Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-05
Behind the
Door of
Happiness

The light was poor, the dinner was
heavy, the guests We're dull. Even the
holly was so stiffiy banked around the
massive silver centerpiece that ii failed
TO impart any suggestion of good
cheer. As the young wife listened TO
the slow succession of ponderOus COM
monplaces that passed for CONVERSE
ton, she could think of nothing but the
sound of heavy stones dropping into an
empty well.
I She had hardly noticed it before, but
it struck her now that her husbands
friends were very old, with all the
sparkle and spontaneity of life wrung
out of them. AS her wandering glance
passed from them to him, she realized
fer the first time that he was old, too.
and seemed 10 fit easily into what was.
indeed, the natural setting of his life.
The realization gave her sudden feel
ing OF loneliness. He was where he
belonged, and she alone was an alien
and 4 stranger.
She smiled a little as she listened to
the talk. 1t was characteristic that
they should be discussing Winchester,
it's growth and its prospects; the in
crease in the value of its real estate.
llte VI us lUUuStEleS
There was irony in her smile, but to her
host it expressed only interest and in
terrogation.
rs it possible, Gregory" she heard
him ask her husband, that you have
mt told Mrs. Gregory about the Syndi-
cate"
I'm so stupid about business" she
FASTENED to interpose. Mr. Gregory
prob. bly, knew Id never be able to un-
derstand it"
Perhaps lie was too modesto" said
Mr.. Crane with pompous good humor,
while the women looked their mild
compassion for her avowed ignorance.
Maybe you don't know what Il smart
husband you have, Mrs Gregory?''
The lowered tone expressed 50 much
genuine admiration that the young
wife warmed toward the speaker.
You make me curious about the
Syndicate" she smiled. Perhaps, if
| you put it Very simply, I might
| "Oh. it's like Il story, anyway he
| said indulgtntly. "Winchester is very
proud of the Syndicate. and proud Of
your husband for putting it through.
| 1t was the biggest deal ever accom-
| plshed in these parts, and he orked
| every move of it. Why" he added, his
| enthusiasm breaking through the
veneer OF dignity. why. the Syndi-
| Gates got Il line on every branch of
the shoe industry iii Winchester. 1t
| controls all the raw material, from
hides to buttons. Gregory not only
| drove every other manufacturer out Of
| business. but he has made ii impossi-
| bic for amy other even To go into bust
| ness"
Put how dill he do it," inquired
| Crtgu,y's Wife did he buy them
| out?
| "Nrli. not exactly" laughed her host.
| IL forged ,epl out. .slueezcd en- out.
| made EN- wish they'd never been i'll.
| OF course it took brains, and courage.
| Not one man in 4 million would have
| been daring enough to conceive such a
| gigantic scheme. or cool-headed enough
| to carry ii to success"
| Whatever Mr.. Cranes account of the
| formation Of WincheSter'S great COM
! bination may have lacked. it certainly
| did glowing justice to the ability Of its
promoter; and Mrs. Gregory. rs he
| proceeded. glanced often at her hus-
| band with IL new and curious interest.
! Tho narrator was too absorbed in his
/ story to notice the utter silence with
| which she listened. and she was spared
| the necessity of final comment by the
| general movement to leave the table.
| Later, in Tie stiff and oppressive state
! illness Of the drawing room. she gladly
| escaped the hardships of conversation
| by stccedirg to her hostess polite re-
| quest for little music.
| She sang first Il brilliant and difficult
| aria, feeling that its ostentation would
| appeal to listeners who took such pains
| to make display Of their success.
| Then, catching sight of the holly
| berries that chung rather forlOrnly to
the glitterrIg chandelier she forgot
everything but their suggestiveness for
a moment and broke softly into an old
| hymn she had been wont to sing at
HON" on Christmas Eve:
| 20 little town OF Bethlehem!
| How still see thee lie:
| Above thy deep and droamlesS sleep
| The silent stars go by.
| Yet in thy dark streets Shineth
| The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
| Are mot in thee tonight.
As she sang she felt the incongruity
| Of the spirit of the words with the
| surroundings, and stopped abruptly
at the end Of the stanza. her voice
breaking a little as she turned apollo
| getcally to Mrs Crane.
Tim afraid I'll have to ask you
| to excuse me-" she faltered I'm
feeling little used up tonight
"A brides first meeting with her
husbands friends is always an ordeal.
said her hostess. kindly. Il thought
Iyou looked pale at dinner
| The Gregorys left before the other
Iguests. We'll give them a chance to
Italk us over" he laughed rs they drove
Iaway. Il guess we're too sufficient
for each other. Alice. | thought it
would never end"
1T was pretty long" she assented.
without turning. "Mr. Crane told me
Iabout the Syndicate, Felix
| He laughed pleasantly. of course
he exaggerated it. He gives me more
credit than | deserve"
She turned with an eager movement.
Then it wasn't you
ooh, FIN the Syndicate! I mean
that il hardly justifies Cranes admira =
tjOn."