Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-08-06
DEFIANCE OF FATE.
BY GERTRUDE F>OxE.

The girl pulled on ner coat slowly,
.taring at her reflection in the mirror.
Then she fastened it with great care
and precision, looking to see if the
hack were free from wrinkles. Last
w. she began to put on her gloves,
with eyes still intent on the looking
glass. The doctor, with his back to
her. was gazing out of the window,
evidently absorbed in the doings Of
bis neighbors.
On the last button of the right
hand glove she paused. How long?"
she asked coolly The doctor turned.
He expected to meet face of despair,
and was surprised by the smile which
accompanied the question.
Well" he said reluctantly, "per-
haps a year, perhaps less; not more"
All she responded quietly, slip
| pins her fur over her shoulders.
Thank you for speaking out. hate
indefniteness. Goodbye" She held
out her hand, which he took. Even
through the glove he could feel that
it was burning. He might have
known, he said to himself, that her
Indifference was only assumed. It
was brave of her to hear her own
death sentence pronounced with such
self-pQssession. He had seen strong
men break down under similar cir
cumstalces.
"Good-bye," she said again, and
turned to SO with little laugh.
What are you going to do, Mar
garrett" he asked, unconscioualy max
Ing use of her first name.
She paused in the doorway and
lnreW him glance over her should er.
am going to be happy" she said
steadily. For the first time in my
HE There is no need for me to study
uutF or appearance now. In a year,
Whatever l shall have done, good or
oao' will be buried with me. l am
gong to be happy"
He met her reckless glance uneas.
fly
Margaret" he said, "I have known
'ou since your childhood. Listen tc
me' IL you take the bit between your
'eetn you may make the time shorter
still"
~ one turned away, laughing lightly
nave taken the bit between my
''7'n' she said, and, lifting her skir1
s'acelully, she went down the stairs
!, me doctor heard the page boy oper
,u7 uoor for her, and then rang The
W. 1s' ior the next patient to be shown
u'o MS consulting room. Margare
@usAed again as she went on hel
hsa'' II would be rather funny tx
~. .ai mem making arrangements fol
49, w. speaking of next year and thu
.o Sl alter, while she kept her owl
00lSel. ~ She had bound the docto
10 secrecy.
to nave never been happy" she sail
bon AeiSel1, as she took off her hat il
osa o"n room. r have been afraid t,
uss5 at happiness, because after
,nha'u' when it is gone, I cannot fac
,ra, r;,, terrible blackness. But ther
baa M oe no afterward now. Dut,
Will ~ right to stand at my elbo1
,;aA asn her chill commands. Conven
ot MANY ay must vanish at the approach
,s ,as' Ieath' The little hour of life whicl
hsna' s me IS mine, mine, mine! Ho,
na pp' l snail be. And then-noth
s-not even pain"
stos, nuere are two other persons in thi
And N.Y. lney are the man she love
rss s another woman. This man. Kaye
,it,. very attractive. He had person
s,r ABOUT him. He was tall. h
eonss sso with a swing, held his hea
oar uently and had masterful man
with n II had been love at first sigh
dav Margaret. She never forgot th
s.s VI MS Introduction to her. Sh
somo N the stalls of a theatre wit
oart'. 1 friends. He was with anothe
tesd y, ~ IN a box on her right. She M
~ A'm at once. His face was {