Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-28
THE EVENING Story
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BY EDITH GRAY.
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Liter
| airy Press
John O'Neill, erstwhile newspaper
man and dramatist to be, was one OF
the younger celebrities of those
Thursday evening gatherings for
which Mrs. Strathfield de Witt was
so widely and justly famed. Mrs.
Strathfield de Witt was lauded from
one end of town to the other extolled
for unstinted hospitality, admired for
gracious tact, and sought out for ra-
diant beauty. Yet far more than the
magnificent social affairs in which
she always figured so conspiculously,
the balls and opera-night triumphs
which invariably received lions
share of next mornings social col
umn. did she revel in her artistic tri-
umphs and her reputation for unusual
ability In gathering about her local
talent and even visiting prodigies from
| far waters Even her detractors
dared not deny that Mrs. de Wits was
a woman of power and no mean per-
sonality, and, under the rose, 1T was
safe to whisper this: None knew u
better than herself.
Tonight she stood as usual at the
far end Of the great reception hall,
velvet-gowned and regal In the IA
nous Strathfleld jewels, giving forth
to her guests, from Won Kreuzer, the
world-famed 'cellist, to young artistic
Dick Stair, out at elbows and Ill at
ease, the same beneficent smile
the customary word Of encourage
ment. the unfailing bit of praise
| John O'Neill, one of her most
Wanted favorites having just paid
| his compliments, was passing on into
the crowded music room, free to
| carry out his own devices, to follow
whittier inclination might chance to
lead. Cordial greetings encompassed
him as he wandered, unsettled and
restless, from group to group, but, IN
spite of the allurements OF flashing
eyes and the encouraging mods from
men Of established repute, O'Neill,
with an distracted manner and 1ndif.
ference Of mien, passed through the
magnificently furnished rooms out
into the conservatory beyond.
It was solitude, after all. that he
wanted. He could settle down here
for space, and puzzle out few OF
the many things which had of late
SO bothered him. For many days he
had put away the facing of this prob
lem, the impartial judging 'twixt
heart and mind. But O'Neill was
man of fine sensibilities. Of high and
honorable ideals, and he knew that
he could not again accept the flatter-
ing kindness of his hostess, the over
whelming cordially of her friends,
without coming to a true knowledge
Of his inmost self and in some subtle
way giving her to realize the final
outcome of the problem, which, at last
amid the twinging roses and orchids,
he must bravely face and settle for
all time.
John O'Neill, fresh from the old
country, with great dreams within his
eyes, was different person from the
well-groomed, self-assured gentleman
who. save for the froWn puckering
his straight drawn brows, seemed,
amid the surfeit of elegance of this
uptown mansion SO thoroughly at
ease, 50 completely master of his own.
For though O'Neill was gentleman
at heart, lover of the right and
good, he was, in the common accept
ance of the term, self-made man.
He had fought his way, from the
beginning, through the humiliating
trials of advertising agent and COM
mon reporter, step by step along the
staff positions of large newspaper,
till new he had reached the position
Of managing editor of an important
magazine. And still his best powers
must go to the earning of bread, and
the dreams of drama and novel yet
unfulflled. And with the rigor of
those dreams, another, too held sway
An old longing, softer vision
which the lionizing of sweet and fool
ish ladies', the surroundings Of luxury
and ease, instead of snuffing out and
RELOCATING to the past of dusky mem
cries, served only to enflame and
raise on him.
For there are some things which a
man may never forget, and among
them surely Is the Renaissance Of
youth And that was why John
O'Neill had drawn apart to seek
among the exotic blooms Of the per-
fume laden court the healing of his
doubt.
But, with the facing of his prob
lem, he must. Of course, be logical.
Yes; he would be quite frank with
himself There should be no delicacy
nor false modesty in his open dealing
with this question. He was an artist
and gentleman-also, as such, he
was pauper. He knew that the re-
alization of his best efforts could take
place but for certain things. These
things Mrs. Strathfeld de Witt was
now in position to offer him. She
had not in so many words told him so.
but he knew from covert hint and