The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-05
Ianouid Loves.

| Mapletree, or for the spirit OF mere IL
| valry among multitude OF maidens, who
shall say? Enough that he was loved =
loved by May Holt, tail, fair and sympa-
thetic, skilled to set a bashful man at
ease; by Mona Forshells, dark, elegant
vivacious, warranted to wear; by Evelyn
Maynard, prettiest Of them all; by Mir
lam Pencil, delightful girl. not beau
tifuI, but merry and adored in Mapletree;
by three Miss Mannings and by four Miss
Hewitts; by five Miss Jones and Miss
Nora Earnsley; by Ethel Birchington and
all mammas.
Now, 1 am not prepared to hold brief
for Walter. As the eldest Jones girl said
why can't he make up his mind and
choose one of US and save Us all thus
trouble. It's so selfish!' And she stamp
ed her pretty foot.
But the wind bloweth where it hsteth
and Walter had no wish 10 choose. He
much preferred to wait; and being per
haps a humorist, perhaps a cynic, he
maintained an attitude Of absolute i'm
partially made piquant by the utmost de-
ference He played golf with Miss Holt
shot with Miss FoTshells, sketched with
Miss Maynard gave aims with Miss Pen
neil, played tennis with the Mannings, GRO
quet with the Hewitts, biked with the
Joneses; rode with Miss Earnsley, smOk-
ed with Miss Birchington, and dined with
the mammas as often as they asked him
and he could. Moreover, being of hos
pitable nature, ne returned their hospi-
tality. Gave casual luncheOns charming
", gave teas the most delightful from
rare china in the midst of Chippendale,
gave little dinners admirably arranged,
at which each mother in her turn was
asked to occupy the head of Walters ia
bic.
I ventured to suggest to Walter this
was cruel, and had spoiled Mrs. Man
niug's dinner more than once, if no one
else's. But he hereby smiled and said:
''At any rate, it's better than being rude"
and he continued his cOntented way, the
crown of maiden meditation, the desire of
marriageable Mapletree.
Man is the hunter, woman is his
game" So says the rough king in Tenny-
sons Princess" But what if man be
not disposed to hunt? 1t does not follow
there viii not be sport. Walter was hunt
ed
Miss Forshells took to golf, Miss May
nard shot, May Holt played tennis, Nora
Earnsley sketched, the Mannings rode,
the Hewitts biked, the Jonses smoked
Miss Birchington gave aims, Miss Pen
nell smiled, Walter waited and I watched
the pretty comedy life had devised for my
amusement.
The pace quickened. 1t was thought that
Walter showed a preference for golf; per-
haps he did, and odds were on May Holt.
Immediately all MaDletree began to play.
There was a dearth of caddies; school
children turned truant; fortunes were be-
ing made, and Miriam Pencil had her
work cut out to keep the place in order.
Her caddles' bank. my poor suggestion
l am glad to think, was in a fair way
! IF IK-hn Of a. nd
took to sketching. Immediately odds
shifted on Miss Evelyn Maynard, who, it
was murmured, had obtained unfair ad-
vantage of being first in the field, and
a sketching club was formed in her de-
spite.
l ventured to condole with Miriam Pen
nell on the closing of her bank but the
dear creature did not seem to mind. cit
was a first-rate idea, she said but it
meant new set of accounts, you know,
and l have seven already" WhereupOn
she laughed merrily, as was her wont.
The hunting season came, and with it
the odds shifted to Miss Earnsly and Miss
Birchington. True the three Mannings
made heroic efforts with two horses, but
the distances We're long, nor did they
look their best on horseback.
1t frOZe-frost was Miss Forshelps
chance-she skated perfectly. The Joneses
did their best TO spoil it by learning
Walter was very patient, but fancy they
lost ground.
The Hewitts had an inspiration. tab
leaux-vivants. in which they posed with
Walter. The Hugenot," Sir John NIL
lais' picture, was a complete success; but
it was rumored there had been some ri
valry between the sisters. and that paren-
tai authority had had to be called in. And
in support of this view it was pointed out
that Dora's violin was new, and Daisy
the successful poser, did not go to town
that year.
However that may be. the tableaux were
repeated at the schools in aid of local
charities. Concerts and charity filled
ualdens' minds and Walter had to be
consulted many times a day. Walter dis
creetIy referred all his clients to the vi
car. The vicar referred them to Miss Pen
nell, who accepted the responsibility. 1t
won't last" she said TO me Il wish it
would; but while it does I may as well
make hay"
She was quite right; It did not last
Walter was called to town on business
Charity grew cold. He started on a
Wednesday, and Miss Jones was at the
station with designs on a convenient
aunt. She took a first-class ticket. wal
ter ent third. Business took Walter fire.
Quently to town, and travelling became the
rage at Mapletree. Miss Pencil seized
her opportunity; she took a tennis team
to Hatcham. to return at 7:15 by Walters
Grain. All the best players went, and she
won her match.
Then Walter broke his arm. An ambu-
lance class was promptly started and Miss
Pencil gave instruction for a moderate
fee. 10 the manifest advantage OF her
seven accounts Tout of the eater came
forth sweetness / remarked in this con-
nection and she smiled. Il like TO turn
miSfortunes to account" she said
No need to tell what flowers were sent
to Walter. what inquiries made Enough
that he made satisfactory progress. and
theatricals were set on foot 70 entertain
his convalescence. Walter was asked 20
choose the piece. and with considerable
saugfroid suggested Patience" with him
self as Bunthorne The chorus. Twenty
love-sick maidens." was immense, but
dangerous. indisputably dangerous. DO
YOU think he IS POOLING us2' asked Nora
Earnsley at our first rehearsal IL ne
were any but Waiter" ] replied, I should
certainly say he was; but being Walter
here being al some loss what 10 say, I
paused. He certainly is blind" said Nora
Earnsley. and I was content 20 leave Il
in that way.
However. I inquired 81 Miriam Pencil.
for whose judgment I had great respect.
They none of them can act" she said.
except Mona, 50 don't you think ii s
kind2'
u had not looked upon it in that light. %
4 said