Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-07-11
THE FATAL GIFT
BV Katharine MetCalf Roof


such ample abundance of color and material thsa
One was so likely to read into mems minds ones
own feminine subtlcty of perception. OF she
was precisely the kind of thing the phillistne man
would admrethe majority of
Electra's room had been Created" as she
pressed it, that in spite of its disproportionate size
disproportionate with reference the relative size
of its key notc- formed appropriate setting for
her. For while in the of form and line Flee
ira, perhaps, did compose we'll in her room, from
the standpoint of color all tremendously, if
somewhat carelessly. conceived. And she leaned
back with slow variations Of pose against the effective
green cushions Emma and placed, it must be
admitted close to the picture for the best crit
ical estimate-listcned and admired, while Electra
talked. Almost Immediately touched upon the
distasteful yet inevitable topic. for she had had what
she termed IAN experience" that very afternoon with
the manager of a concert agency.
What did he do?" asked Emma pleasurably awe
struck. Poor Emma, having suffered from the
relentless impacable pursuit Of man in her simple
life loved to hear about it as grown-up child loves
fairy-tale without the fantest expectation OF its
coming true in her everyday life.
Electra trifcd with her fan, a half bitter smile
playing about her lips. 1T was not so much what
he did, she said last. ale did really do any
thing that could take hold Of He just sat there
and of devoured me with his eyes all the time
I was talking ! could that he not hearing
word I'said. And when simply forced the bust
side, he short the conversation with some
excuse about another day. Oh they all alike
she broke off, and, raising her hands, pressed them
against her eyes while she spoke. 81 can just see
that look in his eyes now" Then she dropped her
hands, smiled wstfully and, with what I could not
but feel assumed lghtness seemed to attempt
shake off the unpleasant recollection. Then sud
denly she broke out again. vehementy, leaning for
ward, hand lightly ccnched upon her knee. "Oh,
I am tired Of being conspicuous | am tired
OF being continually stared at and followed the
street,
that had not realized before the practical
disadvantages OF being in the goddess mould in
a world of men, Electra leaned back after her little
outburst with relaxation of utter wearinessweari-
ness, OWNED that of the spirit for she
questionaby vigorous and sound of body. III you
only knew how | am with this sort OF
thing. II ! could only find man in
the world'-Eecra spoke with suppressed passion
now-"who would forget that ! a woman--who
would take personally, who would not
speak OF my hair, my eyes, any other fact of my
appearance, who would be rude me.
| want to be permitted to realize that have
thing else-brain soul" Electra her full
height and saw that her figure had the strong
unwiediness and lack OF dcvating line her
tremties
winch /
would give"-she paused searching for adequate
omparson--"Heaven only knows what be free
from-women hate me and consprc against my
success"
IF you once get past this barbed-wrc fence of
jealousy you will doubt cease to feel the dsad-
vantage OF your advantages" | suggested, consol-
ingly.
ooh, my dear don't know" she replied. The
fate of the unusual woman-I speak frankly, de-
test afectation about such thngs-is path of
tllorns. AS say, women compicae their lives with
their jealousy and men with their selfish passion
don't know which is the heaviest handicap
"Electra's utterly discouraged, with
the contemplation of this desperate alternative, that
] understood why she seemed to have heart for
further sociablity-for, she remained standing, |
felt from my inferior height, that her contained
for such implication to depart as obtains in
the usages of royalty. Emma, apparently accepting
it familiar started toward the door. merely
observing with insight, in reply Electra's
passionate outbreak, that OF effect was
the outcome OF the other
responded warmly to Emma's ardent questions
concerning the effect produced upon by Electras
beauty mounted the stairs to her hall bed
Il suppose those two little that sit opposite
you at table crazy about her." specialized, as
Emma was helping me on with my wraps
We'll no." Emma replied, slowly. They would
be, of course-but she is so utterly remote from
them think they feel that, and she, of course, has
utterly ignored their existence. They spend of
their time talking to that young French teacher
to me. Electra says she undoubtedly clerk
at the Bon Marche Her manners are quite loud
you probably noticed
The next time stepped in to see Emma inquired
at about Electra and her prospects Emma re-
piled that while nothing tangible had materiazed as
yet Electra believed she had found at last man
who, she expressed it, big enough to take
her artist not a woman.
zone whose unusual perceptions will be of any
practical Advantage" ! inquired, "Coarsey speak
ing is he in her line of business"
Yes, Emma replied, with some hesitation, "he is
the manager of an opera company-in small way
as yet, travelling company French and Italian
opera-she would sing Carmen: but he seems to lavu
an actual genius for apprenticeship Then Emma
outlined in phraseology that | could not but feel