel
work OF ones memory. A name one does
not forget
''AnG," added Miss Winter, lightly, "a
face. that one does not forget. He inter
ests me-a little"
Tyars laughed at the qualification i'm
piled by the addition of the last two
words
THAT is always something" he said.
a small mercy. He is one of my great
es- f-iends-may l introduce him?"
Certainly" murmured the lady, with
a little bow of the head, and then she
changed the subject at once.
'IIelen," she said, is not here to-
night
Tyars looked befttingly disappointed.
''She does not always care to leave the
admiral, and he objects to dissipation on
a large scale. Is that not so?' he sug-
gested.
Eyes. That is the case tonight
She wondered a little at his intimate
knowledge of Helen's thoughts, but said
nothing. 1t was probable that he heard
tilis from Oswin, and his singular mem
DRY had retained it.
Miss Grace" said Tyars, presently,
has strong sense of duty, and is I'M
conscious of it. An unconscious sense of
duty is one of the best of human mo-
tives. 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.
WELL" she answered, "a sense of duty
of any. description is not a bad thing
in thesa 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 if
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 a suggestion, cloaked beneath
his high-class repose of manner, but she
had known many men of his class. some
OF whom had made name in their sew
era callings, and this same suggestion
of stubbornness had come beneath her
quick, feeting notice before. He looked
gravely around the room, as if seeking to
penetrate the smiles and vapid affecta-
ton.
ooh" he said placidly, 81 am not so
sure. There are good many people who
pride themselves upon steering a clear
course. The prevailing motive tonight
is perhaps a desire to prove a superiority
over ones neighbors, but it is still 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.
$50 that" she pursued, "I 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 a mere prevarication," she
persisted, gayly. Tell me, please, in
what particular this coveted superiority
| lies"
I'm a desire to appear more aimless
than you are; he retorted, gravely.
II deny that. / plead not guilty" she
said. Il 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,
| to crowd as much pleasure and as much
excitement into lifetime as it will hold
"Then," he said, after a pause, you
are only one of the crowd after ALL"
THAT is all, Mr.. Tyars. Did you ever
suspect me of being anything else?''
Il believe l did" ne replied, with a
more direct gaze than is allowed by the
dictates of polite society.
She returned the gaze with serenity.
'',Then please get rid of the idea," she
| said. significantly.
There was a short pause, but it was
not the silence of people who have moth
! ing more to say to each other. 1t was too
tense, too restless for that.
Shall l." inquired Tyars, rising sud
denly, go and find Easton? / should
like you to know him"
i shall be most happy" she said, with
one of her gracious little bows. AS he
moved away she called him back almost
as if she were loath to let him go, as if
| there were something still left unsaid
between them.
Tell me-" she said in a gayly conf
dent tone, before you go. what is his
speciality. 1 always like to know stran,
gers chief characteristic, or, if he has
no characteristics his particular hobby
whether, l mean. he is a botanist or q
yachtsman, a fisherman or a politician
1t is so much more convenient, you IN
derstand to know beforehand upon what
topic one must conceal ones ignorance
Miss Winter" he said deliberately
you have not found out my particular
hobby or my chief characteristic yet"
Not yet" she admitted.
Il think" he said, that Easton has
no hobbies. His speciality is eloquence
He could almost persuade a certain stub
born quadruped to part with his hind
legs. He was destined by the positive
department of Providence for an orator
but the negative department, with its
usual discrimination, gave him a weak
chest, and therefore he is nothing"
Thank you," she said. Now l know
something of him. l have to conceal
beneath wretched smiles the fact that
know absolutely nothing of American
commerce, American politics or oratory
l wonder she added, as an afterthought
whether there is anything he can per
suade me into doing?"
He might suggested Tyars, 'per-
suade you into the cultivation of a mo
| tive
Then he turned and left her. Matthew
Mark Easton saw him approaching, and
broke off rather suddenly a waning con
versation with his minister.
"Easton" said Tyars, come here.
want TO introduce you to Miss Winter
Miss Winter" returned the American
'ominous name. Who is she?"
she is a person of considerable il
fuence in the Grace household. Do you
| understand? 1t is in Miss Winters DOW.