Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-01-20
JAMES Temptation
BY MADGE WEST.
upright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union

AS Jane looked back over the past 1t
seemed that the eclipse Of the Stew
arts began with the coming of the
Westovers. James father. years ago,
had followed his old father as village
doctor. When young Ned Westover
had come breeZing into town, winning
with his city ways and shining new
office equipment-an easy professional
victory, James Stewart stubbornly en-
deavored to hold his footing, manag-
ing only the humblest living. So
James lived his conscientious and real
ly capable life, overShadOwed by the
aggressive personality Of the more
confident physician. And when he at
last died his young daughter. left
motherless In her childhood, had but
the labor of her hands to count upon
for livelihood. And James small
hands knew no other labor save that
entailed in the duties of her fathers
household. Jane was dismayed at the
possibility of her future. and it was
with gratitude akin to devotion that
made that for the time being she
should make Myra's home her own.
The daughter of her old fathers rival
had, it seemed, inherited his prosper
ity and good fortune, and while Jane
swept the rooms of her fathers home
Myra had travelled. perfecting her art
studies and finding pleasures be-
slowed all along her way. When Doc
tor WestOver's successful career was
forever ended-and he had not lived
long to enjoy the fruits of it-Myra
returned from abroad. selling the
great house and building a beautiful
bungalow. It was to this daintily ap-
pointed home that she invited Jane, to
be, as Myra smilingly suggested, her
"companion and homekeeper." Myra
did not exactly say general house
keeper, but that was exactly James
position. But the heart Of the lonely
she felt. was her benefactor indeed.
And Myra adjusting costly furs over
costly suit preparatory to starting
upon trip whose duration would de-
pend upon her own interest in it, con-
graduated herself upon the acquisition
Of faithful and tireless hOmekeeper.
With Jane installed in the bungalow,
Myra could be completely at rest re.
garding her own affairs, sure of a
satisfying welcome when she returned
Jane was firm in her refusal of stat
ed salary.
Are you not giving me q homer
she had asked, with her fathers un-
selfish inconsistency.
And Myra. struggling her shoulders,
smiled shrewdly at this gratifying 10y
atty.
The gifted illustrator laughed her
way easily through life. unmoved by
various suitors to whom her charm
and beauty appealed. Jane had known
but one romance, hidden carefully
through the years in the most secret
place of her heart. This romance car.
ried the same pathOs as her unselfish
life. Bob Moore had stopped at the
little house of the humble doctor to
laugh and chat with the doctors sweet
daughter. Then Bob Moore had gone
to the great house-and Myra West.
over had smiled upon him. That was
the end. That was always the end
where Jane was concerned. When
Bob went away, Jane expected to hear
Of his return to claim Myra as his
bride. But Bob had not returned
and Jane still cherished-her memo.
ries. 1t was when Myra was away
upon one of her trips that Jane
learned of Bob Moore's presence in
town. She was in the kitchen when q
neighbor brought the news and Jane
looked down with sudden rebellion al
her print dress. Bob Moore would
call, of course-and he would find her
thus-Myra's servant. "Why?" Jane
asked with new resentment, "should
all gifts of life be bestowed upon one
wOman?" Then to her came her one
temptation. For that evening at least
she would live as Myra-be Myra. Bob
Moore should find her, Jane Stewart
hostess of the stone bungalow. She
hesitated only a moment, before the
mirror in Myra's deserted room. then
sorted. hurriedly, the dresses left in
Myra's wardrobe. Jane chose delib.
erately a white frock of finest lace,
and around her waist she knotted a
blue ribbon. The white satin slippers
were Myra's, too. In Myra's charm.
ing fashion, Jane loosened and coiled
her hair. Then with new graceful as.
surance, she went out upon the veran-
da-to wait. Bob Moore-Robert c.
Moore. man Of affairs-came present.
ly, smiling his pleasure. Bob. too, was
having his memories-his first love
stood before him tonight, the girl he
had never been able to forget.
81 am glad" he said as they sat
and talked, "that Myra and you have
made your home together. Though
from what Myra told me, when l went
away. l supposed that you would long
since have married. If | had not be-