Woodruff County news., 1909-02-25

preferred to call it, she belonged to the romantics" and considered herself wasted in century of motor cars and millionaires. Her book of life, she be- lieved, ought to have been one long Roman passionel, which it perhaps would have been had it not slipped somehow between the prosaic covers of parish magazine. That, however, was her tragedy.
 In her inmost heart she longed to re- semble her friend, Mrs. de Rutsen, with whom she lived. Life, she consid- cred, was so easy for those who had found an excuse.
 Letitia was one of those unfortunate people to whom love and affection are as the breath of life. Mrs. de Rutsen professed to shower them upon her, with the inevitable result that Letitia became her slave. Mrs. de Rutsen on her part accepted this view of the case complacently enough. Hers was, in fact, the much easier role; it re- quired only certain passivity com bined with a mild indulgence, which, after all, to most people presents no difficulty.
 As for Letitia, her activity was ex- traordinary. A series of unrequited affections in her youth, combined with an austere training, had fostered with in her a genius for self-sacrifice. while Providence ordained that it should be exercised and developed. By the na- ture of things the triumph lay with the coarser nature, as in most of lifes triumphS.
 Mrs. de Rutsen was eupeptic, strong -willed, absolutely self-satisfied woman with a moderate share of good looks. Letitia on her side had found life disappointment, and while she possessed all the virtues, what are they worth to a woman who has no features, less figure, and absolutely no complexion? Indeed, she was one of those anomalies which go to prove more than anything else that Nature has no sense of humpr.
 There came, however, to the maison- cite middle-aged man of letters known by the name of Meredith He was no relation to the celebrated nov elist, although he liked people to think SO. In fact, he imagined that his sur name gave him a sort of literary dis tinction-which it did not, though he was, however, just as pleased. He had talked several times with Letitia, and their mutual condolences had made them believe they had much in com mon. Defying the improvidence of the match, he, with very little romance and less passion, asked her to marry him. The excuse he gave himself for this was that he was lonely and get to nurse him when he became infirm, and also to make his present life more comfortable.
 Letitia was, of course, inordinately grateful to him for his attentions and believed that, given certain amount of esteem, she would find his home congenial to her. He was by no means the heroic man round which all her girliSh dreams had centered, nor was he even strong-willed and masterful such as weak women love, but he had a certain courteous and kindly manner towards her, and in any case he would belong to her-he would be absolutely her own. Besides, he appeared lonely and unhappy, all of which appealed forcibly to her imagination and she might, too, being a woman, have had some mildly romantic fiutterings as well. In any case she was tired of be- ing an unpaid secretary and needle woman to Mrs. de Rutsen. Latterly she had misseed sorely those showers of affection which had made the first days of their friendship so precious Though in her blindly unseeing way she was still fond of her, there was mixed up with her affection a tinge of bitter disappointment, half uncon- scious, yet wholly real.
 However, she did not give Mr Mer- edith definite answer all at once. On the contrary, she kept the good man waiting so long that in desperation he made confidant of Mrs. de Rutsen.
 That lady received his confession with the utmost dismay.
 m dlral0 LeLltld Will not accept you," she told him coldly.
 Of course" she continued, after a pause, If Letitia does happen to ac- cept your offer, you must promise me to take the utmost care of her She IS so fragile that sometimes I think she will not live Her deiicacy of health is simply appalling"
 His consternation at the news amused her greatly.
 If she enjoyed better health" she went on, 'I sometimes think she would be better looking"
 Her face is always interesting" he feeling more sure of his ground, as most men are when they defend the physical charms of those they have chosen to be their wives.
 You surprise me. You do, indeed" cried Mrs de Rutsen in astonishment: "so many people consider her quite the plainest woman in London. Not" she continued, knowing that this shaft would be more deadly than all, not