The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-24

Mrs. Blair was at a loss for a reply She
| had come out to meet lady resplendent
with the polish of a ten years sojourn in
| foreign parts-and her reception was some
what discouraging. When Miss McBurnie
| returned to the parlor, where she had seated
| her guest while she retired to remove the
visible signs of her digging. she found Mrs.
Blair simpering at the old oil painting of
| her father, which hung above the mantel.
MY dear Miss McBurnie," she gushed,
| ''you can't think what it is to have you
back again! To have the old home opened
up and an opportunity to gaze upon the
| noble lneaments of our most distinguished
| citizen You will be such an acquisition to
| the town, to society and to culturei I come
| to you from the Emerson Club. We hope
| to see you at our meetings; you were elected
a member yesterday at a called meeting,
and rushed right around to see you and
welcome you home in the name of the
club
What is the Emerson Club?" asked Miss
McBurnie.
THE Emerson is the very first club in
! McBurnieville: there are others, but think
may say, without vanity, that the Emer-
son is the most exclusive. In fact. it is
composed of the most prominent people in
J the State
1
| of that sort?''
ct is literary club my dear young
lady" said Mrs. Blair impressively.
"A literary club" exclaimed Miss Nc
Burnie in amazement Are there any liter
airy people here?'
Mrs. Blair looked dismayed.
why. my dear Miss McBurnie,'' she said.
beginning to preside at once, "McBurnieville
| is one of the most literary towns in the
State. Our people are extremely Intellectual
! OF course there is nonprogessive element,
| but in spite of such drawbacks are
| still considered one of the brightest club
towns in the federation
| Miss McBurne looked mystified. Per
haps," she said doubtfully, "McBurnieville
has become a summer resort for writer's? /
must say hope not. have known one or
! two great writers and l found them rather
! tiresome l don't think L should like a
literary club-beg your pardon Mrs. Blair"
she added hastily; Il hope I've not said
1 anything offensive. You are not-a-an
! author yourself?"
Il write some" said the lady coolly. I'm
| fact, all do. ] assure you, Miss Nc
! Burnie, it is a positive loss to society that
| the papers of the Emerson Club are not
| printed in book form. Are you not in touch
| with the club movement, Miss McBurnie?"
i've read something about it, believe
! said her hostess doubtfully but you see
l have been away from America so long 1
really haven't kept up with the literature
very we'll I am sure l did not know that
McBurnieville a literary center Any
way. | am. sure l shouldn't care about it.
hate. hearing people read their things. /
believe they should print them in some rep
/ utablo journal and then he n,,blio oo,,lI
read them or let them alone as they liked
Il am sure you misunderstood the pur--
/ pose of the Emerson Club my dear" ex-
planned the visitor. THE members of the
cub are citizens of the town-people who
live here-and, of course, we are, for the
most part, amateurs. We write for pleasure
and read and study for instruction Emer-
| son is our guiding star"
Il hate Emerson" broke in Miss Me-
Burnle; his wise saws bore me intolerably.
How do you manage to listen to each other?
1t must be like an old-fashioned high school
debating club. But / wouldn't be of the
least use to you. 1 haven't the least little
bit of talent for writing. 1 hate even to
| write note to my dressmaker'
Il am disappointed to hear you say so.''
said Mrs. Blair. I'VE had hoped to have a.
series of papers from you on. your travels
in-ahem-distant lands"
Miss McBurnie laughed short merry
peal. ooh, graciousr' she exclaimed. "It
| would be a horrid bore! l couldn't write a
! page to save me. l have read so much
am sure my style would be initiative You
would think you were reading out of a
guide book. Besides 1 couldn't take the
trouble 1t would be senseless waste of
time this lovely weather. You don't mean
| / nd
you listen to it? That would be intoler-
able. 1t is tiresome sometimes hearing
professional"
I'VE would look at it very differently
Miss McBurnie,' said the envoy of culture
I'VE would consider it a privilege to hear
you
You are very kind to say So" responded
Miss McBurnie, but couldn't think of do
ing it. 1 hate to talk about myself, and if
] sought to make 1t impersonal, only think
of the lovely books of travel that can tell
it all SO much better"
Mrs. Blair began to look much annoyed
81 had understood" she said, sarcastically,
that you were great reader very
literary person indeed quite like your
dear father and here she cast
a plying eye upon the ex-governor
as if in coincidence over the degeneracy of
| his child.
oh cried Miss McBurnie, 81 am an in
veterate reader, and l know something
about art and have dabbled in music a lit
tie; 1 am really good in the languages-do
| you speak French and German?-but new
er had particle of talent for writing, even
in my schoolgirl days. If a literary element
has sprung up in McBurnieville don't wish
| to mix with it. / came back here seeking
reminders of my childhood looking for some
! clew to home and all that is sweet and
| genuine in life. My father died while
were abroad" she continued with deep
note of sadness in her voice, land / came
back home looking for consolation in faces
/ used to know. ] was so delighted to see
Mr.. and Mrs. Ballinger. 1 assure you it was
worth trip across the Atlantic to see the
welcome on their old-fashioned faces Then
/ went to see granny, old Granny Blevins,
and, to be sure, she was making soap
| positively cried with joy and smoke in my
eyes combined When she saw me she stood
| back and puckered up those shrewd little
eyes of hers, and presently she said: If
| that amt that thar Poll McBurnie. Come
here you thing, till 1 beat you l never
| was so happy in my life. Then 1 went to
see Mrs Wallace and Squire Ballew, and
| ever so many others. There are, certainly,
| a great many painful changes, but there is
much left and feel at home again.