The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-10-06

u0re looked quite dlspleased.
ooh, you think so, too, do your he
said, then gave himself up to silent refec-
ton for moment of two. ayes" he
presently went on, IA very attractive wo-
man. A pretty name. Veronica Yer
onica Sounds like Desdemona, somehow.
She's good fgure-very good taste in
dress, should say-and charming man
ner, certainly charming manner-sweet
sort of face, too. IF only she were a bit
younger, now.
"0h, she's decidedly TOO old for you;
most unsuitable" said Mr.. Pindar, getting
up and knocking the ashes rather violently
out of his pipe She is Mrs. Hooker's
stepdaughter; belongs TO first family,
must be quite your own age. The younger
ones would suit you better than Veronica. "
Il don't know that they would, said
Theodore peryersely. "Why shouldn't a
man marry woman his own age? You're
very likely to have the same tastes. like
the same things, if you're. the same a.ge
Now, when man of 35 marries quite
young girl he's seen everything and done
everything, and she wants to see everything
and do everything, then rows begin about
seeing and doing everything, and it all ends
badly Newspapers full of that sort of
thing; read case of that kind only the
other day. liked that girl Veronica.
She looks nice on lawn, and there is a
good deal of lawn at my place
Mr. Pindar looked annoyed. 81 am of
Shakespeare's opinion, he said
Let still the woman take
An elder than herself; so wears she to him,
So sways she level in her husbands S heart.
'I cart think why she has never mar
ried," went on Theodore, with unaffected
indifference to Shakespeare, "dO you hap
pen to know?''
"I have never sought to find out Miss
Hookers private affairs, replied Mr.. Pin
dar, rising and speaking very stifAy, "and
even if l had been confded in | should
not dream of making them the subject of
discussion.
1t would have been evident to most peo
pie that he was getting irritated, but The
odore was little obtuse of perception.
"One thing l noticed, he went on calmly,
''she has uncommonly pretty feet. Did
you ever notice her feet, Pindar?"
81 am not in the habit of noticing la
dies feet" replied Mr.. Pindar, little
sharply.
"0h, you parsons" exclaimed Theodore,
with an incredulous chuckle.
Excuse me, said Mr.. Pindar, with an
impatient movement, "but l have an hours
work l must do before dinner. Perhaps
you'll take a stroll, meanwhile
'sOh, Tn all right, don't distress your
self about me. I'll have another smoke.
So nice in this armchair with sun stream
ing in and bees humming outside. I'll
lust imagine I'm at home, with Veronica
as my wife; and if that seems pleasant
Good heavens! what bang Can't the
man shut door quietly after him?"
Ten days later Mrs. Hooker gave gar
den party, to which she invited all the
chief families in the neighborhood, the
rector and his friend being naturally in-
Guided. =, mere re was great excitement at the
Grove on the day of the event. No pains
were spared to make the house and grounds
look their very best, and when the girls
came down ready dressed at 4 o'clock it
was evident they had spared no pains on
themselves. Mrs Hooker looked at them
with pardonable pride when she joined
them on the lawn.
"You all look very nice y she said ap-
provingly 81 d,.t know when you have
looked so well, Mary that new dress is
most becoming. am glad you are wear
ing white, Lizzie and Daisy; | do ike young
people in white. I'm very fond of that
soft mauve dress of yours, Veronica, though
it's not new. 1t makes you look younger
than anything else you wear
The younger girls beamed, but Veron-
lea WINGED as though there were some hid
den sting in her stepmother's words.
II wonder whether Mr. Pindar and his
friend will come late or early" went on
Mrs. Hooker, settling her matronly form
in large garden chair.
The girls looked embarrassed for mo-
ment. Not one of them would have con-
fessed it, but all had guilty conscious
ness the garden party had been given by
their mother solely for the sake of Mr..
Pindar's eligible friend. Mary spoke first.
"Oh, they'll come some time" she re-
marked, with great assumption of care
lessness.
Really, Mary, how clever Of you to
know thatl' exclaimed Lizzie pertly.
"Was it natural intuition which led you to
the knowledge or intense study OF the
probabilities
"You're both equally anxious on the
subject, anyway" remarked Daisy.
Little girls should be seen and not
heard" rejoined Lizzie sharply. Daisy
was ready with an equally sharp retort,
but Mrs. Hooker interfered.
''Now, girls, no squabbling she said
authoritatively. "Mary, remember Mr..
Vane plays tennis with you against Mr..
Paget and Lizzie on the best court You
two had better go and see if the net is all
right
II don't see why should be marked off
beforehand for Mr. Paget, said Lizzie dis
contentedly to her sister, as they walked
off to the tennis court. ''Mr Vane might
be allowed to, choose his own partner
''Never mind, we shall be all playing to-
gether," remarked the good-natured Mary;
"and really it is just as well to arrange
everything for Mr.. Vane, for he never
seems able to decide anything for himself !"
Mrs. Hooker next sent Daisy to rear
range the position of some chairs and rugs,
and then she returned to Veronica and
said
"Don't you think Mary looks remarka-
bly, well this afternoon?'
"Yes, do, replied Veronica pleasantly;
blue suits her complexion so admirably.
But always admire Mary, she is so bon
nie-looking.
II think Mr.. Yane decidedly admires
her" went on the complacent mother;
"has it struck you SO? He has been here
so much this last week; scarcely an after
noon that he has not strolled up"
eyes, he has been here a good deal, .
said Varonica. t.huf co far hiS a3fanfions