Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-05-09
A
Commonplace
Man
By LOUISA FEM

1t was not a pleasant position for a
woman to have to sit and listen while
two people discussed the man to whom
she had just decided to entrust her
future.
Certainly he had asked nothing OF
her yet, but II was coming and she
knew it, and knew that she must have
her answer ready before they met
again.
Yet here she sat taking tea with
two acquaintances, both absolutely ig-
norant of the state of affairs. and |
quietly talking over the Characters
tics of common friends.
Then" said the hostess, a genial |
and pleasant woman In spite Of an |
inclination TO gossip. there's Harry |
Winter What do you think OF him?'
Myra had never heard him talked |
over by any friends, and the sensation
was distinctly odd.
"Oh, Harry Winter" said the other
visitor. and she gave little halfcon-
temptuous laugh and shrug We'll,
Mrs Carr, | should hardly describe
him as an interesting specimen of the
genus. There's something about him
that irritates me- You never can get
anything out of him. / never heard
him say anything but the most sim
pie commonplaces, if he speaks at all.
AS a rule, he does not talk. A man
who has knocked about the world as
he has can't have much in him when
he is silent like that"
"Oh, we'll" she said, in a tolerant
way, Il don't think you do the poor
young man justice. | believe he is an
awfully good sort. / believe his fam
! lily think no end of him, but he GER
tainly does not shine in society"
"Shine!" echoed her friend Shine!
What a word to use in connection with
young Winter. Ha! ha! ha!'
Myra sat speechless. She wanted
to go. In her rage she wanted to
seize the last speaker and shake her
| But there was a fascination that held
her mOtionless.
Mrs. Carr Joined In the laugh.
We'll, l admit he is dull He is the
kind of man cannot imagine in love,
and there are not many men one can
say that about"
Myra held her cup in a grip that
nearly broke it, but did not move.
WELL l think l can imagine IT,"
said the other. "He would fix on a
commonplace person and ask her in
4 commonplace way. There would be
40 romance about it. Oh, can picture
the scene!-the commonplace-ness Of
it,"
81 think" said Mrs Carr. you have
used the right word One can sum
up poor Harry Winter in the one word
commonplace"
Myra rose to her feet She could
always act, like most of her sex.
Interesting as this is" she said to
her hostess, 81 am afraid | must be
going, Goodbye"
AS she went she picked up book
she had left in the hall, and was soon
out in Victoria street, walking fast in
The direction of the Abbey.
Mechanically she made for one Of
her fayorite spots. By way of Great
George street and Birdcage Walk she
approached the lake in St. James
Park. 1t was very quiet, with loiterers
about, so she found a seat near the
ornamental water and opened her
book. II was a volume of Browning's
shorter poems, but the letters danced
before her eyes and formed other
words - commonplace, commonplace,
commonplace.
Her thoughts took shape out of the
chaos Perhaps-could it be posi-
BILE that it was true, and perhaps true
place person spoken Of no doubt, and
so a commonplace man had awak
ened sympathy in her.
But there was another way to look
at it, Perhaps she was not common
place, and therefore he was was not
for her! 1t was astonishing how the
careless gossip had shaken her II
there was one thing she abhorred ant
dreaded, 1t was the idea of the hum
drum future of the commonplace.
Better by far a future alone will
her own ideas and interests thfr
shared and cheapened by contact will
such limitations.
What had been the attraction
Conversations, words, even looks, ros,
before her in quick succession. Only
two. hours earlier she had been firm
in her intention to accept him wher
the crucial moment came.
1t could be done, and then she would
have time to think and 10 study hin
among others; but Man proposes
She started. and even laughed, a!
the other meaning of those two word!
flashed in second through her brain
Harry Winter was before her HI
could not read her mind, or know wha
had brought that quick laugh or tn,
flush of color when just passed llkt
wave over her face and left it white
Good afternoon" he said "the,
told me you had gone to Vlctorii
street, and l guessed you would com,
back this way. always do myself"
He calmly sat down beside her anC
she flinched. She knew instinctivel,