Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-08-25


never missed dance, did you?"
II? Why bow odd that would bel 1
never do miss dance. That's one Of
the advantages of having so many old
friends among the young officers.'
But you must be hungry, dear.
Won't you try to eat something's
What is there?" she asked languid-
~. Steak, stewed potatoes Bah!
Scrambled eggs, cold-rolls ditto. 1
wish those children next door wouldn t
make such noise. Captain Turner, "
she went on, toying with her coffee
spoon, did you see that gown of Mrs
Gregg S last night? 1t was one she had
made in Chicago-$3OO if it cost cent
Now you know perfectly we'll she can't
afford that since the failure of their
bank. -
Turner was studying the ADVERTISE
ments hard and made no answer
And his pay isn't as big as yours by
one fogy," she went on. Then as he
was still silent she queried, sis it?''
"Oh-ah Is it what?"
81 wish you would listen to me in
stead of losing yourself in that stupid
paper, Captain Turner. asked whether
Captain Gregg's pay was not less than
yours by fogy or so.
Very probably. He entered service
some years after did and is nearly Is
years younger.
But Turner talks from behind his pa
per- He has finished his breakfast, all
but the cup of steaming coffee with
which she has at last supplied him.
What did you think of that gown
of Mrs. Gregg's? She had it made only
two months ago-two months after their
bank broke. Seems to me mighty queer
she should be swelling in such extrav-
agant style. Mrs. Raymond thinks so
too -
Turner's eyes are glued to the COL
umns of The Leader. He is apparently
deaf to any comments ON Mrs. Gregg's
costume.
Don't you think so?" persists Mrs.
Turner, determined to extract an opin-
ion from her liege.
"Why-I'm sure haven't given the
matter any thought. It's none of our
affair, you know. Doubtless they have
means that were not involved in the
crash of that particular bank
They haven't interposes Mrs Tur-
ner. "Mrs. Wallace is from Cleveland
and knows all Mrs. Gregg's people, and
she says they lost every penny.
"Oh, we'll, Gregg has something out
side his pay, says Turner, Struggling
his shoulders and sinking down into his
chair. He hates these perennial COM
ments and criticisms on the affairs of
his brother officers and their families,
but he still loves his shallow pate of q
wife and can't bear to rebuke her. This,
too, is her table talk. She has no other.
"There were at least half q dozen
bills came in their mail two days ago, -
persists madam presently. 1T couldn't
help seeing them when the orderly came
here with my letter from Kate. If I
had so many bills coming in, you'd be
frantic. don't see how she can stand
being dunned in that way. Icouldn' -
Again the captain seeks shelter be-
hind his conventional bombproof-
paper-and strives to avoid the discus
sion.
Gould your" she asks,
WELL" he answers slowly, GIVE
had to once or twice. Don't you remem-
ber?"
81 might have known you'd remind
me Of that, +" she answers, with tears in
her voice if not in her eyes. IT was
much less experienced then" Even to
her liege lord Mrs. Turner does not like
to own she had ever been younger.
He notes the symptoms of approach
ing storm and to give cheerier tone to
the talk drops The Leader and adopts
"chipper, spirited style.
II thought you looked uncommonly
we'll last night, Fanny, and l thought
Mrs. Rays dress extremely pretty"
Pretty, said madam disdainfully.
Why, Captain Turner, she was posi-
lively dowdy. The idea of woman of
her wealth and social position coming to
one OF our SWEETEST hops in simple
china silk is almost an affront to the
regiment. If she had nothing handsom-
er, it would be all we'll and good, but
she has loads of handsome gowns and
won't wear them.
"China silk or canton flannel, YOU
know, l couldn't tell t'other from
which, +" says poor Turner. "I only say
l thought it pretty and appropriate. Per-
haps she wears simple toilet because
so many of the ladies Of the regiment
cannot afford to dress extensively
Captain Turner, you make me
tired, /" exclaims his better half in deep
displeasure. "No one wants Mrs. Ray to
be setting examples in economy. The
ladies of the til are quite capable of
managing their own affairs-except
perhaps Mrs. Gregg. :"
Are they? thinks poor Turner, as he
mentally runs over the list of bills ac-
cumulated in his desk, the result of
madam's orders and extravagances, but
again he relapses into silence and seeks
refuge behind The Leader. Then relief
and rescue come in sudden shape. The
boards Of the piazza creak and snap in
the biting cold under quick, bounding
footstep. The gong bell on the hall door
gives loud. inpatient clang, and Nora
hastens through into the hall.
1.-The orderly with the colonel's COM