The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-23
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o THE DAILY STORY 0
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SHooGY-s -sHoo.
fEu Edith GraN.l

man and dTamatist 10 BE-, was one OF
the younger celebrities Oh those
Thursday evening gatherings for
which Mrs. Strarhfeld is WILL vas. So
widely and justly famed. Mrs. Snath-
field de Witt was lauded fronf Ene
end OF town 10 the other. extolIed sfor
uHstinied hospitality admired for ga
cious TACT. and sought ont for radiant
beauty Yet far more than the mag
nificent social affairs in which she
always figured so conspicuously the
balls and opera-night triumphs. which
invariably received a lions share VI
next mornings social column, did she
reYel III her artistic tgiumphs and her
reputation for unusual ability in gath
ering about her local talent and even
wishing prodIgies from far waters.
Even Der detractors dared not deny
that Mrs dc witt was woman oil
power and no mean Pc sonallty, and
under The rose, it was safe 10 whisper
this. None knew il better than her
self.
Tonight she stood as usual AT the
far end OF the great reception hall,
yelyet-gOwned and regal III he famous
Strathiield jewels, giving forth TO her
guests. from Won kreuzer, the world
famed 'cellist, to young artistic DICK
Stair, ollt at elbows and i'll at ease,
the same beneficent smile, The custo-
mary word Of encouragement the un-
falling bit of praise.
John O'Neill, oAc of her most yaunt-
I'd favorites, having just paid his com
pliments, was passing on into The
crowded music room, free 10 carry
our bis own devices, 10 follow whiih-
er inclination might chance to lead.
Cordial greetings encompassed him as
he wandered, unsettled and restless.
from group 10 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 Indifference
Of mien, passed through the magnifi-
Gently furnished rooms out into the
/ conservatory beyond.
II was solitude. after all, that he
4 wanted. He could settle down here
I for space. and puzzle out few OF
the many things which had OF late so
bothered him. For many days ne had
put away the facing of this problem
The impartial judging twiXt heart and
mind But O'Neill was aman Of line
sensibilities, OF high and honorable
I Ideals, and he knew that he could not
again accept The tlattering kindness
OF his hostess, 10 overwhelming kind
ness Of his hostess. he overwhelming
cOrdiality Of her friends, without com
ing 10 a true knowledge OF his in
most self, and In some rlnai outcome
Of the problem which, at last, amid
the twinging roses and orchids, he
must bravely face and setIle for all
time.
John Ol$eill. fresh from the old
country, win great dreams within mis-
eyes, was a different person from the
wellgroomed, seli-assured gentleman
who save for the frown puckefing his
the surfeit OF eleaance N ibis uptown
mansion SO thoroughly at ease, so
completely master OF his own. For
though ONeiil was a gerlleman al
neart. lover OF the right and good.
he was, in the common acceptance Of
the term, a selt-made man.
He had fought bis way, from the be-
ginning, through he humlliating trials
oi advertising agent and common se-
porter. step by step along The stall
positions OF large newspaper, till
now he had reached the position OF
managing editor of an important mag
azine. And sCill his best powers must
90 to the earning OF bread and the
dreams of drama and novel yet unful-
filled. And with the rigor of those
dreams another, too, held sway-an
Old longing. a softes vision which the
lionizng Of sweet and foolish ladies,
the surroundings of luxury and ease,
instead OF snuffing out and relocating
10 the past OF dusky memories, 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 reminiscence OF
youth. And that was why John o..
Neili had drawn apart to seek among
the exotic blooms of the perfume lad
on cou 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
aud genileman-al also, as such, he
was a pauper He knew that the re-
alization Of his best efforts could take
place but for certain things. These
things Ms. Strathfield de Witt was
now in a position to offer him. She
had not i'm so many words told him so,
bus he knew from covert hint and
glance and from the more open reve-
lalion OF friends, that Natalie, the
youngest daughter, along with the
financial an dsocial gifts which she
would undeniably bring, was his for
he asking
His for lhe asking? And Natalie
was fine looking girl, well formed,
with head crowned with coil upon
coil of heavy auburn hair A dozen
artists had painted Natalie, in ball
gown In street gown, with her spaniel
in masquerade costume. Without
question, Natalie de Witt was a beau
tifu girl but--and the man con
demned himself even though he knew
his analy Sis was justified--she was
great, beautiful, over-peited, over
fed piece OF animal feminlnty. She
had no spark of her mothers clever
ness, no glimmer of her wit. Her
ifa had been thought ont for her from
the beginning, and she was too sapless