The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-06-25

and searching fog the blood scene,
10 stand stilL The sound of footstep
echoed drearily, and the rumble o
traffic was like a menace.
Some sense OF these things came (,
Mollie Felday as she stood for a mo
ment at the window OF her own par
ucular room; she refused 10 call IL /;
boudoir. because. being neither hum
bug nor snob. she confessed that be
fore she married DR.. Felday she haC
had no particular room OF her own
Probably the daughter OF most poor
country parents would hardly have
been so candid. And now she was a
widow three years widow-and, as
things go-almost rich.
She drew the curtains on the fog
and the street. turned on the electric
Night, and curled herself up in a great
armchair. She used TO do that in the
: old nursery. but then the armchair
was faded and springless. and there
were no silk-coyered cushions against
which you could nestle your head.
This. she thought. was a very pleas
ant life. pleasant but perhaps a little
dull. Youth still sang in her blood.
and somehow she had missed the best
OF youth. But she did not put il TO
herself quite in that way
Mollie was in a half-dream when
Mrs. Penrose slipped into the room.
Il didn't trouble TO send up my
name"
"Of course not"
because knew I should find you
just here. Don't move dear child
Curled up there YOU look perfectly
lovely"
do ~ said Mollie. We'll, anyway,
it's comfortable"
So few people particularly women.
can be really comfortable and look
pretty at the same time
Most women. | suppose. think too
much about looking pretty"
IF you're attacking me, Mollie,"
said Mrs. Penrose. you're all wrong.
| couldn't look pretty il tried-so |
don't try"
Dear Muriel. | wasn't thinking Of
you, or OF any one in particular. It's
just the kind Of thing one says
All" said Mrs. Penrose so you're
getting 10 that stage now, are you?
The kind of thing one says stage
is dangerous. You weren't within
sight OF it year ago"
Mollie uncurled herself and stood
up. Her slight, buoyant figure seemed
almost unreal in that artificial light.
The last year" she said. drawing
low chair close TO Mrs. Penrose, the
last year has seemed altogether
strange, Muriel"
Yes, yes said Mrs. Penrose. rest
ng light hand on Mollie's shoulder.
4 can quite understand that. But you
are happy?"
Not altogether"
of course not; but reasonably hap
py?"
I'm not at all sure"
Mrs. Penrose smiled. and. STOPPING.
kissed Mollie's forehead II she was
not pretty. she had at least an air of
that was beautiful, and a
frank tenderness not to be confused
with sentimentalism.
Well" she said. you don't look |
miserable. Mile. u
BY the way. was at Professor Ew- |
arts last night. | rather expected to !
lee you there"
Il wasn't invited" said Mollie.
But he never does send you par
ocular invitations. does he? always
understood that his door, as they say. |
vas on the latch TO you at any time. I
m sure he was disappointed not to I
Zee you"
I'm sure he could get along /
-ery well without me-" said Mollie, q |
title petulantly.
My dear child. I'm not suggesting 4
hat he couldn't. You haven't been I
oolish enough to quarrel with him,
lave your"
Quarrel with him? Dear me, no
Why should H."
one never knows said Mrs. Pen
ose. Anyway. 1t was a particularly /
delightful evening He showed US his 4
collection OF gems Have you ever
zen the wonderful black opal?'
No. he promised 10 show 1t to me I
iome day"
II expect he really brought IL out
specially for you. and n you
there 10 see IL. BY the way.
was surprised TO see Captain DENIM.
on"
Captain Dennison. But I thought
-" Mollie paused abruptly and
tared into the fire
So did every one else" said Mrs.
'enrose. But he was invalided home
rom Malta"
He's been III. then?"
Very i'll, | should imagine. but he's
Tot the sort OF man to talk about his
rcgbles"
"Of course" said Mollie, in a low
oice hes very brave
Like all the Dennisons." said Mrs.
'7nrose, rising. They never admit
efeat They would always 20 down
With the ship"
That's splendid. isn't it?'
When Mrs. Penrose had gone Mol
e returned TO the armchair. but now
he did not curl herself up in ii. She
eaned forward with her elbows on
er knees. and her face resting be-
ween her hands. and let her thoughts
-ander. She felt that she was a very
seless person. on who. for some rea-
on or other. the world had taken
ity Perhaps u was because she was
Together too feeble a thing TO be ad-
litted into that great struggle which
leant life. She repeated TO herself
that would always go down with the
hip" and felt utterly hopeless and
umiliated. She was just passive, she
in an active world
Mollie was still thinking these bar