The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-08-24

He was puzzled. What do you
mean?"
"An these" Her hand indicated
the marble men and women.
He laughed. -Great old freaks,
aren't they?"
Freaks!
Godsi
Well. of course, it all depended
absolutely on the point OF view.
st like them all, she said, sturdi-
". "even the ones in the hideous
frock coats" /"
Surely not, my dear"
Eyes, do. They may be bad
art. but they're good Americans.
His laugh was indulgent. After
you've been abroad a few times,
you won't be SO provincial"
"If being provincial means loving
my own, I'll stay provincial"
"Travel broadens the mind,
changes the point of view"
"But why should | love my coun-
try less? I know her faults. And I
know Baldy's. But love him just
the same"
AS they walked on, he fell into
step with her. "We won't argue.
You are probably right, and if not,
you're too pretty for me to contra
dict"
His gallantry was faultless, but
she wanted more than gallantry.
There had been the vivid give and
take of her arguments with Evans.
They had had royal battles, youth
had crossed swords with youth. And
from their disagreements had come
convictions.
She had once more the illusion Of
Frederick as a feather cushion! He
would perhaps agree with her al
ways!
And her soul would be-smoth-
cred!
It was the morning of the day
that she was going to the Delafield
Simms, and Jane was packing her
bag. She felt unaccountably de-
pressed. During this weekend her
engagement would be announced.
And when Judy came they would be
married in the Sherwood church.
And that would be the end of It'll
Her lover had planned the honey
moon with enthusiasm, "Dieppe,
Jane, Avignon-the North Sea. Such
sunsets"
Jane felt that she didn't care in
the least for sunsets or trips abroad.
She was almost frightened at her
indifference to the wonders of a
world of which Frederick talked
continually. Oh, what were noun
tains and sea at time like this?
Her heart should beat high-the
dawns should be rosy, the nights
full of stars. But they were not.
Her heart was like stone in her
breast. The mornings broke gray
and blank. The nights were dark.
Her dreams were troubled.
She had found, indeed, that she
had little voice in any plans that
Frederick made for her. When he
consulted her on matters of redec-
Grating the big house he brought to
the subject a wealth of technical
knowledge that appalled, her. Jane
knew what she liked, but she did
not know why she liked it. But
Frederick knew. He had the lore o.
period furniture at his fingers ends
Rugs and tapestries-paintings ant
/ porcelainsl He had drawings made
and water-color sketches, anC
brought them out to Jane. She hae
a feeling that when the house was
finished it would be like some ex
| quisitely ordered mausoIeum. There
would be no chintzes, no pussy-cats
purring, no Philomel singing
AS for clothes! Frederick's mino
dwelt much on the subject. Jane
was told that she must have an er
mine wrap, and one of Persian
lamb. Most of her things would bt
made in Paris-there was mar
over there who did things in jus
the right style for her-picturesqut
but not sophisticated. Frederick wa.
already having certain jewels Sc
appropriately. Gray pearls and EN-
eralds-he had even gone to The
point of getting samples of silk ane
chiffon that she might see the
smoke-g gray and jade color-schemt
he had in mind for her.
Samples!
A mans mind shouldn't be OF
| clothes. He should have othel
| things to think of.
There was Evans, for example
He had described the other nigh
the boys club he was starting il
Sherwood. ''In the old pavilion
Jane. 1t will do as it is in summer
and in winter we'll enclose it. Ant
we are to have a baseball team
and play against the surrounding
towns. You should see my littl,
lads"
That was the kind of thing to liv,
for, to live with. Ideas. Effort. Sh,
had always known it. Yet for ;