The Marshall republican., 1909-08-13
CHAPTER ".

I went to see Barbara a few days
later.
It 10 queer how a changed atmos.
phere seems to affect the material as
well as the immaterial-even the Hem
ingray doorsteps appeared changed
as l stood on them In the dusk OF the
spring evening. waiting to be ad-
mitted. 'v
1 was shown into the south drawing
room to wait for Barbara; / have been
shown into the south drawing room
to wait for her a hundred times, and
l had always before found it a pleas.
ant, inviting place; but / got no fur
Their han the threshold this evening:
he change In 1t was amazing. The
prodigality of light struck me FIRST,
and then its gala.air; 1t was as II 1t,
too, were receiving congratulations In
Its best clothes along with its mis-
tress. There were flowers every
where. l am fond Of all flowers but
those taken by another man to the
girl l love. Ankony's flowers overran
the south drawing room; they werc
on the three-cornered piano that had
belonged to Barbara's mother, on the
quaint cabinet with ormolu mounts
and p~arquetry paneling that had been
her great-grandmother's. on her grand
mothers mahogany table, and on man
tells and shelves and cases.
Their fragrance met me at the
threshold and stopped me there as If
1t had been funeral fragrance. With a
shiver l crossed quickly to the library.
There was no light there but a dim
freight. The library, evidently, was
not receiving congratulations, and l
entered with a sigh of thankfulness
for something unchanged, when, mock.
cry of mockeries, just as / was throw
Ing myself down to wait for Barbara
l discovered a great bowl of Soliel
dor roses glowing in the middle OF
he table. The Forlorn Hope had Of
fered It's tribute of American Beau
ties and Jacqueminots and Marechal
Neils to Barbara, but II had always
been my privilege to take her the
splendid Soliel dor. / stood for a
minute looking at these upon the
table, then I picked up the big crystal
bowl and carried 1t acros to the
drawing room. where l set II down
not too gently.
Presently I heard Barbara's step in
the hall. II sounded a little lsnguid,
I thought.
Il am here" l said, from the II.
brary.
What are you doing there in the
dark?"
Il like the dark and the library"
How capricious you are! l never
knew you to wait here before
made no reply. but l stirred the
hre in the hope that she would not
ring for lights.
II am tired" che said. as she sank
into q chair I drew for her.
PLEASANTLY" l inquired with sym.
patty.
mo. d~ownrightly. People have been
coming for days to say nice things &c
me. I suppose l ought to be glad"
oh, ] don't know. Nice things can
become awfully tiresome."
She nodded YEARLY. q
II promise In the beginning TO say
nothing nice whatever" 1 fastened to
assure her. trF. .s f. .e4 ,
She smiled a little. u,.8s.;y (.
You rarely do" she observed; but
I think I shall rather like II tonight.
I've about exhausted all my replies.
You've no idea how quickly you run
out Of replies to the sort OF amiable
platitudes that have been showered
on me lately"
Il dare say. You know I've never
experienced anything like It. People
make phrases. and you make phrases
back at them. Is that II? Bat you
wouldn't make them for me, am
sure"
mo. l think l shouldn't consider It
worth while"
TT wouldn't be good for you II !
caught you at It."
That's the real cleverness," she
unused, ito make a catchword sound
pristine in its freshness. A lot Of
women l know can do It. 1 never
could. It's art, Or"
do you remember the story OF the
fairy goduother who put pea IL
stead the words in the mouth, OF one
of her godchildren?" / asked. I
ShSSC WIZ bLiA thC UlSSSCu ud9b vi
fairies, ! know a lot OF good folks
who would ask for catchwords, don't
your"
She laughed softly.
Instead of brains" she said. 'They
would be SO much easier managed"
Exactly"
We laughed again. For a moment /
think We forgot We were so nc
customed to being gay.
You are very amiable tonight, she
remarked after a moment. TITS SO
nice to find you that way. You are
not always SO. you know. For In
stance"
you mistake" interrupted; Tn
not amiabie at al tonight, Lam ex-
ceeding.y out OF sorts, 4 have lost
something. and don't like losing
things; Ait makes me cross"