The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-10
A Bottl Q of Musk.

/
hadn't been TO one in years. Most of
his friends had stopped asking him, fot
he was considered a hopeless stay-at-
| home, IL his tiny apartment could be
| called a home. There were those who
| remembered well the time when Thorn
ton was a leader of cotillions and a
! drinker of afternoon tea No one ever
knew what changed him: he suddenly
dropped out of all social life, and those
who hazarded a question never told what
| answer was received. People do not
| often repeat snubs. Now that Ned
| Stowen, the one man he knew, whom
marriage had not changed toward him,
made such point of IL, he really
| couldn't refuse TO go there to dinner:
he had put him off so often that Ned
was getting sensitive. He resolved 10
bear his martyrdom gracefully and he
settled himself comfortably for the lit
| tie twelve-mile journey.
| When Mr.. Avery entered the drawing
room, his host and hostess came for
ward most cordially, but he noticed, az
ter the briefest moment of greeting, their
| manner changed from a spontaneous
warmth to cold politeness, and he
wondered what could cause so sudden a
fall Of temperature.
You are TO take in another old friend
who has lately come back among u.s.
Avery
| Thornton looked at the girl in won
| der, for after all these years she was
] still young. He offered his arm almost
! dtffidently; she took 1t in her old grace
| ful way, and they started down the hail
following their hostess's lead to thesdin-
ingroom. After step or two she sway
ed and grasped his arm more tightly
to steady herself.
oil
| thing?"
ut is nothing will be all right in
a moment. 1t was stupid OF me to give
| way So" To his regret, she loosened
her hold on his arm and drew herself
| as far as possible from him and turned
her head away.
They took their places at the table.
be caught her looking at him curiously
She dropped her eyes, as II embarrass-
| ed, and he turned to his neighbor on the
other side.
Our dinner is not at all what we
expected" began Mrs Stowell 81 want
to take you all into my condolences. and
then If things are not quite what
would wish you will understand" Her
husband looked down from his end Of
the table and gave her an encoura ging
nod. "Out with it, my dear; maybe
some Of our friends are interested in the
temperance cause, and would like a SUBJ
ject to work upon"
Imagine my feelings when I came
down to breakfast this morning and was
Informed that cook had gone out last
night and hadn't returned We waited
all the morning. anxiously, but no sign
Of her, so I teiephoned to Ned 10 send
out caterer, and that is the reason
we are not having any OF the little orig
inal dishes that cook and I planned, for
she is really a genius"
And like most every other genius, sh 2
drinks added her husband II hear
she came out on the same train with
you, Thornton, and rolled in, in quite
a ferocious mood The funny part of
her case Is that she drinks cheap per-
fumery. It isn't very often that the
frenzy seizes her. but when 1t does she
goes off and browns all care in two or
three dozen bottles of stuff that smells
like a combination of garlic, musk and
limburger. It's refined taste, isn't
it?"
"Ned's story is really true" said Mrs
Stowell; "she does drink cheap perfum-
cry"
st, too. can vouch for it, spoke up
Thornton, 'for she sat behind me, COM
ing out on the train. I saw her drink
ing from druggists bottle, and she of
fered me some I thought she was
crazy, particularly after she had tried
to force 1t upon me- OF course, de-
clined firmly, but she was so determined
that I could scarcely shake her off, and
believe she spilled some on me-
well, I believe she did; in fact, there
can be no doubt of it" Mr.. Stoweil
burst into roars Of laughter, and every
body at the table Joined him.
Didn't you notice it?'' Ned asked.
n
deprived of one Of my senses; I never
have possessed the sense of smell"
Thornton replied. with a little touch of
dignity, and the ladies at the table tried
10 look sweetly sympathetic. but Ned
Stowell the irrepressible. made them all
laugh again by saying: ''Wen, Thornton,
I'd give dollar to be in the same state
at this moment" But Thornton didn't
hear him, for he was listening to the
words Of Florence Bleekman
You see. have come back" she was
saying, Just as 1 promised. I thought
perhaps you had forgotten, and at first
I fancied you were not quite the same,
but now I see you are not changed"
"I have never changed in some re-
spects, Florence. 1 have waited as I
said I would, though 1t was hard being
patient with no word from you to give
me hone"
'It was better So I wanted to Go my
duty toward my brother and his CHI
dren, but now" she smiled, "he Is mar
rled again. and I am free
What a place to meet after all these
terrible years of separation. I ought to
have you in my arms this minute"
mot with that coat on. dear" she
murmured, tanning herself with her din
ner card.-What TO Eat.