The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-04-07

free to be moved by any inf1u-
ence. We had left New York in
snowstorm and were now on the hos,
ON Of the warm waters Of the gulf
stream Though we needed our wraps,
there was a pleasant softness in the
air in marked contrast with the win
ter we had left. Not only did feel a
delightful relaxation. but 1 was not
troubled with multiplicity Of things
to look at. I saw only the sky. the
ocean and the ship, and on the ship
l looked only at the young girl who
charmed me.
AS luck would have it friend Of
mine who was aboard stepped up to
the young lady and spoke to her.
was delighted. An Introduction was
assured to me. Within an hour was
sitting beside Miss Manning, chatting
with her.
We were making the Mediterranean
trip and, since we had been out only
two days. ten or eleven days remained
to me to enjoy Miss Mannings society.
How impressionable is youngster OF
twenty-five, especially one who has
nothing to do but be impressed! con.
fess that had no right to be i'm
pressed, for was engaged to a very
lovely woman. The trouble with me
was an artistic temperament. had
been caught by a. peculiar condition
of beauty. I did not find Miss Man
ming especially intellectual, especially
entertaining. but ever before me was
that singular combination of features.
did not at first realize the danger for
me, an engaged man, to put myself
under the influence of another woman.
even if the attraction was in that
which appealed alone to an abnormal
sense for beauty. Before we reached
the Azores began to fear for myself,
and when we reached Madeira and we
went ashore together and walked in
the garden Of Funchall, redolent with
the perfume of tropical flowers, knew
that was lost. 81
had written something daily to my
fiancee to post from our first landing
point. but somehow could not droI
it in the purser's box to be mailed.
glanced over what had written, and
SO completely had passed under 4
new spell that wondered how l coult
ever have been under any other.
tore my letter into bits. From Ma
deira to Gibraltar was in an agony
between sense Of honor. shame and
self condemnation on the one hand ant
infatuation on the other. From Gibral
tar to Naples sank into absolute non
resistance and self contempt.
had not the assurance nor was
expected to attach myself to the Man
ming family during their stay in Italy
SO left them. intending to meet then
in few months in Switzerland.
had not spoken my ;infatuation-1 can
not call it love-to Miss Manning. fol
could not bring myself to act so con
temptibly while was still betrothet
to another. I hoped the condition.
might be changed before our mex
meeting, though what was to change
them except some dishonorable act OF
my part did not know.
I had not been separated from my
fellow traveller week before the
chains that bound me to her began tt
drop off Of their own weight. Then i
captivated by peculiar beauty.
saw so many different types Of beaut,
in the galleries of Italy that suppos,
I became surfeited. Still, I could no
call up the image of Miss Manning
without backsliding.
Three months passed, and I joined
the Mannings at Lausanne, on LAX
Geneva. When Miss Manning CAM
into the room where waited for he
stood mute with establishment. He
Titan hair had turned into darl
brown, like her eyebrows.
"You are surprised at my appear
ance." she said. "Let me explain
Before leaving America had suffered
from fever. On recovering my hal
came out rapidly, and l had it shave'
shortly before sailed. l ordered {
wig of color to match my eyebrows
but before it was sent home tried OF
one belonging to grandma. 1t was s.
becoming that determined to wea
It,"
In twinkling my enthrallment wa
gone. The young lady saw the chang
in my features. which were expressly
Of my feelings, and looked disappoint
ed. But l felt certain restfulness il
being freed from my conflicting emo
lions. I made my call short and new
er have seen Miss Manning from tina
day to this.
/ had great difficulty in making Vi
with my fiancee. who knew very wei
from nv letters. which had been fey
and far between. to say nothing Of tn
absence of feeling in them, that some
thing was wrong.