Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-28
CHAPTER XIV.


prosaic details which ought to have
far more absorbing theme Of the girl
herself, leading her skillfully to those
fascinating self revelations which she
made with such childlike openness and
which, because of her refreshing and
unique %genusneness, 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 Il vague sense Of disap-
pointment In his heart. His explana-
ton, 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
not bring the response he had hoped
for-an offer to share with the elder
woman her quite shperiuous thou
sands. He tried not to blame her In
his heart for this, but to attribute 1t
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 a little experience of life If (and 1t
was a large if the sudden reaction
from Il life Of self abnegation to n 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 gleries 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 lis it?" he suddenly questioned
her. "Does your heart fail you at the
strangeness Of 1t all? But a girl that
car brave. a 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 D-'and yonsre
not bad looking, either, Eunice, and
that means a lot to u woman"
She lifted her dropping head and
scanned him from head to foot. He,
too, was not bad looking.
docs It mean more to a woman than
to a man ., III
"Its ek.ything 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? l fear you exagger-
ate the Importance of my opinions.
Well, l seriously asked myself
the question before: but, now that it's
put to me, yes, l do think good looks
essential to a Why, natural
~"
Essential? Essential to what?"
ITO her being interesting and attrac.
tive"
''There was George Eliot, you know,
At least l suppose you know"
ooh, Of course when a woman Is q
genius"
'"The Greeks thought manly beauty
not tire feminine-the highest type"
She was such a combination, he In
wardly smiled, Of ignorance and learn
ing.
ooh, but the Greeks! That was
awhile back already, as Pop Morning.
star would say"
Mere p%rettiness seems to me Of lit
tie moment"
"It is. That isn't what l mean. But
a woman must be interesting looking,
not a guy. She must be pleasing"
"You mean in order to attract the
maleY"
He couldn't help 1t. He bent back
his head and laughed. "You think that
Of little moment, too?' he asked, quick
ly SOLDERING as he met her astonish-
merit. "But," he shrugged again, at
seems to be what they're all occupied
in doing"
"Are they?" she asked in the wistful
way she had Of appealing to him.
"It is pitiable, 1 suppose. But, then
he lifted his eyebrows, what would
you have them be at"
IOuI NcOl III .WOuAu PASASAy oAS
told me the career of a student and q
teacher rather than a domestic life"
"My Georgianay" he repeated in con.
sternation. 'Now, why, may l inquire
do you call her mine?"
"You said you loved her." she an
swered family, her eyes OH 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
fooling? But she wouldn't understand
or see the point (what was the point
anywayD, and somehow he felt an
awkwardness in explaining to her tina
he had lied to her. A more pointless
Joke he had surely never perpetrated.
"Georgiana deceives herself ne
said. "Georgiana would like TO be
fallen in love with, just like Ollie OF
any other girl. You'll like 1t yourself
som day. Eunice. See if you don't"
"You think Miss Ellery is all those
things YOU misunderstanding look
ing not a guy pleasing"
"Don't you think she is"
81 think her beautiful and graceful"
"Of course she is"
Her head went a little lower as she
walked at his side for Il moment with
out speaking.
Are YOU afraid Of your future, Eu