The Opelousas courier., 1900-11-03

seiVe them on the footing you would
before their failureT' cried Mrs.
Blanche Redmond, aghast, beating her
tiny parasol impatiently against a foot
encased In q very delicate French
boot.
II cannot really bring myself to
think any less Of Them" said Mrs.
Mordaunt, quietly. Mrs. Stanmore
is certainly a lady in every respect.
believe that even In her circum-
stances, as you call 1t. she will really
look more elegant, upon her slender
means, than some who are the wives
Of millionaires. Give her a little sun
! shine. a few flowers and pictures and
she will make a ~presentable home any
where, and there Is Molly with her
lueenly beauty to grace such a homer
"Mrs. Mordaunt, I hope you are not
going to put the climax an your bene-
Violence by calling Molly Stanmore a
beauty-now. really, that would be too
bad" and the sparkling widow tossed
her head and glanced up with a vexed
sparkle in her eyes.
II don't know of q woman who ap-
proaches the beau ideal of perfection
more nearly than she. Don't you
MIR. Henry q capable judge Of such
points?"
Mrs. Blanche flushed from chin to
eyebrow. She looked up with a half
frown, the color fading almost instant
Fly as she cried. with hurried voice
and manner
"Why, pray, what did he eve say?"
Good breeding kept Mrs. Mordaunt's
politeness Observation-Disclosures, she
found it difficult to restrain a smile
at her friends eagerness.
II do not feelquite atliberty torepeat
all he said" she made quiet reply.
but he expressed the most refined
admiration Of her person and talents.
Oh, by the way, 1 have his last book
have you seen it?"
She ros to bring 1t from the library.
The little widow, unrestrained by her
presence, clinched the almost fairy
fingers around the ivory handle of her
parasol, frowning, and looking very
disagreeable indeed.
II don't believe a word she says
about Mr. Henry" she cried, in q
fierce undertone; that tall, common.
dowdyish creature, and hep
The face softened. the smile re-
turned as Mrs. Mordaunt entered with
o volume In blue and gilt.
The little lady expressed her ad-
miration very naturally, keeping her
wicked tactics sheathed In her heart
for future use; chatted a few moments
longer and took her leave.
"Im sure OF Doctor Hazleton's
wife," she said to herself, softly, and
so it proved. Mrs. Hazleton, who was
nearly dying Of ennui, welcomed her
dear friend with q dozen graceful
compliments and, seated In her par
Tor, in the midst OF objects which
should ut least, by their beauty, have
suggested purity of character proceed
ed to retail the neighborhood gossip,
among which the Stanmores came I'm
for q share Of the most heartIess
calumny.
"And ! do believe after all, my dear
Mrs. Hazleton, that Mrs. Mordaunt
going to do a very ridiculous thing"
cried the little widow, twirling her
viciously.
pray. what freak now?' was the
query.
"Why, she'll invite the Stanmores-
1t least Molly-she'n have her there
n some ridiculous old last years dress.
do believe the woman thinks Molly
might have q rich husband now"
Invite the stanmores! 1t would be
an insult to- good society. Do you
think there's any truth In the report
hat Mfr. Henry was rather taken with
Miss Stanmore before his failure?"
"Not a word Of truth!' cried the
hotly.
A plain two-story house with nothing
IT fashion or protection In 1t or Its sur
'oundings-just a bit of gray brown
In front, too barren to sustain q
blade of grass-an old horse chestnut
,efore the door, wooden steps, no name
r. number-and here the Stanmores
iyed. A woeful descent, to come from :,
e splendor of brownstone, silver plat /
ne, rosewood doors and marble steps. 1
By the portals stood no attentive SER 1
ant; nc dim, soft, a~ristocratic atmos- /
there, duly frightened by superb
paintings or CLEAN OF statuary, greeted /
mes entrance-only a plain, narrow /
,ntry, covered with cold .forbidding :
terminating in q small room,
leat but not elegant. 4
Mary Stanmore was not likely TO be
dreamer's model. Far from that she t
ooked as she sat today. It was d good, /
'ure, noble face that bent thoughtful {
yer her task rs she said
.As for the marketing, mother, L
siififk I ssi1niifi do It myself. s
What do you know about It, my i
asked her mother, unconscious
= ending the question with a sigh. t
Nothing at all, Of course. but I shall t
earn. / can price the different kinds d
t meats and vegetables, and by a little d
hrewd questioning find out the best :
callers. I'm SIRE | can save, for when =
'apa orders they are sure to send the ]
est. and
I'D rather have the best" sighed the d
woman. :
every true, and SO would I, mamma, T
ut--' :
Just then the ball rang. 4
sOh. mother. what shall we do?
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