Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-04-25
CHAPTER L.
WHICH TELLS OF A VERY COM
MONPLICE INCIDENT


No. No! She was not going to gusl!
bet even though there was nothing
in the room at this m to stand
up afttrward before her us dumb wit
ness to Il moments possible weakness.
Less than nothing IN fact: space might
have spoken and recalled that mo-
merit infinite n-othingncss might
at some future time have brought
back the memoir of it but these
dumb, impassivc objects. the
fountain pen between her fingers. The
duh. unintcresting hotel furniture COW
cred In rcd velvet-an %unillviting rcd
that repealed dreaniness and peace!
The ormolu clock which had ceased
long z To mark the passage OF time.
we:tried-as III no doubt was. poor thing
by the monOtOnOnS burden OF a
bronze Psyche gazing on her shiny
brown charms, In an utterly blank and
unrenccttve bronIe mirror. while OBJ
viously ~bcinoaning the fracture OF one
OF her smooth bronIe thighs! Indeed
Louisa might well have given way to
that commissioning feeling OF excite
ment before all these things. They
won!d neither see nor hear. They
would never deride. for they could new
er remember.
is"t a wood fire cracked on the small
hearth . and and those citron
colored carnations We're %favorite .iow-
ers OF his and his picture did
stand IN Tho top OF that ugly little
Louis Philippe bureau No. No!
III would never do to gush. for these
things would see and, though they
might not remember. they would re-
mind
And Louisa counted herself one of
h strong ones Of his earth. Just
think OF her am Have you ever
known a Louisa who gnshed? Who
called herself the happiest woman on
earth? Who thought OF a man-just
an OJltna1V MAN mind wan &C Nl~n
best, the handsonest. the truest, the
most perfect hero OF romance that cver
thre" q radiance over the entire prcsy
world of the Goth century?
Lonisas. believe nc, do no such
things. The Mays and tho Floras, the
.beatifc and charming when. clasping
their lily-white hands together and
raising violet eyes to the patterned
ceiling paper above them. they cxclaim:
'Oh. my hero n my kins!'
But LOuiSaS would only lock ridicul-
Gus II they behaved like that
Louisa Harris. too! Louisa. the
eldest of three sisters. the daughter of
q wealthy English gentleman with a
flne estate In Kent. an assured position,
no troubles. no cares. nothing in her
life to make 1t sad. or sordid or inter
eSung Louisa Harris and ro-
nance! /. Why. she was not even
pretty. She had neither violet eyes nor
hair OF rudy gold. The latter was
brown and the former were. gray. ).
How could romance come in the way OF
gray eyes. and OF q girl named LouiSap
Can you conceive. for instance. nne
OF those adorable detrimentals OF low
degree and empty pocket who have a.
way or arousing love in the hearts OF
the beautiful daughters OF irascible mil
liOnaires. can you conceive such an in
terestinE parsonage. l say. falling ia
o with Louisa Harris?
confess that I catlnot TO begin
with. dear. kind Squire Harris was not
altogether a millionaire, and no at all
lrascible. and penniless owners OF ro-
nnan!ic personalities were not on his
twisting list.
Therefore Louisa. living a prosy life
OF luxury. got up every morning. ate
q copicts breakfast. walked out with
the dogs. hunted In the autumn, SLATED
IN the winter. did the London season.
as hundreds and hundreds Of other
well born. well bred English girls Of
average means. average positions. aver
age cducations. hunt. dance. and play
tennis throughout the length and
breadth Of this country.
There WAS no room for romance In
such q life. no time for It. The life
itself was SO full already-so full OF the
huTndrum OF daily rounds. OF common
tasks. that the heart which beat with
such ordinary regularity in the SEEM
ing!ly ordinary breast Of q very ordinary
girl did SO all unconscious Of the in
tense pathos which underlay this very
ordinary existence.
Vaguely Louise knew that some
where, beyond ven the land OF dreams.
there lay. all unknown. all mysterious,
q glorious world OF romance: a uni
verse pcnpled by giriish imaginings.
and the sensitive, creating thoughts Of
poets. by tho %galloping phantasies Of
supeT-cxcited brains. and the vague
longtngs Of ambitious souls. n universe
wherein dwolt alike the memories Of
those Who have loved and the hopes
OF those who suffer. but when she
thought OF L all. she did 81 az one who
from tho arid plain gaxes on the cool
streams q golden minarets which the
FAIRY Fate MOrgana cOnjures on the
horizon fRr away. She looked on Il as
Al unreal n altogether beyond her
Ken. She shut her rye to tho beautiful
mirage. her heart against Its childish
yeAruinga.
auch things did not exist. They
we're not Tor her-Louisa Harris. The
Nttles kttchsn maid ut the cour4swh0, on
Sunday evenings. went on RigGling. her
chubby fAco glowing with pride and, the
result OF recent additions. onHthe arm
Of Jim i third gardener. knew more
sabout that world OF than well
dreamed or In their commonplace
philosophy.
Ana Louisa Harris had always shut
s00WM book which spoke OF such
1snpoaslbse this. counted herself
2 81 th~ strong ones OF the earth.
Tnereforc nov. With Luke's letter In
her hand IN witch he tells her IN q
very 0ew words that he loves her be-Y
syOnd anything on earth. and that No
On1y WottA thu day when he can call