Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-08

on turning round on us when they
find US out, and being generally
horrid..
And YOU think Mark
oh. he won't find out for ever so
long. He's very much in love; and l
well. like him well enough to try
and live up to him, for a time, at
any rate. But it's good stretch on
ones nerves to be always on the tip
toe Of admiration about things one
really does not care button for.
I'm afraid it's the beauties Of nature
that will bowl me over. A sunset az
his majesty's, where it's well DONE
Is pretty enough, once in way. But
you know, honestly, I'd rather look
at bonnet shop in Bond street any
day than on the finest scenery any
where. I'm afraid it will be shock
to Mark when he grasps the fact"
What is he exactly?"
He's rather ugly, and ridiculously
rich; colonial, you know, proprietor
of mines, and all the rest of it. His
manners are not quite like every one
else's. Oh, you need not raise your
eyebrows; 1t is not in that way
mean at all. Only, don't think he'd
have cared the least bit If I'd been a
butchers or bakers daughter, IL
he'd cared for me, he'd have married
just the same. Pm afraid I'm rather
proud of the fact"
You do care for him, then?' Lady
Elmsworth stopped little toward her
sister, and looked into her face.
i" Phyllis blushed. well,
yes, think do, because, If did not.
! don't suppose / should care whether
he discovered what shallow little
soul am or not after We are safely
married"
Clare bent and kissed her sister.
He won't find out II you love him.
Phyl! oh, you don't know how glad
/ ami"
Phyllis was startled at her sisters
sudden earnestness. What she had
said was quite true. The four years.
difference in their ages had always
kept them rather apart. And now
that they were; respectively twenty.
one and twenty-five, and that the gult
was bridged, there were the five
years separation to hold them apart.
Phyllis remembered distinctly the
time when Clare had been "out" when
she herself was in. the school room.
She remembered, too, all the talk
she had overheard as to her sisters
successes. Looking back, she realiz.
ed that Glare must have refused many
opportunities of brilliant matches, al
though she had finally done exceed.
singly well for herself in marrying
Lord Ellsworth. True. he was near
ly twenty years older than Clare;
and surely among those she had re.
fused before rs
Suddenly Phyllis started. What
had there been at the bottom of
Clare's being ordered off to winter at
Dayos the year before she married:
It had never occurred to the girl.
But had there really been anything
the matter with her sisters lungs?
Glare" she said, impulsiyely. tell
me something. Were you really i'll
when you went to Davos that time,
Or
Lady Ellsworth laughed outright.
"Or was sent off to be out OF
somebody's way, you mean? No, my
dear, believe l was really i'll, and
before went to Davos, i had never
cared two straws for any one in my
life"
'And-after?"
II don't know why I should tell
you,' said Lady Elmsworth. I've
never told any one. l don't believe
any one ever guessed except
Except finn. Go on, Clare ~ {
ooh, there's not much to tell. It's
like every one else's story, expect;
and you'll only think me fool for
remembering all these years. You
know how l went out. Mother could
not. or would not, come with me.
She would have hated to give up her
visits, and the Riviera, and all that.
So she Just packed me of with dear
old Downey, the governess, you re-
member. Downey had always been
my abjeot slave, and never dreamed
Of interfering with me at all.
II had a good time at Dayos when
i first went, but did not do anything
the doctors expected. / don't believe
there was much the matter with me
when went, but know felt rather
bad after I'd been there month: but
the air had got into my head and l
did not care. fiirted and behaved
generally badly all round, until one
day. met a man I had never seen
before. He was not patient, but
had Just come up for the scenery.
II don't know how 1t was, but we
began to talk; and liked him. Some
how wherever / went met him, and
II / missed him the day seemed blank
and miserable. He lectured me as to
my carelessness about my health. and
all that; and to please him obeyed
orders and took care. oh, there was
nothing particular; it all went on
smoothly, and suppose stupidity.
enough. We never even knew each
others names. 1 used to call him
lie PEASANT and he called me his
Incognita. But l was idiotically, un.
reasonably happy. until one day the
doctor said was we'll enough to go
home and that he would write the
good news to my mother.
II had been crying when met
him. 1 had realized at once what 1t
all meant, and what 1t would be like
to go back home and never see him
again. told him the news-we were
quite alone out on terrace, and
everything glittered white in the
moonlight round US. When / had
finished I turned and saw his face.
/ tried to stop him, but 1t was too
late;s his arms were round me, and l
loved to hear what he was saying.
But l would not answer then; would
tell him tomorrow.
81 shall never forget that night. ]
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