New-York tribune., 1912-08-11

the main reason, 20 my mind. WhN ne wanted
10 live alone He was abstract, rather than
concrete. in his ideals Of life, and anything
that say0red Of responsibility o. ~ Tor him
was most irksome. He felt imprisoned. |
know that NarcisSa had never nance Of
being his wife; but, poor child, II 5, peases
her to think So
N.is, Mel stood. gathered her baskets and
her berries up; but as she SAID -.otby to
me could not fail 20 note the ~u.... change
IN her face. her whole figure !, seemed to
me. a sort Of letting down Of her calm. the
prcmonition Of age. | had never thought Of
such a thing before with Mis- Mel; but
there Il was. ike sinister shado".
A ND now Harmon forgot to sleep and eat.
"A The town went visiting from house to
house 10 discuss the .ffairs Of the W-ayburns
and Sheldon Coulter. For Sheldon Coulter
and Miss NarciSSa were 'Gut IN his au,omo-
lille. riding together. morning ..'crnoon,
and evening; they literally live o." .le road.
Miss NarCi>sa had fastened haD. her long
Grape veil now. SO that 1t Strcawe. behind
them like the aftermath Of sorrow. tHough
she herself was as happy and blooming IS a
rose. have never seen such eaange IA
anyone unless you would CONSIDER sheldon
Coulter.
Indeed. he had changed NOR. ..-n Mar
ciSSa. Tall and angular and SLOW -reaNing
when with Miss Mel he had cav-a. some Of
NarciSSa's light spirits when oU' irving; al
least. ii looked that way. | supp motors
affect people So,-thcy give So. ,enSe o.
iovousncSs and opulcnce ami goo. H,I to al
mankind. But Sheldon Coui,,- .' waited
on Miss Mel for fifteen years. j. 40 neen
her servant. her carrier her Sla.. nd Har-
mon couldn't get used to the change. Mar
ciSSa came in for a good deal %. ...>
7 TOOK my sewing and wen. yer there
again about two weeks after | nau
spoken with NarciSSa. Miss NJ. vas OUT
on the back porch, old Nancy ,.e house
keeper. told me. found her sitting there as
usual: but for once her busy han.- we're idle'
She had nothing 10 DO. and her YES were
fixed on that far line Of trees whore the reu
gcraniumS blazcd Her thoughts ere even
farther than that. i, was plain O. soc. Hhe
was thin. Enthusiastically thin, aw at a
glance wondered if she Were Norrylns
about Sheldon Coulter II she att reaIy
cared for him.
"NarciSsa's gone for a drive, >he eS'
planned.
I'm willing" | answered. "lo1 know
that come TO see YOU It WASH polite'
but somehow held NarciSSa responsible ior
Miss Mel'S changed looks. III She l>n care
full, | said. there won't be anything leit o,
that widows mourning. Dust Is a treadlu,
thing for Grape wells, and mourning Is a"iui
to clean if it is dragged around every DAY III
greasy motOrCarS.
"NarciSsa is gong to lay aside her mourn
ing before long" Miss Mel answered, WIN
that sweet. indulgcnt smile Of hers. 'Sne
and Sheldon Coulter are gong 10 be mar
RED.
nearly tumbcd off my chair 1t@
goodness sake, NarciSSa and sheldon
Coulter married. never dreamed Of Such
a thing, Why, Mel" .
Miss Mel put out her hand and >'oppeu
me Evidently she did not want 10 hear iie
talk. -,
Il have no use for Sheldon Coulter"
blazed out. couldn't keep still.
"Shcldon3" Miss Mel turned and looKea
at me in surprise Then She laughed ou'
frankly, laughed rs have seldom heard h'l.
Certainly she was not breaking her hear'
over Sheldon Coulter.
XIHY. Patty" she smiled, "She'ion IS
w cnlv like every other man; and men
are like flies. Put a grain Of sugar ont on INC
table. and tiist ty will come and taste i,
and if he happens To bc hungry he stays thei9f
L q, Il Ia.