Miss Miller

“ The card was Orvice’s. The girl was still sufficiently objective to be as much pleased with the flowers themselves as with the fact that Jerry had taken the trouble to send them to her. She enjoyed the enforced calm of her reception of them, as if it were an hourly occurrence, to match the perfect calm of the butler, to whom, indeed, it was. Her whole life now had this delightful element of unreality, as if she were playing an exciting and complicated game. Other women might dress for balls; Marie Louise “dressed up,” as frankly as a little girl on a rainy day. ”

“ The maid returned in a moment.
"Mr. Le Roy is with his mother. He desires that you will not disturb her," she said.
Laurel answered quietly.
"You may go away, and leave me now, Marie, I wish to be alone for awhile."
When the maid had gone she went to the window, drew back the rich curtains of silk and lace and gazed out upon the scene. Night had fallen—the beautiful moonlit summer night. The perfume of roses and honeysuckles came floating heavily on the soft air, the wide expanse of the Hudson shone like a silver sea.
"I must go away from Eden," said the girl-wife to herself, drearily. ”

“ The medicine bottles had been cleared away and the stand that had held them was adorned only by the framed photograph of little Ella May’s monument resting on a gay mat of shaded red worsteds.
[172] Nevertheless it was not this transformation which the other Miller girl noticed first, nor was it considerable in comparison with the real transformation. After a vague, momentary realisation of the sunshine and the gorgeous purple and crimson roses of the border of the carpet, the girl was lost in wonder as she stared incredulously at the figure in the familiar yet strange arm chair. ”

“ Those are wonderful men, and going on the finest trip——-”
“Wasn't your train a little late?”
“No, just on time, but I stopped to see Marie Louise on my way; only,” he laughed, “she was out. Isn’t that a blow to a man who supposes himself impatiently awaited? I shall go back as soon as I’ve brushed myself up a little.”
Mrs. Orvice felt that the moment had come. “Jerry,” she said portentously, “she was not out.”
“Not out? Why, what do you mean?”
“She came here this morning. The poor girl is in great distress. She will not see you. She wishes to break off her engagement. ”

“ The girlish mother leaned a little forward as she sat in the low rocking-chair, her bright curls falling over the loosely flowing white dress like a golden glory. Her pure, innocent eyes looked down at the babe that nestled in her arms, and a low murmur of tenderness escaped her lips.
"My Birdie! my baby!"
"Still sitting up, Grace?"
It was the voice of her husband entering to pay his nightly visit to the little bright-eyed babe—sole heir of his proud name and wealth.
"I am not tired," she answered, in her fresh young voice, "and our little darling is so sweet I cannot bear to lay him down. ”

“ Nevertheless, vain as she undoubtedly was, Anna Miller did not attach undue weight to any of these qualities, and otherwise would have been likely to rate her own powers lower than anyone else would have done. Enjoying life thoroughly, and perhaps more consciously than is usual at her years, she was quite content to be the ‘other Miller girl’ and to endeavor to stop any portion she might of the gap left in hearts and households by Rusty’s absence. ”

“ The pretty shawl fell from her shoulders, and lay, like a great brilliant rose, unheeded on the floor; the long, sweeping train of her blue cashmere morning-dress flowed over it as she walked, the white ermine on her breast and at her throat trembling with the agitated throbs of her heart. Her pure, pale cheek, her eyes darkening under their black lashes, the white, innocent brow, the mobile lips, all showed the trace of suffering bravely borne; but now the patient spirit, tried too deeply, rose within her in desperate rebellion. ”

“ Young as she was, Anna Miller had one quality seldom gained before middle age, and rare even then,—a truly humourous outlook upon the world. The girl viewed life and her fellow human beings almost in the detached manner of a philosopher, yet warmly and sympathetically withal. ”

“ Lorraine, who had come out of her shell almost unbelievably in her week of companionship with Miss Penny, so that now in the crisis she was a very tower of strength not only to Miss Penny but to the Miller household as well, began to be greatly troubled by her daughter’s demeanour. She had rejoiced at the manner in which the girl had bloomed under Anna’s influence, and had been amazed not only at her capacity for learning and power of adaptability but at the generous warmth and sweetness of her nature. She had believed that a real transformation had taken place. ”

“ Miller will do a novel in which most of the men and most of the women are “people”—regular people or irregular people, great or{325} small, does not matter; but they must be people—we in America will be the first to acclaim her.
Of Mrs. Miller herself there are only a few brief facts to be stated. This tall and charming woman was born in New York in 1874, the daughter of James G. K. Duer and Elizabeth (Meads) Duer. She was graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University, in 1899. She was married to Henry Wise Miller of New York on October 5, 1899. ”

“ The poor child stood trembling in the doorway, her dress in disorder, her beautiful hair broken loose from its fastenings, and streaming over her shoulders, her great, blue eyes blazing like stars in her lovely, pallid face, her sweet lips curled in scorn as she pointed her finger at Mrs. Leith, and exclaimed:
"Oh, cruel, unnatural mother! Is your life so pure that you can afford to sit in judgment on me?"
"Is the girl mad?" Mrs. Leith exclaimed, recoiling from her.
"No, I am not mad, although my wrongs have been bitter enough to madden any human being," Golden retorted, passionately. ”

“ The wide sun-hat was tilted carelessly back from the fair low brow with its childish fringe of sunny locks, and the dark eyes with their long curling lashes looked darker still by contrast. A soft color had come into her face, and shy smiles of pleasure hovered around her lips. She looked like a child, with the front of her white overskirt held up in her hands and filled with flowers.
"Do you like flowers?" he asked her. ”

“ It happened that she had ordered and paid for the clothes she wore, but she had a feeling that really they belonged to some one else. She was never laced into an evening dress, with the lovely string of pearls she had bought herself about her neck, without feeling as much made up for the part as if she were about to step upon the stage; as if she were wearing a cotton-velvet cloak trimmed with rabbits’ skin and a tinsel crown. It is the same feeling which every girl has, to a greater or less extent, the first time she puts on a long dress. With Marie Louise, it ran through every action ”

“ Miller told me I wasn’t to come near the station if I couldn’t keep from bawling. So I got through with my crying beforehand and at the last I said to him, ‘Good luck, Miller, and if you come back you'll find I haven't changed any, and if you don’t come back I’ll always be proud you went, and in any case don’t fall in love with a French girl.’ Miller swore he wouldn’t, but you never can tell about those fascinating foreign hussies. ”

“ Then Mrs. Miller spoke, and Miss Forrest's dilated eyes were turned slowly from the major's bulky shape to the matronly form upon the sofa and the woe-begone face that appeared from behind the handkerchief. Miss Forrest's cheeks had paled and her lips were parted. She had seized and was leaning upon the back of a chair, but not one word had she spoken. As Mrs. Miller's voice was heard, it seemed as though a slight contraction of the muscles brought about a decided frown upon her white forehead, but she listened in utter silence. ”

“ That evening when he came on deck—the young men had persuaded him—begging him to come and listen to the sweet voice singing in the moonlight, the voice of a girl as lovely as an angel, but with such a selfish, cruel papa that he would not permit any of them to approach within arm’s length.
“I wish you would storm the citadel of her heart, Laurier, and avenge us!” laughed one.
“You forget that I am going home to be married!” he replied gravely.
“Oh, a little flirtation beforehand need not matter.”
“I beg your pardon. A young girl’s love is too sacred to be trifled with. ”

“ Her husband knelt by her side, clasped the feverish little hands, and kissed the woeful white face, all wet with tears, like a rain-drenched lily.
"Be brave, be patient, my dearest, for you must bear this cruel suspense yet a little longer," he sighed.
"Oh, Paul, you have not found her yet? Then she must be dead, our little darling!"
He had decided to tell her the truth. It would be better than the anguish of wretched uncertainty, so he broke it to her gently, the story of the golden-haired girl who had been carried out of the ballroom unconscious. ”

“ She looked sad. “Dear me,” she murmured, “I’m afraid he is not much good, after all.”
“Oh, your sex’s fatal desire to come to a conclusion! The longer you delay a conclusion, Miss Lee, the better it is. Anyhow, I elicited this much; it won’t be that,” and he nodded above them, where Marie Louise in bronze paillettes was drawing all eyes to her box.
“Oh, I could have told you that myself,” returned Miss Lee, with more confidence than she felt. “He has too much taste and love of——”
“Of you,” Peale put in.
“Of breeding, I was going to say. He does not love me.” ”

“ He stooped down and kissed her with something of the old boyish love so long repressed under the bitter consciousness that she blamed him for Camille’s sorrow.
“Dear mother, you must not be disappointed,” he said, tenderly. “You have set your heart on this girl, I see. Then why not undertake a mission to Virginia? I flatter myself that no one could resist my mother.”
“Do you mean it, Norman? Would you like for me to go?” she cried, in real excitement; and he saw how much her heart was set on having the girl at Verelands. ”

“ Her fancy footwork has become a prime attraction of this box-office smash.
"I was also in George White's Scandals for a year when I was 15," recalls Ann in her dressing room after a performance. "This is my third show only." For most of her career, she has lived in Beverly Hills, California. The veteran of dozens of movies, including On The Town with Frank Sinatra, Miss Miller is a larger-than-life entertainer who believes that her career comes first and foremost, ahead of personal happiness and family. Married and divorced three times, she has no children, but is an ardent animal lover. ”

“ She must have some one to love and care for her in a dear little home of her own. Now, good night, my little darling. You must dream of me, as I shall of you,” kissing her fondly in the shadows before they parted outside the door.
He remained outside to smoke a cigar and revel in his happiness, while Eva hurried along the dim corridor to her own little room.
Doctor St. Clair’s office door opened and he intercepted her, saying in a low, imperative tone:
“I have been waiting for you. Come in; I must speak to you a moment. You need not hesitate. There is no harm coming in my office. ”

“ This woman, Bunker Hill, had been knighted by their queen. She had been picked out, and set apart and over and above all the other fallen women of the Forks.
Even Limber Tim, who stood there on one leg, with his back screwed tight up against the palings, began to like her overmuch, and to wonder why she also would not make some honest man an honest wife. In fact, many men that night recalled many noble acts on the part of this poor woman, and they almost began to feel ashamed that they had sometimes laughed at her plainness, and promised in their hearts to never do so again. ”

“ What are you doing here?” asked Violet.
“Suzanne, miladi, your French maid. Monsieur, your husband, engage me to have care of you.”
“You must not call me miladi. I am an American girl and my name is Miss Mead.”
“Oh, madame, I crave pardon. You are married now. Do you forget? Your name it is Mrs. Harold Castello.”
She saw the beautiful face blanch to the hue of death, heard a stifled cry of anguish cross the pale lips, and cried out, soothingly.
“Be comforted. You have a rich and handsome husband. That is what all the ladies desire. Is it not so?” ”

“ You're wonderful to look at, and strong and wise and violent and mad and superior and all the things women adore. You know almost everything, darling, except the most obvious thing in the world, which you don't seem ever to have suspected.” And she rose, and, kneeling like a beggar in the streets, she walked the length of her chaise longue on her knees until she could put her arms about his neck. “You're in love with me, Benedict, and you have been since we started rehearsals.” ”

“ The girl snatched her hand away and arose, furious with passion, crying:
“Woe be unto that girl! She had better never been born than come between me and my lover!”
“There are other men to love you!” consoled madame.
“What do I care for them? I want only him! And I have been so foolish, I have driven him from me! But no one else shall have him! I swear it!” cried the brunette, her dark eyes flashing wildly, as she paid the fortune teller, adding, “Come, tell me all you told Frank Laurier, and all this is yours!” ”