The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-06

next morning It was Miss Paul who
gracefully and unconcernedly climbed
over the wheel and sat by the VIII
burs. 1t was not that she preferred the
seat, except that she felt instinctively
that they were at a little disadvantage
with the others, and it was, perhaps,
one secret of her perfect bearing in
social circles that her private rule of
pohteness was the little old fashioned
couplet:
PoIteness is to do and say
The kindest thing in the kindest way"
The party was a merry one; they sang
songs and waved the hotel colors as
they drove along. each wagon drawn by
four splendid white horses. They stop
ped at the lake to enjoy the boating
and to hear the echo. While they
fioated on the water Miss Paul sang
two or three Venetian boat songs. to
the great delight of the party.
I learned those of our dark eyed
gondolier." she said.
The Notch was at its grandest that
day and the mountain ridges stood high
ana clear against the cloud1ess sky.
There were other parties out, a tally-ho
coachful and several teams coming from
different directions; but noon time
found them all either dining at the
nearest hotel or lunching in the woods
close by.
A party of southerners. driving up in
a surrey. spied ldil1icent Paul and
hailed her enthusiastically. She brought
them to her own party under the trees
and said, as she presented them:
These travellers are from Georgia.
We met in Washington last winter and
became friends"
Mr.. Wilbur experienced a slight men
tal shock His father had lost both legs
in the war. and he himself had never
thought of a southerner except as a
foe at heart. Yet here were these
people bowling to him with the rest, in
cordial, pleasant fashion.
Language had not been given to Mr.
Wilbur for the purpose of concealine
his thought. He looked earnestly at
the stranger nearest him.
I never expected to meet a south
ern man. he said in blunt tones. my
father was made a cripple in the war"
"And mine lost his life" replied the
southern man gently. But it is all
over now. You and I have one coun-
try
so we have-so we haver said Mr.,
Wilbur, and the two shook hands si-
1ently. This scene escaped the notice
of the rest of the company, who had at
once engaged in lively conversations
but to both men it was one of those
little trokes that help to chisel charac-
ter.
ooh, what a beautiful, beautiful day
among the mountains this has been!
said Millicent Paul when they were
homeward bound. 'T hope you have en-
1oyed it, too, Mrs. Wilbur
II have. very much. 1 shall never
forget i IT, said the quiet little woman
her face glowing.
The Wilburs left the next day. Miss
Paul shook hands with them when they
went, and most of the others did the
same. They went away happy and sat
isf1ed. They said to each other it had
been a good holiday. It was little
awkward at first among strangers, but
it had all ended pleasantly and they
had seen so much.
Are you going to correspond with
them, Mi1licent?' asked her old school.
5 mate, teasingly.
"Hetty. dear" said Millicent, ''yor
really must open your eyes wider and
see the world you live in; you w i'll find
it will repay you. The Wilburs are only
passing acquaintance, like many 9th.
ers; we may never meet them again
But, in conversing, I found out one OF