Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-10-17
CHAPTER XXIV.
WHEY strolled about together in the nearby woodland in the
 late summer afternoon. There

lilc "DOtlluuu III tue
 late summer afternoon. There
 \ was so much still that had to be gone over and explained; yet Kin ross found himself quite neglecting the prosaic details which ought to have been discussed and, dwelling upon the far more absorbing theme of the girl herself, leading her skillfully to those | fascinating self revelations wEich she made with such childlike openness and which, because of her refreshing and unique gcnuineness, set her apart in his fancy from all the rest of her false, artificial sex" Yet just now as she walked at his side there was vague sense of disap- pointment in his heart. His explana- tion, given to her while they walked. of her aunt's noble courage in at once giving up the fortune to her without hesitation or protest and her readiness to return to comparative poverty did not bring the response he had hoped for-an offer to share with the elder woman her quite superfiuous thou sands. He tried not to blame her in his heart for this, but to attribute it to her ignorance both of money and of what the tie of blood meant. All would come right, he was sure, when she had had little experience of life if (and it was large if the sudden reaction from life of self abnegation to one of power and luxury did not make her selfish.
 He was puzzled at the indifference she manifested when he tried to draw her into any talk of her prospective new life. Not indifference only; it seemed actually to make her sad. One would suppose she would delight in dwelling upon the glOries that awaited her Had she not extolled in her out burst to Abe her freedom to roam at large "o'er all this scene of man?"
 What is it." he suddenly questioned her. Does your heart fail you at the strangeness of it all? But a girl that can brave ghost ought to have cour- age to cope with mere mortals."
 She did not reply
 Think of it." he urged. ''the world is before you, with youth, wealth, freedom, and" Should he put the idea into her unspoiled mind G-''and you're not bad looking, either, Eunice, and that means lot to q woman"
 She lifted her dropping head and scanned him from head to foot. He, too, was not bad looking
 Does it mean more to a woman than to man?"
 Its everything to a woman. A man-only so he hasn't a hump" he shrugged.
 Do you mean that is your opinion, or only the opinion of the world?"
 He smiled The mere world-as over against me? fear you exagger- ate the importance of my opinions Well, never seriously asked myself the question before; but. now that it's put to me, yes. do think good looks essential to woman. Why, natural lyw
 Essential? Essential to what?"
 ITO her being interesting and attrac- tive"
 -Inere was George Eliot, you know. At least suppose you know"
 "Oh. of course when a woman is a genius"
 The Creeks thought manly beauty not the feminine-the highest type.'
 She was such a combination, he in wardly smiled, of ignorance and learn ing
 "Oh. but the Greeks. That was awhile back already. ais Pop Morning. star would say"
 Mere prettiness seems to me of lit- tie moment"
 Tt is. That isn't what I mean. But a woman must he interesting looking, not guy. She must he pleasing"
 You mean in order to attract the maleT'
 He couldn't help it. He bent back his head and laughed. You think that of little moment. too?' he asked. quick ly sOoering as he met her astonish- ment But" he shrugged again. ''it seems to be what they're all occupied in doing"
 Are theyT' she asked in the wistful way she had of appealing to him.
 'It is pItiable. I suppose. But. then" he lifted his eyebrows. what would you have them bc at:'
 Ho told me. the career of a student and teacher rather than a domestic life"
 My GeOrgiana?" he repeated in con Now. why. may inquire. do you call her mine?"
 You said you loved her" she an- swered faintly. her eyes on the ground
 "Oh"' he nodded. enlightened That frivolous remark of his had evidently given her much food for speculation Would he better tell her he'd only been fooIing? But she wouldn't understand or see the point fwhat was the point. and somehow he felt an in explaining to her that be had lied to her. A more pOintless joke he had surely never perpetrated
 "Georgiana deceives herself" he said. "Georgiana would like to be fallen in love with. just like Ollie or any other girl YOul like it yourself some day. Eunice. See if you don't" You think Miss Ellery Is sn those things you admire-1interesting look Ing not q guy pIessing'T' Don't you think she isT' "I think her beautiful and graceful"