Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-03-03
In THE CLEANING
Hearts That Were Longing For
Dream That Never Came
True.
ev DOROTHY ok.

. ! things OF tner lives. Only the Ntt,
Young care to look at the stag
through opera glasses. Older peopl
{ are glad to cherish their Illusions, an'
to know their friends without know
ing their stories.
Nevertheless. I accepted her invita-
ton when Sally Grand asked me t
be one of a party she was entertaining
at her country place. There we're sew
eral pretty girls staying with her, 9
half dozen unattached men, and Tom
Moreton, and his wife.
Good heavensl" said to Sally the
first night of my visit, as she came
to my room in kimona and slippers
for bedtime chat. What made you
ask her?'
Because" she replied, with wither-
ing scorn, II couldn't ask him without
asking her l should think even you,
who pride yourself on scorning con-
ventionality. must see that"
ooh. suppose So" replied dis
consolately.
Il am glad you see it," returned Sal
ly. But after ALL" she added hope
fully, she isn't so bad as we expect
ed"
81 never had your power of imagi-
nation" l answered. I'm my widest
fancies never anticipated anything
worse than the reality"
Don't you think you are little I'M
just?" began Sally. Il am sure she is
very good, and as for her being home
ly-"
1T isn't the ugliness," I interrupt
ed. 81 never object to lack of beauty
in another woman. Somehow its a
kind Of ready-madeness about her that
gets on your nerves. You feel that she
got her religion and her politics and
her opinions and her tastes from the
most reputable shop. and that she
took what was recommended to her as
being the proper thing without exer-
cising a particle of individual taste. I
don't suppose" l added viciously,
that she ever ate an indigestible
thing or had an original sin impulse
in her life"
"She's always so calm and collect
ed" said Sally,
That's just it," exclaimed you
couldn't get up an argument with her
to save your life. Poor Tom! Just
fancy the misery Of being married to
person you couldn't quarrel with
who would always be self-controlled
and dignified, and in the right"
ut was a queer choice for a man of
Toms Temperament" commented Sal
ly, but II was a fine match for him. "
you mean she had lots of money!
1 answered brutally.
DO you think Tom mar-do you
think that had anything to do with his
choice of herr" asked Sally.
mo, l don't" | replied holly, be-
cause in my heart l believed 1t had
You see have known Tom ever since
he was a slip of lad, and loved him
with the queer maternal feeling God
| sometimes puts into an old maids
heart, and because he had disappoint-
ed me, because | feared that he had
sold what was best and noblest in
him for money, l hated the woman
who had tempted him 10 marry her for
her millions and who did not even
know how to understand the soul-as
finely tuned as a violin-that dwelt in
silence by her side.
He is such a brilliant fellow" went
on Sally calmly, so full of talent and
ability that although-er-er = his
wife isn't-er-just one of us, / was
glad to hear that he had married her.
She is so enormously rich, and can
help him so at the beginning of his
career, and he only needed a chance
to get his foot on the first rung OF the
ladder. ! hear he is doing wonder
fully, and is quite sure of the nomina-
ton for the senate now"
"He may be wildly in love with
her" | said, "for all know. De gusti-
bus-you know. / am told there are
people who actually like breakfast
foods"
"Ah!" returned Sally, hopefully.
she'll do him good. She'll discipline
him. He's always been so impulsive.
and erratic. you know"
But don't want him disciplined"
l answered Grossly. that was the
charm Of him-the wild. sweet ways,
and the uncertainty Of what he would
do next"
And with that put Sally out and
locked the door, and lay long into the
night thinking Of the man | pictured
eating his heart out in lonely silence
by the side of his uncomprehending
wife.
He asked her for bread" said to
myself as | fell asleep. "and she gives
him gold. wonder If IL satisfies the
hunger Of his soul?"
IL was perhaps a week after this
that we were sitting In the cleaning |
A big fire glowed upon the wide |
hearth in the hall. and there was a |
pungent odor of absinthe and other
apertifs upon the anti-prandial air.
Tom was at the piano singing. some |
quaint, sad ballad, that he filed with |