Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-27
Romance Of a Fan
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Outside, the leaves rustled beneath
the starlit, frosty sky, and the wind
noaned fitfully around the solitary old
gray house. I knew that the sky was
cold and star-gemmed, because could
peep up at 1t through the unshuttered
window from my resting place on the
little table. Inside, the freight danced
on the oak-paneled wall of the low
ceiled room, and Joyce, from the coy
depths sof her chalrs watched the play,
of the Pickering shadows among the
cleaning old silver on the tea table be-
fore her.
Her lovely face framed In its halo Of
dead-gold hair, was very sad and visit
full. could read her thoughts, for
possessed certain occult powers, owing
to my eastern origin. She was living
over again the sad events of the last
two weeks.
She seemed still half dazed from the
audiences Of 1t all. Perhaps she could
scarcely realize even yet that her dear
mother, her loving lifelong companion,
had been taken from her forever.
e II cannot go on like this any longer"
her thoughts ras .the loneliness would
drive me. mad! Was any girl ever In
such a sorry plight wonder? OF
course, always knew that mothers
income was only for her lifetime; but
then never thought of her dying, nor
did she, except in the dim future.
"And now here am, after the fu-
neral expenses and the doctors bill
have been settled and the servants paid
of, with exactly ten-pound note be-
tween myself and starvation literally
starvation! The house is my own,
truly, and have clothes. to last me a
twelvemonth or more" glancing down
ruefully at her plain but dainty mourn,
! ing.
There's all of granny's lovely old
silver, too. That is mine now, of
course; but even II 1 sold it,I should
only be STAYING off the evil day. And
It would be almost crime. / must be-
stir myself and think of something tan
gible. If only Jack! If only" And
she broke on with sigh.
At this point in her musings my eyes
caught hers in fash of sympathy,
and, stretching out herr little white
hand, she took me up caressingly.
was the first love Offering he had
made her, and In my way was cons,d-
cred rare curio of intrinsic worth and
great beauty.
Well! have said that Joyce took
me up caresslngly. She did, and press.
ed me moment against her pretty lips.
She was thinking more of Jack than
Of me, knew. But where was the use
Of looking back? 1t was all nearly
two years ago now, and the mystery
was still unsolyed. She had never been
to another dance since that fateful
night; consequently neither had 1.
That fatal night Of the Hunt ball was
our last glimpse of gaiety. And he was
there, and he had never come near us
he had carefully avoided meeting her
eyes whenever the mazes Of the dance
had brought him into her vicinity. Her
pride had forbidden her to make the
slightest sign, and she had borne up
bravely until we were back in her pref
ty bedroom. quite alone. And well
knew then how much she had really
cared!
A few weeks later she heard he had
gone abroad-gone without word or
sign.
~
. A few days later Joyce journeyed off
to the smart little country town some
three miles distant, and the next morn
ing the following advertisement appear
ed in the county paper, for heard her
read 1t out to our one faithful maid
of-all-work:
Lady desiring residence in beautI-
fully situated country home can be re-
ceived on moderate terms Apply The
Cottage, Mereton.''
And week later, after the usual
formalities had been exchanged, the
lady arrived, and was duly installed
an exceedingly prim old lady of quaint
and dlgnlfied demeanor. with gray curls
down each side Of her face and her eyes