Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-08-30
CHAPTER XIII.

! station-and thus passes out Of the story.
CHAPTER XNIII.
Florian is a married man. Hatty Clip
perton reigns bctsterously at Baronsford,
and Esme has been spending a season in
town, and has really seen the great world
at last, has become alive to the. fact that
she is considered zone of the beauties" !"
and has had several 'uneXceptionable"
offers. 1t is a very warm and almost
tropical afternoon near the end Of June,
and she and Gussie are alone in Gussie's
little front drawing room, which is crowd
ed with flowers; in banks between the
windows, in the gate, on the chimney
piece, and on every available bracket,
shelf and table. The windows are open,
the rose-colored blinds are half drawn
down, yet the atmosphere is oppressive
and sitting. Both the sisters are dressed
in white, Gussie with mauve ribbons and
Esme with black; the former is stretched
out on the sofa in an attitude of complete
physical prostration.
'I have been thinking, Esme," she OBJ
served at last, thinking seriously about
you, and have come to the conclusion
that you are an IDIOT" tanning away
briskly as she spoke. 81 don't mean a
candidate for an asylum, quite, but simp-
ly that you have an unusual deficiency
Of sense"
I'm sure am greatly obliged to you,"
rejoined 1.-The other, looking up with a
smile. May l ask why you think have
no senseY'
Certainly, you may ask. Because here
you are refusing to make hay while the
sun shines; obstinately declining offer af-
ter offer. There was," now rapidly count
ing on her fingers, "Foster Forbes, Sir
David Campbell, young Galloway, all
sent to the right about. Pray" sarcas-
tically, what do you expect-a duke?"
NO" with curt decision.
''The season is getting on, and you
have been considered quite one of the
bellies, and yet you are not engaged"
grumbled Gussie, aggrievedly. What is
the good of having a pretty sister, and ev-
eryOne making a fuss about her, when
she will not take any advantage of her
opportunities? You are enough to pro-
woke a saintr'
(which you are not" returned her
companion, with more truth than courte-
sy. Il wonder you are not tired of the
subject, Gus; l am. l have told you at
least fifty times that l do not wish to
marry. mean to take leaf out of
Aunt James book. It is not penal to pre-
fer single bessedness. l intend TO be a
very nice old maiden lady"
IAN old maid!'' disdainfully. "a likely
tale; but" angrily, 'Iknow why you talk
like this. l believe you have still a lik-
ing for Miles; you infatuated young wom-
an! Miles was good-looking and gentle
manly-I give you that in. Yes, yes"
half sitting up, and gazing keenly at her
sister; ''you need not speak, your face is
sufficient. Positively, l could light can
die at it, l do assure you! All. l see
that it is still Miles. And l must say |
wonder you have not more pride; even if
he would marry you, to marry him would
be madness. For instance, you know
that l am very fond Of Fred; but. all the
same, if he had not been well endowed
with this worlds goods, l would not have
married him"
1T is quite superfuous to mention
that" rejoined her sister, sharply.
Now, don't be cross, Esme. I'm only
doing my duty, and it is really most un-
selfish Of me to put these things plainly
before you, for l would much rather you
remained single, and a companion for me.
But when l see Craven Hepburn and
twenty-five thousand year actually beg
ging of you to take them | feel that I
must speak"
''Well, now you have done your duty,
and relieved your conscience, | will tes-
tify to the fact TO all inquiring friends"
said Esme. impatiently, "and let us hear
no more about it. Never mind my love
affairs, Gussie. What about going to the
Bohuns' this evening? It's too hot, isn't
it? coaXingly.
OH tanning very fast. zone may just
as well be hot there, where one is anus
ed as here, where there's nothing to do.
We will go, Of course" with declsion.
Mrs. Vashon was a little lady who lived
on excitement and was never happy un-
less she was flying from one entertain.
ment to another Her appetite for con-
slant amusement was Unsuitable. and the
same spirit which prompted her to run
down and play tennis at the Bells, to
walk into Byford, to volunteer for ba-
zaars, children's parties, and school feasts
anything for a change, anything 'or
Doveity-was the same that now impelled
her to one continual round of dances,
theatricals, flower fetes, races and din
ner parties. If she had one day, one af-
ternoon even, with nothing on hand"
she was a miserable woman. She was
never exhausted, never satisfied No
sooner was one great event over than she
was thinking of another; and the sugges-
ton that ''they should stay at home for
once and have a quiet evening"" she look
ed upon as simply monstrous absurdity.
She was not. she frankly stated, over and