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<v Speaker 1>Chapter twelve of Wired Love by Elichiva Thayre. This LibriVox

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<v Speaker 1>recording is in the public domain. Crosses on the line.

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<v Speaker 1>It happened that, not long after Sin sang, at a

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<v Speaker 1>concert given in one of the principal halls of the city,

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<v Speaker 1>of course, a party from the hotel Norman attended. This

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<v Speaker 1>party consisted not only of the young people, but also

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<v Speaker 1>included Missus Simonson. Syn made a great success and was

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<v Speaker 1>on courd every time she sang. Never had nat so

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<v Speaker 1>fully realized the beauty and brilliancy of her friend as

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<v Speaker 1>she did upon that evening, Nor could she fail to

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<v Speaker 1>observe that Clem too was startled into a new admiration.

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<v Speaker 1>Was it because of this that a seriousness quite foreign

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<v Speaker 1>to the gay scene fell over Natty's face. As for Celeste,

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<v Speaker 1>she was decidedly envious, and had there been no gentleman

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<v Speaker 1>in the party, would have turned exceedingly glum. As it was,

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<v Speaker 1>she with some difficulty, called up her usual smiles and

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<v Speaker 1>contented herself with whispering spitefully to Quimby, how could she

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<v Speaker 1>appear before the public so it seems so unwomanly charming? Indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>replied Quimby, without the slightest idea of what she had said,

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<v Speaker 1>as his attention was concentrated on sin and his brain

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<v Speaker 1>incapable of entertaining two ideas at once. But while acknowledging

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<v Speaker 1>her attractions, Quimby preserved his composure, arguing to himself in

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<v Speaker 1>a common sense way, what is the use of a

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<v Speaker 1>fellow falling in love with a girl that every other

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<v Speaker 1>fellow is sure to fall in love with two? You know,

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<v Speaker 1>Missus simpson good soul quite swelled with pride in her lodger,

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<v Speaker 1>and by her behavior created the impression in the minds

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<v Speaker 1>of people sitting near that she was the singer's mother,

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<v Speaker 1>and Joe unsentimental. Joe was entirely carried away with the music,

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<v Speaker 1>of course, for music was art, and art only in

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<v Speaker 1>another branch was his life and work, and was not sin,

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<v Speaker 1>a beautiful work of nature, the mother of all art.

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<v Speaker 1>You will be a very lucky man who shall call

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<v Speaker 1>our sin, his whispered Clem to Joe, as she came

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<v Speaker 1>out in answer to an encore. What ejaculated Joe so

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<v Speaker 1>savagely that every one turned to look at him, And

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<v Speaker 1>Clem opened his eyes wide with surprise. Bad nonsense, and

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<v Speaker 1>some way or other. After this, the music sounded very

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<v Speaker 1>dismal to Joe, and the close air of the room

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<v Speaker 1>made his headache. But he had been working very hard

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<v Speaker 1>all day and was tired, so this was quite natural.

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<v Speaker 1>Was Clem presuming on his good looks and thinking of

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<v Speaker 1>making Sin his? He wondered if he was, she certainly

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<v Speaker 1>would not be fool enough to Joe stopped here in

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<v Speaker 1>his meditations because he would like to have been a

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<v Speaker 1>little sure that she would not. Very strongly, he felt

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<v Speaker 1>just then that things of a doubtful nature were sometimes

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<v Speaker 1>very uncertain. It was, of course, no sentiment on his

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<v Speaker 1>part that caused these emotions. He did not wish Sin

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<v Speaker 1>to throw herself away in matrimony, that was all, And

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<v Speaker 1>so strong were his feelings on this point that he

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<v Speaker 1>could not banish the idea from his mind all the

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<v Speaker 1>rest of the evening, and was noticeably thoughtful. But he

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<v Speaker 1>was very gay, even unusually wildly gay, on the way home,

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<v Speaker 1>and kept Missus Simonson, whom he escorted, in such a

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<v Speaker 1>state of laughter that she burst three buttons and was

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<v Speaker 1>all waged up when they reached the hotel. Why are

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<v Speaker 1>you so thoughtful? To night Claire masked Natty as they

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<v Speaker 1>walked down their street behind the rest in the wake

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<v Speaker 1>of Joe's gaiety and Celeste's meaningless giggle. The Leste was

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<v Speaker 1>clinging to the arm of the unwilling but helpless Quimby

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<v Speaker 1>and chatting of the handsome tenor. With a slight start,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty replied to Clem's question, I do not know, am I. Yes,

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<v Speaker 1>you have hardly spoken a word all the way. There

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<v Speaker 1>is anything the trouble, asked Clem, and she looked moodily.

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<v Speaker 1>Oh the ground did not see the anxiety in his

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<v Speaker 1>eyes as he spoke nothing, she replied, then startled him

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<v Speaker 1>by bursting out passionately. I'm tired of living with no object,

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<v Speaker 1>with nothing but a daily routine. Can it be there

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<v Speaker 1>is no better place in the world for me that

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<v Speaker 1>my life must always be? Thus I cannot be contented.

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<v Speaker 1>Clem stopped short and stared at her agitated face. I

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<v Speaker 1>never knew you were not happy, Natty, he said gently. Oh,

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<v Speaker 1>I am not unhappy. I am only discontented. Natty replied.

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<v Speaker 1>You are somewhat contradictory in your statements, said Clem as

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<v Speaker 1>they went on again, for she also had stopped. Is

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<v Speaker 1>it of its troubles that annoy you, poor little girl.

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<v Speaker 1>It is a monotonous life. Natty flushed at the tenderness

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<v Speaker 1>in his voice. That is one thing, she replied, a

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<v Speaker 1>little tremblingly. But I want something to work for a

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<v Speaker 1>Sin has. I am ambitious. My present Usian can never

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<v Speaker 1>content me. I'm haunted all the time by an an

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<v Speaker 1>easy consciousness that if I was smart, I should be

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<v Speaker 1>doing something to get ahead, And yet I don't know

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<v Speaker 1>what to do. I remember you once said something about

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<v Speaker 1>being a writer. Why not try that, suggested Clem. They

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<v Speaker 1>had reached their own landing at the hotel and paused.

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<v Speaker 1>The remainder of the party had disappeared. Seems so hopeless,

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<v Speaker 1>Natty answered, dispiritedly. There is no opening anywhere. But it

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<v Speaker 1>will never do to wait for that. You know, if

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<v Speaker 1>the world is a closed oyster, we must open. It

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<v Speaker 1>is not the way Sin did, said Clem, half surmising

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<v Speaker 1>the realization of the difference between Sin's brilliant success and

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<v Speaker 1>her own plodding along that had caused her dejection. And

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<v Speaker 1>as he spoke, he took her hand in his, but

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<v Speaker 1>Natty snatched it quickly away. Ah Sin, she said, in

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<v Speaker 1>sudden and uncontrollable jealousy. Of course, you would never expect

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<v Speaker 1>me to compare with her, looked at her a moment.

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<v Speaker 1>Then some emotion flashed his face, and he would have

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<v Speaker 1>spoken had not. Miss Cling, disgusted with inability to catch

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<v Speaker 1>a word from inside, opened her door, saying, sharply, are

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<v Speaker 1>you coming in? Miss Orger's certainly, Natty replied quickly, and

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<v Speaker 1>already ashamed of her jealous outburst. Good night, clem, But

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<v Speaker 1>will you not come over and congratulate sin on her success?

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<v Speaker 1>He asked, detaining her. I heard a carriage just stop,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think she is in it. Not to night,

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<v Speaker 1>to morrow, said Natty hastily, and left him before he

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<v Speaker 1>could again urge the request. Ooh, said Miss Cling, as

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<v Speaker 1>Natty closed the door behind her. Was it mister Stanwood

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<v Speaker 1>who came home with you? Yes, Natty answered briefly. I

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<v Speaker 1>should hardly have thought Miss Archer would have allowed it,

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<v Speaker 1>remarked Miss Kling, with a sneeze. I don't know why

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<v Speaker 1>she would have forbidden it, replied Natty coldly, yet looking

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<v Speaker 1>somewhat startled. Poor Natty's nerves were decidedly unstrung. To night.

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<v Speaker 1>You do not mean to say that, your ignorant of

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<v Speaker 1>what every one else knows, queried Miss Kling, with a

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<v Speaker 1>malicious sparkle in her eyes, that they are just the

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<v Speaker 1>same as engaged. Natty turned her very pale face towards her.

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<v Speaker 1>I I think you are mistaken, she faltered. Mistaken now indeed,

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<v Speaker 1>cried Miss Cling positively. I should think your own eyes

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<v Speaker 1>might tell you that why missus Symondson says, miss Archer

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<v Speaker 1>has thought of nobody but him since he came into

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<v Speaker 1>the house, and that anybody can tell he is in

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<v Speaker 1>love with her from its actions and the attention he

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<v Speaker 1>pays her. And Sir Leste told me the same thing

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<v Speaker 1>long ago. But I suppose miss Archer is willing he

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<v Speaker 1>should come home with you. She isn't, of course, jealous

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<v Speaker 1>of you. There was a sneering emphasis in Miss Cling's

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<v Speaker 1>last words that made them anything but complimentary, as Natty felt,

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<v Speaker 1>but saying only in a voice she vainly tried to steady,

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<v Speaker 1>you may be right. She went into her own room

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<v Speaker 1>and locked the door behind her. She knew, now knew

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<v Speaker 1>what that first romantic acquaintance, that dejection at the companionship

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<v Speaker 1>lost in the obnoxious red head, that joy when sea

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<v Speaker 1>was restored to her in clem, that unsatisfied desire to

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<v Speaker 1>have him back on the wire all to herself, that

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<v Speaker 1>suppressed jealousy of Sin led to and what it all

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<v Speaker 1>meant that she loved him and he did he as

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<v Speaker 1>they said, love Sin alas who could help loving bright,

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<v Speaker 1>beautiful Sin to attract him to herself? Was only the

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<v Speaker 1>romance of the first acquaintance, And even this Sin slightly shared.

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<v Speaker 1>It was not Sin's fault. Natty could not be guilty

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<v Speaker 1>of the petty meanness of disliking her friend because she

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<v Speaker 1>possessed attractions superior to her own. But if he loved Sin,

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<v Speaker 1>then indeed had the curtain fallen on the sad ending

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<v Speaker 1>of her romance? The lights were out and all was darkness.

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<v Speaker 1>If he loved Sin, Natty, with the first full knowledge

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<v Speaker 1>of her own feelings, could hardly hope otherwise, remembering her intimacy,

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<v Speaker 1>his marked attention to her, his praise of her and

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<v Speaker 1>her winning beauty and talents. Yes, it must be that

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<v Speaker 1>he loved her. Oh why must Sin be given everything

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<v Speaker 1>and she nothing? What kind of fate was it that

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<v Speaker 1>marked out the broad, sunny road for one and the somber,

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<v Speaker 1>uneven pathway for another? Must her life be one of

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<v Speaker 1>lonely discontent, a telegraph office at the beginning and a

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<v Speaker 1>telegraph office at the end. Was this to be all

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<v Speaker 1>no thought, Natty, raising her head proudly and looking at

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<v Speaker 1>the red and swollen eyes that gazed at her from

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<v Speaker 1>the opposite glass. Life shall give me something of its best,

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<v Speaker 1>if not of love, then of fame, and I will

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<v Speaker 1>work and persevere until I gain it. Yet, for all

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<v Speaker 1>her resolution, Natty sobbed herself to sleep, not so easy

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<v Speaker 1>as it to renounce love and look forward to the

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<v Speaker 1>life barren of its best and sweetest gift. And after

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<v Speaker 1>this there was a change in her observable even to

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<v Speaker 1>the undiscerning Quimby. Shadows had fallen over her face, lurked

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<v Speaker 1>in her gray eyes, and around the corners of her mouth.

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<v Speaker 1>The old restlessness had given place to a settle gloom.

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<v Speaker 1>He was less often seen among the gay circle that

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<v Speaker 1>gathered in Sin's parlor, pleading every possible excuse for staying away,

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<v Speaker 1>and when with them, to his surprise and delight, and

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<v Speaker 1>to Celeste's dismay, she devoted herself to Quimby, to Joe,

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<v Speaker 1>to any one, rather than to Clem. For most of

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<v Speaker 1>all she had changed to him, afraid of betraying her secret,

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<v Speaker 1>and unable to control the pain that overpowered her. When

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<v Speaker 1>in his presence now she knew her own heart. She

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<v Speaker 1>avoided him in every practicable way, and seldom, even over

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<v Speaker 1>their wire, talked with him. He was always tired or

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<v Speaker 1>busy when he called her. Now, Clem, surprised and puzzled

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<v Speaker 1>by this unaccountable change, at first endeavored to overcome her coolness,

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<v Speaker 1>but ended by becoming cool in his turn, and talked

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<v Speaker 1>and joked with Sin more than ever. And if a

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<v Speaker 1>touch of the shadows on Natty's face sometimes crept over

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<v Speaker 1>his own, she in her own self engrossment did not

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<v Speaker 1>observe it. If Quimby's hopes burned brighter at this state

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<v Speaker 1>of affairs, and he was consequently happier, Joe, for some

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<v Speaker 1>reason unexplained, was not. In fact, he was decidedly queer,

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<v Speaker 1>now gay, now horribly cynical, not to say morose. Truly Cupid,

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<v Speaker 1>viewed in the character of a telegraphist, was far from

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<v Speaker 1>being a success, for he had switched everybody on to

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<v Speaker 1>the wrong wire. Sin gay, unconscious, Sin no more dreamed

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<v Speaker 1>of Clem being supposedly in love with her though she

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<v Speaker 1>did that Joe was so filled with thoughts of her that,

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<v Speaker 1>had he been a different kind of a man, one

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<v Speaker 1>would have called him desperately in love but sin unconscious

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<v Speaker 1>of all this sore and with sorrow, the ever increasing

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<v Speaker 1>coldness between Natty and Clem. But she had quite set

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<v Speaker 1>her heart on the romance that had commenced in dots

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<v Speaker 1>and dashes, culminating in orange blossoms, a wired love. Now,

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<v Speaker 1>to her vexation, she saw her anticipations liable to be

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<v Speaker 1>set at nought, and herself unable to obtain even a

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<v Speaker 1>clue to the trouble. Like the line man who goes

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<v Speaker 1>up and down to find where the wires were not work,

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<v Speaker 1>she could not find the break anywhere, and decided that romances,

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<v Speaker 1>whether wired or taken in the ordinary way, are certainly

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<v Speaker 1>very unwildy things to manage. It seems to me that

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<v Speaker 1>you do not use that wire very often, now, she

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<v Speaker 1>said one evening to Clem and Natty, the latter of

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<v Speaker 1>whom she had forcibly dragged forth from the solitude of

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<v Speaker 1>her room. Were it not for me, it would rust.

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<v Speaker 1>Why I used to hear your clatter into the small owls.

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<v Speaker 1>But now now we are more sensible, concluded Natty, leaning

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<v Speaker 1>over the piano to look at some music. One gets

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<v Speaker 1>tired of talking in dots and dashes After a time,

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<v Speaker 1>Poor Natty's trouble made her bitter. Sometimes, yes, one wants

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<v Speaker 1>a person they don't know to talk with in order

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<v Speaker 1>to make it interesting, added Clem. Not to be outdone,

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<v Speaker 1>good gracious, thought Syn dismayed the result of her probing.

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<v Speaker 1>This is really dreadful. Then, she exclaimed impulsively, I hope

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<v Speaker 1>you are not quarreled, you two, oh dear now, replied

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<v Speaker 1>Natty quickly, what should we quarrel about? But Clem, after

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<v Speaker 1>looking at her a moment, advanced and how thatt his hands,

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<v Speaker 1>saying frankly, I believe we have been cross to each

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<v Speaker 1>other of late, although how it happened I do not know.

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<v Speaker 1>So let us make up and be good. Syn looked

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<v Speaker 1>up hopefully at this, but Natty, who could hardly conceal

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<v Speaker 1>her agitation, replied coldly, I do not see that anything

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<v Speaker 1>has been the matter, and, placing a limp hand in

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<v Speaker 1>his for an instant, turned away. Clem bit his lip,

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<v Speaker 1>then took out his watch, saying I believe I have

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<v Speaker 1>an engagement down town. This evening, I shall have to

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<v Speaker 1>leave you now, I fear, ladies. Natty celebrated his departure

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<v Speaker 1>by bursting into tears that she vainly tried to hide

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<v Speaker 1>and was detected in the situation on the sofa by Sin.

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<v Speaker 1>Syn's arms were about her in a moment, and Syn's

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<v Speaker 1>voice said, lovingly, is it dear? Tell me what is

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<v Speaker 1>the matter lately? Trust me with it? Is it about

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<v Speaker 1>Clym with a determination, very brave and unselfish, but unfortunately

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<v Speaker 1>entirely uncalled for, not to mar Sin's happy love by

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<v Speaker 1>her sorrow. Natty checked the tears of which she was ashamed,

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<v Speaker 1>and answered, no, I am very weak and foolish. The

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<v Speaker 1>idea of my crying like a school girl. I'm only

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<v Speaker 1>unhappy because because I'm nobody. And this was all the

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<v Speaker 1>information sympathetic and perplexed Sin could obtain, sitting that night

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<v Speaker 1>on a low cricket before the fire, with her dark

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<v Speaker 1>hair unbound, and it was fortunate for Joe's peace of

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<v Speaker 1>mind that he could not see her just then, as

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<v Speaker 1>she was such an interesting study. Sinn thought it all

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<v Speaker 1>over and could not, as she told herself, make out

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<v Speaker 1>what it was all about. I thought everything was going

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<v Speaker 1>on so smoothly, she mused, And now here is what

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<v Speaker 1>Clem himself would term gotten the wire, and no one

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<v Speaker 1>can find out where it is. Doesn't she love him?

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<v Speaker 1>I want I should If I wish she does he

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<v Speaker 1>love her. If he does not, he is no kind

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<v Speaker 1>of a hero. Oh I know what would test the matter?

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<v Speaker 1>A crisis? After instances, the house would only get on

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<v Speaker 1>fire and Nat burn out, that is almost and Clym

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<v Speaker 1>save her just in time. But this is the sort

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<v Speaker 1>of thing that brings these heroes to terms and the dramas.

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<v Speaker 1>But I suppose everything is so different in real life.

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<v Speaker 1>Clem would not wake up in time, and she would

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<v Speaker 1>burn to a crisp or some one else would save her.

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<v Speaker 1>First Quimby, for instance, he is always doing something he

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<v Speaker 1>ought to Now I don't think it would do to

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<v Speaker 1>risk it. Nevertheless, I am convinced that a crisis is

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<v Speaker 1>what is essential to complete the circuit telegraphically speaking, or

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<v Speaker 1>in other words, to bring down the curtain on everybody,

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<v Speaker 1>embracing everybody with a great a clar end of Chapter twelve.