The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-01-06


ter possible for them. Congenial! AS
though finding society congenial were
the end-all OF a beautiful, cultured |
girls life. Being congenial won't help |
you any, when you see the wrinkles |
coming. Congenial! oh, indeed.
"You speak of people in this place |
as though they were inconsiderable. |
I'm afraid"
so they are inconsiderable," she |
cut in, rising young men, promising |
young men, young men OF intelligence
in facial young men, but young
men without money. There's no sense
in our trying to evade what's in each
Of our minds. When you say, it's
quite congenial here, you mean Hugh
Keene; and when l say inconsider-
able people and young men Of every
kind but young men with money,
mean Hugh Keene."
She rose to go indoors.
But that's all nonsense. One can't
live on promises or inconvertible in
telligence. You really should appre-
ciate that. I'll do my best to meet
this Mr.. Walker; we can arrange 1t at
the club-and you" her shoulders
shrugged expressively. Then sudden
ly her hard face softened ETHEL
thought it looked much nicer inflex-
ible), and she came quickly toward
her daughter.
It's been an awful drag, dear
more of a drag than you at this time
can appreciate. It's because don't
want that you should ever have to
appreciate what denial means that I'm
so anxious you should be comfortable.
| Anything but a lack of money. That
is doubly unbearable for those who are
used to luxury. Think of that-try
to imagine yourself without the lux
uries you have come to consider the
necessities of life, and you might get
an inkling of what l mean" She
turned and went into the house.
Edith was splendidly, vibrantly alive
as she mixed with the many people in
the reception room of the exclusive
Sunset club the night of the annual
ball. She wore a wonderfully filmy
cream colored gown that artistically
subordinated itself to the soft beauty
of her face.
Mrs. Hilton was there, seeing ALL
understanding all, her deep piercing
eyes darting everlastingly about the
busy room, ready at any moment to
appreciate anything that happened
any place-in visual touch every
second with the entire room. Both
Edith and her mother were the guests
of Hugh Keene.
In one corner of the room, sur
rounded by group of worshipers of
the shrine of gold, stood Walker.
When Hugh led Edith back after the
first dance, Mrs. Hilton spoke to him,
drawing him slightly out of the range
of passing guests.
THAT man over in the corner, the
one in the center of that group, dark
haired, rather coarse featured, he's
Mr.. Walker, I believer"
"Yes."
Can you arrange SOS we'll meet
him."
Certainly, If you care to-I'll bring
him over"
"Of course you won't say"
Nonsense, he'll come to meet you!'
He started for the far corner Of the
room and in few moments returned
Walker in tow.
Introductions we're soon over.
Walker bowed deferentially to Age
gallantly to Beauty, and all stood talk
ing until Mrs. Hilton graciously indi
Gated that Hugh offer her his arm He
did, rather reluctantly, and they moved
off, leaving Edith and Walker alone.
Hugh was worried at the evident at
| traction that Walker and Edith seemed
/ to have for each other; so worried
/ that he proposed to her during the
H very next dance-proposed and was
H put off with a
H This is so sudden, Hugh. hardl!
H know my own mind"
H The worry did not leave him tn,
i next day, did not even leave him tina
Il afternoon when Walker called on hin
1 and gave him q stock-buying commits
/ sion, and showed his confidence b,
leaving with him a certified check TO
l $3.50, 900, though the prospect of tn
commissions on the trading did opel
Il up possibilities.
Thoughts of Edith filed Hugh
1 every working moment. Now cam
j this stranger to their city and int
their society, and opened up prospect
IT of wealth and luxury to their val
I'd souls that made his offering seem il
considerable. 1t was impossible, vi
terIy, to contend with him from thi
o. angle, it would take years-unless-
Is He shook the thought from him, fee
ing unutterably wicked that b
Is should have allowed 1t a place in hi
"a mind at all All the way home, an
e before he got into bed that night. h
> tried to think of some way of owe
Is coming the tremendous advantage {
Walkers money-and always cam
y back that dark thought, each banisl
ment seeming only to increase tn
he subtle insidiousness of the next a
le tack, until he fell asleep, alternatel
'e hating himself and returning to tn
IT. thought that darkly, fascinating
le followed that word, unless"
Mt The next morning, on arising, /
OF felt free of the fearful temptation I
90 last evening 1t was cheerless fire
dom, however, when he realized full
at again the hopelessness of his positio
might better say it was cheerle:
. freedom until he realized again Il
n hopelessness of his position; for wit
,p- that full realization he was no long;
ou free, except in the sense that the '