Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-07-18

content 10 go her way, and geSher way
she did. In justice to Mrs. Rodney ii
must be admitted that she gave only
what entertainments she felt she could
not escape and keep in the swim at all.
She had to keep there, for the sort of
men whom she wished the girls to
marry We're there, and there must he
opportunity for them to meet such men.
Uncle Gardner was not quite as mean
ms he appeared to be. They generally
got what they wanted. He simply made
the matter more pleasant for himself
by growing over things and rendering
the women unhappy.
He had gone away for the night Of
the dance and had not been expected
to return until the second day after it,
80 as to allow the house and the In.
mates time to get back to the normal.
But he had got disgusted with some
thing at the hotel and came home the
next day, full of ii fault finding DISPOSE
tion. The women gsSnted in spirit at
this unexpected advent of the head Of
the family. Rose, the younger daugh-
ter, was perfectly in accord with her
mothers views aud helped her in her
aims as far as she could. Her uncle she
humored and enioled us well as pretty
but not very clever gisl could humor
and. cajole keen, cranky old man.
Mrs. Rodney felt that it was little
unfortunate that the characters of her
two daughters were not reversed. Miss
Rodney ought to be disposed first in the
matrimonial market, rs she was the
elder. II she were as compliant az
Rose, this contamination would not be
SO hard one to effect. But Florence
Rodney was nice to the men that she
liked rather than to those whom 1t was
hep policy to attract Her sturdy indie
pendent American spirit recoiled from
deliberate efforts in this direction. She
was determined that she wouldn't
marry anybody unless she both liked
and respected him, and she wouldn't
try to bring any man she could not feel
toward in this way to the point of pro-
posing needlessly.
Uncle Gardeners fine, crusty spirit
was in great form this morning after
the dance. With the pleasant sense that
he was away the household had in.
dulged in a much later breakfast hour
than they could when he was at home
He liked to breakfast at 8. and insisted
on having his family present at tbs
meal. After being up late the night be
fore this was not nMaysa comforting
thing to do for the women fork.
whats the object of having lunch
con at this hour Of the dayt" he in
| quired'in his dry, caustic manner.
Mrs. Rodney understood perfectly
that the old gentleman knew 1t wa
breakfast, hut she said submisstnely:
why, thought the girls would b
tired and sol had breakfast q littl
| fstes MI snorpiSg, I dA nott eEpse
Sop. would Sd back 30 aeop. Joai3k"
WHAT Breakfasts At IL O'Clock 2
| AR aasA &sfsx S!M alaA aagsnrAts
asteniehtnenf. At asptoas 81 u Esv
dinner at half past o.
l Mrs. Rodney fell back on silence
since her brother4had put tliis.as SUP
position and not asa question At thi
moment Miss Rodney came in with
bicycle costume ON. Mr.. Gardner. VIII
affected to have great} regard for th
proprieties of women g dress, wasTaspe
anew by the sight ffhis niece's leg
gings and trim brown derby. 1t wa
certainly mannislf sort Of costume
but it was not Violently go. Miss Rod
ney looked exceedingly well In it an
thoroughly womanly.
"Goingi out to ride your wheel. m
dear9" helinquired venomously. \ "Hoy
energetietthe young women aresnow
adaysl Kicking up your heels tillv2 9
O'clock breakfast about the time W
used to have dinner at home. Sally
and then off for ten mile whi
astraddle wheel It's a wonder Tho,
you old fashioned girls ever grew U
and got your natural strength Sally. :
! Mrs Rodney was an easy mark fc
the old gentleman because he knew 6
we'll how to prick her. He felt that til
allusion to the primitive style Of the
early life wonld be distastefui. an
Mrs Rodney, who wasfond of a languit
dignifed pose. always WINGED when b
called her Sally, He gave such a con
mon sound to the nanei
"Well, I'm going up. stairs unit
things are set 10 rights, Tho continued
~ hope there won't be astring Of bill
coming in today"
The old man shuffiedtof, delaying
boR here and there forl ono object {
another simply because khe knew the
would feel relieved when he was gon
Finally he went snortingtup the stair
"What a,pity you cama in With 70,
bicycle. suit Oh, Florencel" said Mr.
Rodney peevishly. "Your uncle seen
to have such an objection to 1t.
''1t might as well be an objection
that as to something else. mamma,