Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-07-28
Miss Letitia'S TrouSSeau
BY Olive Winston Gage.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ETITIA HOUGHTON was going te

ET1TIA HOUGHTON was going te
II be married; consequently many O,
her dear feminine friends said it was g
shame, a scandal, for Letitia to think Of
such folly at her time of life. These
same authorities declared she was S;
years old adding there was no fool like
an old one.
Letitia was on the sunny aide of As
but did not look as if she were 40. being
handsome, with a pretty home, a tidy
income, a kind heart and a sound head
The beneficiaries Of her bounty had
become accustomed to consider her q
spinster, too confirmed a devotee to
single blessedness to change her state
What right had that old thing to be
taken in by an %impecunious adNenturer,
when she had friends of her lifetime
who naturally expected-she had no
kinspeople-to be remembered in her
will, not that they were mercenary,
but that they had a sort Of claim upon
her.
Remarks of this kind were freely in
dulged in when the invitations were re-
ceived. Twenty-Five or thirty women
talking at once is rather confusing,
and as the speakers became excited
the comments became more personal
and assumed an ill-natured turn. 1t
was at a church sewing circle, and
tongues were flying faster than
needles.
An exceedingly pretty and richly
dressed woman, a guest Of the society,
now took up the cudgels in defense of
the absent.
Ladies', ladies, is this a modern
school for scandal, or a church society
held in the basement of a sacred edi-
flee? You all have cause to be grateful
to Letitia; why should you speak of her
so bitterly now, because she exercises
the right we have all claimed"
Mrs. Allyn Alden was a leader of So
ciety, whose dictum made or unmade
a newcomer entering the charmed cir
Gle. Mrs. Jennie, as Mrs. Alden was
generally called, was a power, and with
promptitude they proceeded to cal
their words with marvellous CELEBRITY.
Mrs. Jennie smiled and babe them
good morning. On the way to Miss Le-
she made a gesture as if she had
touched an illsmelling weed.
What a power of harm such women
IAN do at times! l do not pose as a
reformer, but I really would, like to
recall the ducking stool for their ben
eft. Poor Letitia! Ihope she has not
chosen unwisely."
Her musings ceased as the coachman
1rew rein before the pretty old-fash-
.oned garden of the Houghtons. Mrs.
Jennie was met in the yard by the
oride-elect, whose fresh and fair COM
had defied the ravages of time.
With her bright hazel eyes and wavy
light brown hair, she might have
passed for IS at most.
"Come into the house, Jennie; it's
ovely out here amongst the flowers,
l have some things l wish to show
'ou; the dress has come; l am too old
o be married in white satin, so l select
ID a pink brocade trimmed with lace.
have never had SO many pretty clothes
made at one time,in my life, for l never
eeded to. Idaust think I'm envious,
ut when I saMgAu my friends hand
ONE outfits it occurred to me that it
would be an inducement to marry. Do
GU not like it?"
But where did you meet the man
expect to marry, Letitia? l would
OF give my life into the keeping of an
tier stranger"
You needn't be uneasy about me;
a very pleasant man, and I'm posi-
i've we will get on very well together;
> tor love, we are not young people,
nd have said nothing about that, but
g will do well enough as friends. Did
GU notice that black and gold visiting
TX, Jennie?"
Mrs. Jennie perceived that the bride
o-be preferred to talk about her
yothes instead of the man she had
romised to marry, and made no other
Tort to drag him into the CONVERSE
Miss Letitia brought every article
IF Mrs. Jennie's inspection.
DO stay to lunch; I've so much to
III you yet! I want it understood that
meant what l said when l wrote on the
'rds I didn't want presents; please
axe my friends understand that, will
ouf I know that they will want to
We me presents; you can't know how
ad ! am that l am liked, Jennie"
Mrs. Alden would not shake Miss Le-
tia's faith in the professions of friend
ZIP she believed sincere, but when
leir spiteful comments were recalled
angered her afresh with them. /,
For that purpose Mrs. Jennie drove /
'ck by the church, where abe found !
le society dispensing. She did not
ight, but told them of Miss Letitia,s i,
lsh. She Of the sharp tongue gave q ,
rill little cackle and said: .
THAT means we must give them +,
.thout fail; she's afraid we won't !,
We anything, and takes that means
make sure"
was that the reason you had no
on the cards when your daugh- Z