Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-27
THE .
WOMAN IN BLACK
BIZ EDMUND CLERlHEW BENTLEY

4
men of Is in these days could face
such an ordeal, suppose. / have
observed sort of initiative hardness
about the products of the higher
education of women today which
would carry them through anything,
perhaps. | am not prepared to say
it is a bad thing in the conditions
of feminine life prevailing at pres
ent. Mabel, however, is not like
that. She is as unlike that as she is
unlike the siInpering misses that
used to surround me as a child. She
has plenty of brains; she is full of
character; her mind and her tastes
are cultivated; but it is all mixed
! up"-Mr Cupples waved his hands
in vague gesture-"with ideals of
refinement and reservation and wo-
manly mystery. l fear she is not a
child of the age. You never knew
my wife, Trent. Mable is my wife's
child"
The younger man bowed his head.
They paced the length of the lawn
before he asked gently: why did
she marry him?"
II don't know" said Mr.. Cupples
briefly.
Admired him, I suppose" sug-
gested Trent.
Mr.. Cupples shrugged his Shout
ders. II have been told that a wo-
man will usually be more or less at
tracted by the most successful man
in her circle. Of course we cannot
realize haw wilful, dominating
personality like his would influence
a girl whose affections were not be-
slowed elsewhere; especially if he
laid himself out to win her. 1t is
probably an overwhelming thing to
be courted by man whose name
is known all over the world. She
had heard of him, of course, as
financial great power, and she had
no idea-she had lived mostly
among people of artistic or literary
propensities-how much soulless in
humanity that might involve. For
all I know, she has no adequate idea
of it to this day. When l first
heard of the affair the mischief was
done, and knew better than to in
terpose my unsought opinions. She
was of age, and there was absolutely
nothing against him from the con-
ventional point of view. Then
dare say his immense wealth would
cast spell over almost any woman
Mabel had some hundreds a year of
her own; just enough, perhaps, to
let her realize what millions really
meant. But all this is conjecture
She certainly had not wanted to
marry some scores of young fell
lows who, to my knowledge, had
asked her; and though I don't be-
lieve, and never did believe, that she
really loved this man of IS, she
certainly did want to marry him.
But if you ask me why, can only
say I don't know"
Trent nodded, and after a few
more PAGES looked at his watch.
you've interested me so much"
he said, "that I had quite forgotten
my main business. I mustn't waste
my morning. I am going down the
road to White Gables at once, and
I dare say shall be poking about
there until midday. If you can meet
me then, Cupples, I should like to
talk over anything I find out with
you, unless something detains me-"
II am going for a walk this morn
ing" Mr.. Cupples replied. II mean
to have luncheon at little inn near
the golf course, the Three Fins.
You had better join me there. It's
further along the road, about quar-
ter of mile beyond White Gables
You can just see the roof between
those two trees. The food they
give one there is very plain, but
good"
$50 long as they have a cask of
beer" said Trent, "they are all
right. We will have bread and
cheese. and oh. NAV Heaven Our