Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-03

ceiver. truly met Miss Spencer.
was the recipient Of her most entranc-
ing smiles; | listened to her modu-
lated voice; I bore her off, willing
captive, from throng Of despairing
admirers; / danced with her. gazing
down into her eyes, with her fluffy
hair brushing my cheek, yet resisted
all her charms and came forth think
ing only of you"
Indeed? Your proof?"
He drew the white satin fan forth
from his pocket, and held it out to-
ward her with mock humility. This,
unbelieving princess. Dispatched by
the fair lady in question to fetch this
bauble from the dressing-room, for
got my urgent errand in the sudden
delight OF finding YOU"
THE case seems fully proved she
confessed, laughingly, and it is sure
ly not my duty to punish the culprit.
What did you talk about? But, pshaw.
l know we'll enough without asking
she told you how greatly she admired
the romance of the west, and begged
you to cab upon her with recital of
your own exploits. Have | not guessed
aright?"
Partially. at least; some such ex-
pressions were used"
"Of course, they always are. do
not know whether they form merely a
part of her stock in trade, or are
spoken earnestly. You would laugh to
hear the tales of wild and thrilling ad-
venture which she picks up. and actu-
ally believes. That Jack Moffat pos
sesses the most marvellous magma
ton for such things. and If | make fun
of his impossible stories she becomes
angry in an instant"
Il am afraid you do not greatly ad-
mire this Miss Spencer"
"Oh. but do; truly l do. You must
not think me ungrateful. No one has
ever helped me more, and beneath
this mask of artifciality she is really
noble-hearted woman. l do not I'M
derstand the necessity for people to
lead false lives. Is it this way in all
society-eastern society, l mean? Do
men and women there continually
scheme and flirt, smile and stab, for
ever assuming parts like SO many play
actors"
1T is far too common" he admitted,
touched by her naive questioning.
What is known as fashionable social
life has become an almost pitiful
sham, and you can scarcely conceive
the relief it is to meet with one utter
~ uncontaminated by its miserable de-
ceits its shallow make believes. 1t is
no wonder you shock the nerves Of
such people; the deed is easily accom-
plished."
But l do not mean to-" And she
looked at him gravely, striving to
make him comprehend. II try SO hard
to be-be commonplace, and-and sat
isfied. Only there is SO much that
seems silly, useless, pitifully con-
temptible that I lose all patience.
Perhaps need proper training in what
Miss Spencer calls refinement; but
why should l pretend to like what l
don't like, and to believe what don't
believe? Cannot one act a lie as we'll
as speak one? And is 1t no longer
right to search after the truth?"
81 have always felt it was our duty
to discover the truth wherever posi-
ble" he said, thoughtfully; yet, l
confess, the search is not fashionable,
nor the earnest seeker popular"
A little trill of laughter flowed from
between her parted lips, but the sound
was not altogether merry.
Most certainly l am not. They all
scold me, and repeat with manifest
horror the terrible things say, being
unconscious that they are evil Why
should l suspect thoughts that come
to me naturally. want to know, to
understand. 1 grope about in the
dark. 1t seems to me sometimes that
this whole world is mystery. | go
to Mr.. Wynkoop with my questions,
and they only seem to, shock him.
Why should they? God must have put
all these doubts and Wonderiugs into