The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-14
A Thank Offering,

| '''> 81
Betty has a weakness for dressing the
part, and when l found hsr last Tuesday
afternoon arrayed in blue foppy. az
| tistic garment and an air of pens-veness,
I shuddered l was almost sure that she
had offended the cook. She finds j. rsth
er hard 10 be properly respectful toward
| that potentate. But cook who mas
talent, ard in the matter Of savourias
positive genius. much may be forgiven.
| Savouries are not 20 be despised, I
sighed.
20. such luncheon!' sch moaned by
way Of greeting
It was the cook
''When's she going?" I asked gioomi-
y. It's a funny thing
Not that sort Of luncheon, you stupid
old boy. Cooks not leaving"
"Oh. we'll" / haid in a relieved tone.
''if you will play tricks with your di-
| gestion-'
She stopped me with an indignant
glance.
Dick Ferris lunched with me-" she
remarked.
Dick Ferrisp' I whistled.
DO not make that foolish Noise with
great dignity. Yes, Dick Ferris. What
of it?"
My dear" I began, confusedly.
Don't call me my dear 1 do not
live in the suburbs. / had quite enough
| of that at luncheon time
You don't mean TO tell me, madam,
that Ferris called you my DEAR "
! "Of course not. 1t would not have
| been half so bad If ne had He talked
| to me as If I were fifty-and piain"
Why, 1 thought he used toto
WHAT" and she regarded me a i-ife
more hopefully
| 'Well-long ago.
| Not so very long ago." She murmur-
ed
"Aeons ago." I persisted. "He-wen,
he was one Of the-the-followers
"I'm not cook" she laughed. But It
is true He did-follow; and he has been
| supposed to be breaking his heart In
some outlandish place.
"a! I understand" 1 said, brilliantly
| His heart IS Whole again, and you
don't"
Again I was withered by look
Am that kind OF person." she ce-
manded, wrathfully. Don't I always
try to marry off the friends of my In
attached days?"
well, perhaps" But she doesn't re-
ally like them to set married; and if
she does hep on the process. / notice
that the girls are never wildly cn' nusi-
astc over her.
mo, it wasn't that at all You are
altogether wrong"
Certainly" I concluded, politely. ser
never thought it was that. But what is
it, them"
He has changed so abomtnably," sns
said vigorously. He has become so
Very different from the Dick IL
"You-er?" I Intercepted.
You know"
1 did. l knew more than sne would
have believed possible.
May 1 have some tea?'' asked meek
".
1 got it, and surveyed Betty for a few
seconds. She looked more than petty.
and as for Dick-bahi a thousand Dicks
would not matter!
$50 you find dis llusionment pursuing
your youthful steps?" l inquired. with
interest.
ITS all very we'll for you TO sneer,'
she said You have no sentiment in
your nature. Now, don't say It's your
misfortune, not your fault. Tcu say
that about everything, from dropping
stud to losing a thousand pounds
II wasn't going to say it," 1 protest
ed. Really, you are treating me very
badly"
Poor old boy! But the remembrance
of that idiot ruffles me-
THAT IDIOT [ said. (Which idiot?"
Dick, of course. If you will he so
stupid
But you were talking of sentiment.
What has that 10 do with stup,dity?"
"A great deal-sometimes 1 was stupid
long ago when l believed that D. ok
And I was certainly sentimental
this afternoon" with a half uilty,
wholly fascinating look at me, and-"I
will tell you. 1 was making a htank-
offering"
"a thank-offering," I repeated, genu-
inely puzzled. But why should you? 1t
isn't Lent or anything. is it?"
When denseness reaches a certain
point" said my companion, oracularly,
1t should be a capital otense"
What have done now?" I exclaimed
despairingly.
who mentioned you? I was speaking
generally. Ordinary people. Men, you
know"
That's not the point. I want to know
about the thank-offering.
"Oh, WELL" she began, guilty.
At that moment Parker entered the
room. can never rid myself of a dread
ful suspicion that 1 do not me 18th
Parker's approval. She glanced az me
coidly and said:
"A parcel for you, ma'am."
open it. Parker" said her mistress,
looking amused and slightly mischiey-
Gus.
And Parker, the irreproachable, undid
layer after layer of paper finally bring
ing to light an deliberately chased silver
cigar box.
You extravagant person. I said.
What is it?'
She laughed. The thank offering"
But what is II TeaIy2'
Dicks wedding present-stupidr' SAID
my wife.
4 Romance Not