The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-09-04

OF Euitn, while Dewailing the positive
virtues which made her so disagreea-
BILE.
"I met Allen Holbrook in tho lob
by and he stood and talked with me
without removing his hat" she an
nounced to her Best Friend after they
had lunched and we're seated in one
of the parlors of the hotel.
"Then 1 suppose you will disallow
him single good quality" remarked
the b. j..
"But il was such want of respect"
complained Edith.
"Put it on another basis. Perhaps,
New Woman, he was treating you
with the freedom Of good comradeship?
Could he pay you II greater compli-
ment?"
"rhe new woman will demand every
acknowledgment of social FORM, an
swered T. lith. "It was unbearablc
rudeness
"Let us think that he was so glad
to see you that he never once thought
of his hat, it will be more charitable.
But tell me, for am dying to know,
is II oyal Mathews to be the happy
man?"
"Royal Mathews is mn insuiferable
boor," retorted Edith with a good
deal of asperity, showing that she was
secretly hurt.
"What did he do? You told me he
was to dine with you yesterday. Did
he eat with his knife?"
"Worse-a thousand times worse"
"Did he do ns Emmerson did when
Margaret Fuller was his guest cat in
his shirt-slcevcs?"
"No-and he is not an Emerson. "
"l insist upon you telling me the
depth and breadth of his transgres-
sion. If you do not | shall ask him
m yself when he calls at five, as he pro-
missed.
"very well, will tell you, and the
consequences be on your own head
You know that | pride myself on my
housekeeping, aud that oil the glass
and silver is taken care of by myself.
I think | can claim spotless brilliancy
on the table ware, yet when that man
sat down at the table, what do you
think he did? Bat you woald never
| guess-no, not i'll n lifetime. The
wretch picked up a corner of the table,
cloth and deliberately polished first
his glass, then the plate, and finally
the silver at his plate. 1t was done in
a moment, bat with no attempt at con-
cealment. ] was so thankful that no
one else saw him-th, aft ,ir would
| have been talked over in the kitchen /"
Edith waited for n Uarst OF indigna-
ton from her b. f.. and was surprised
at peal of laughter. This was fol-
lowed by grave thoughtfulness, aud
then the Best Friend said:
"My delr, Royal Mathews WAS un.
consciously following habit acquired
at the hotels of our couatry, where
| food is served in haste. and often by
incompetent help. do not imagine
the poor fellow was for a moment con-
scious of what h. was really doing,
an admit that the habit is n vary
careless one. Bat it rates several de-
gress less than II crime.
~ don't know about that, said
Edith, but with II relieved look. 81
have alway, looked upoa a mtn's
manners as his credentials; they
either uplift him or degrade him"
"Yes, my L lith, but you must not
forget the 'aw ul soul that dwells in
clay You make much of the accom-
plishments of the clay, but there is
the deeper life that is its sanitation.
And now may ask, what is that OBJ.
ject on which you have been wseaking
your will ever since We came in from
the table?"
Filth looked and was nghast
at is n tnble Napkin" she said ;
"where did get il?'
Carried it OFF with you uncon-
sciously. Oh, woman OF cruel judS-
msnt! Suppose were to accuse You
of appropriation? You see now easy
it is to forget ourselves and become in
IA moment objects of condemnation OF
suspicion. Charity. my dear, will
even condone the swallowing of knives
and tho abstraction OF napkins.
The Best Friend rang the bell and
gave waiter the suspicious object.
Then royal Mathews was announced,
aud was astonished beyond measure