The Colfax chronicle., 1898-07-02
A LITTLE DINNER,
By RICHARD MACE.
II WAS so awfully glad to find ! had

on earth have you been doing with your
self all these months? Every once in
awhile I've wondered what had gone
wrong with the world--what missed;
and then I've turned around and found
that your place was empty. You needn't
be at all fiattered. It's plain state
ment of fact. We old ladies are crea-
lures of habit and miss old friends.
Don't you think 80 very old? can af-
ford to mention my age to you, because
you know it already. lam not usually
SO candid. But ever since you and
Laura Bonselle and played together
us children there have been precious
few of our secrets you haven't come
into possession of.
"New York has gone on in the same
old way--not much new. The new face
down the table? Oh; Isupposed you
knew all about that. supposed you
knew what we were here for. There
was a general consciousness in the at
mosphere of the drawing-room before
we came out to dinner that told me It
was an open secret. Why, that is Mrs.
Gwinn, George Bonselle's latest. George
is just as fiirtatious as ever he was, but
really-I don't wonder you are looking
surprised-this is rather out of the or
dinary.
Laura said yesterday that, critically
speaking, she regarded Mrs. Gwinn as
rather a pretty woman; picturesque,
and all that sort of thing. Now don't.
Inever did admire that heavy type. She
looks stupid to me. Laura can afford
to admire those dark, broad women,
she is so slim and fair herself. She
and George make beautiful pair. Isn't
it shame they are not compatible?
Dc you know, sometimes have thought
that she might be in love with her hus-
band after all; but then--if she were
what's to prevent there being recon-
ciliation? She certainly scorns the
ideaof such woman as Mrs. Gwinn be-
ing rival; that is conclusively proven
by her having her here tonight.
"You see, 1t was like this: Laura
came into my house one morning about
a week ago, looking so sweet and fresh
and spring-like in her gray gown and
violets. Look at her now; doesn't she
look like an angel at the head of the
table Pail in that white, with the flow
ers and candles about her.
'As was saying, she looked so sweet
and sort of lovable that wanted to kiss
her. 1t seemed the height of incon-
sistency for her to begin telling me
about her husband being in love with
another woman. But do you know, /
believe half that indifference is as
suned. don't believe Laura Bon
selle and her husband have ever had any
distinct quarrel. believe that some
engrossment of one or the other made
little rift in their daily life together,
one day years ago, and they have gone
on growing farther and farther away
from each other. Laura has never told
me anything about it, and it's my belief
that there is nothing specific to tell.
IF George BonseIle were to lose his
money, or something of that sort, it's
my belief that the whole thing would be
made up; but l suppose, as it is, they
will go their own roads, and George will
pick up odd people, and Laura will
sweetly try to make them presentable,
60 that George will be countenanced.
well, that morning Laura said:
George is getting talked about again.
"'Who is it this time !? queried. 4
thought he had about gone through the
list of our acquaintances.'
1T is Mrs. Gwinn,' Laura said, "a
woman from the west. It seems her
husband was interested in some of
Georges western ventures. When they
came on to New York George met them
and went about with them, and since
her husband has gone away George has
kept up his attentions. She never has
missed me, but other people are doing
it. There isn't anything left for me to
& do but to go and see her.
Did George ask you top i inquired.
No. said she. He never has men,
TONED the name to me, but am going
TO see her.
sDo,' said I. and ask her to dinner
''So here we are. Mrs. Gwinn doesn't
look very happy, does she? Mary Bon
selle is sitting just opposite. Her
brothers affairs are an endless source
of amusement to her, and I'll wager
she is talking over poor Mrs. Gwinn's
head, just tantalizing her by keeping
out of reach. l know Mary's little ways
with stranger. There goes Laura's
signal. Well, certainly have enjoyed
your talk. Come to me in the parlor
presently and I'll tell you all the news" :"
Mrs. Martin rustled softly out, calm,
placid, smiling, cool and gracious. Mrs.
Gwinn, large and a little flushed, went
just before her. There was no answer
Ing look in Mrs. Martins eyes as they
met those Of the western woman.
Mrs. Gwinn was uncomfortable. She
had not been too much elated when she
received Mrs. Bonselle's dinner invita-