Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-07
MIRANDA'e LUNCH PARTY.
Why It Wasn't An Unqualified Social
Success.

Miranda lives up toward the park
in one of the prettiest houses in the
most fashionable part OF the clty'
They haven't always been rich, end
Miranda and her mother are just now
wiggling upwards by the most eX-
hausting process into the charmed
circle of the upper five hundred we'll
the charge Of the famous five hundred
is nothing compared to the eNactiohS
of this one; and anything like fallihg
to come to time or getting a setback
in this pcrilous business, is calamity
of which less ambitious people can
have no conception.
Miranda has her good points, ana |
dropped in to see her the other day
20, Phyllis" she exclaimed the first
thing. We've had such vista
tom"
pulled down my face and tried to
look bccomingly dolorons.
mo, no one is dead, she exclaimed
seeing my expression But was
just wicked enough to wish once she
was. It's Aunt taista. Sizes been
here. 0, ii was dreadful. You know
she's papa's half sister that lives
down in Pennsylvania, and hadn't
/ l.. a. I nJiI1 "
Miranda knows that | know that
family from beginning to end and
she never tries to keep anything from
me.
TON has been sent out there sum
mers for years. It's best for him to
be on a farm when he's out Of school,
you know"
Tom Is Miranda's twelve-year old
brother.
"Well, last Wednesday we gave a
lunch party to ten ladies', and just
before it was time for lunch to be
served, who should walk into the
drawingroom, bag and baggage, but
Aunt Calista. She had on dress
made of that wine colored goods, cot
ton and wool that you see marked
ten cents a yard, hanging outside
cheap stores. II was ruilled up to
the knees with three wide bias
hounces bound and gathered till they
set out like an irish woman's cap
border A very short overskirt com
pleted this part of the costume, and
over the v mole was one of those start
ling scarlet shawIs with Paisley
border, that used to be fashionable
about the time ! was born She wore
with this n bonnet trimmed with
green ribbons, and her hands were in
cotton gloves mile or two too large,
the kind that lie around in sort of
loose drapery over the back of the
hand, and hitch up over me big bone
OF the wrist. Oh, Phyllis, every time
think of that rig almost faint
Eyes, it may seem very humorous
to you'-by this time was making
the vases in the cabinet ring with
very boisterous laucnter-"but you
Just imagine such an apparition stalk
ing in with band-box inside of n
calico cover, drawn mp with a corset
lace, and one of those forlorn carpet
covered bags that | didn't suppose
could be found anywhere for love or
money at this day; and Mrs. Wander
marcken, and Will Terrance's bri.e.
and those awfully swell Le1oys, and
Mrs. Brown Fields, from Washington,
all looking on.
WELL she came in without one
word Of warning, and the first thing
she said after standing still and
staring n minute at mamma was
"Wahl now, | want t'hnow If that's
Marthy. Sakes alive! We hev changed,
heven't ye? but I'm powerful glad to
see ye.'
"rhen mamma tried to get her up
stairs to take off her things, but no,
sir, she wouldn't go an inch.
"1 ken jest lay EN- off right here,
she said. I'm sorter beat out gittin
here, an I ken set right down an
visit with yer friends spell What's
goin' on?--a Quiltin or n parin bee?
Gittin' rather late for dryin' apples
now, | shud think.
"Then poor mamma had to intro
duce her to the ladies', and I didn't
dare to raise my eyes to look at them
just wanted the earth to open up
and swallow me at that particular
minute, BY this time she was unity.
ing that horrible calico cover, and
began to dive down inside for some.
thing, Well, it was cap and rather
the most remarkable one I ever saw
in the way Of cheap cotton lace and
artificial flowers. She took off her
bonnet, and, just as she was about te
put on that cap, she spied me.
BLESS my heart. if that aim
M'randy? I'd n known yc emmy where
by the photograph Tom brought out
My! Marthy, don't she feature Hekl,
morn more, every day O. her life
Though ! did use to say, fore she hat
! that left eye Strengthened, she wa,
going to favor Mandy-she that mar
ried Cyrus Rupps down in Greenville
+. Law! Mandy's got ten children, die
J, We know it' An her biggest girl
/ bein' kept company with by LAX,
Smell, he as was 'dopted by Eide
Beech, an Elder Beechs got an aw
full bad foot, let stick o woo, fal
( on 1t, an | told him. says I've know
= | jest dropped in there on my wa,
from Hammer Pcrkinses; Hammer al
ways did set such store by my no,
yeast, an I'd jest been maxim som
fresh. Hammer never was very spr
i. about housework. an O my! how tina
house did look, but faint everybod
that ken git their washin' out afor
9 o'clock, an II they can't they're les
II 4