Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-11-07


The unexpected social maelstrom in
which he found himself helplessly float
ing around was very bewildering.
The Renwood-like many another
thing whose popularity can never be
explained-had acquired unparalleled
celebrity without any adequate cause.
SO far as he could see. and it took him
some time to learn to accept the situ-
alton philosophically.
There were a good many times when
he longed for a brief period during
which he could once more assume the
careless habits of former days, but his
business acumen bade him cater to
Fashion. who had stakep him firmly
within her grasp. and he TODD valiant
ly at his post. managing his property
and collecting his wonderful rentals.
Up to last November there had been
no changes made in the place for a good
many months. Then the family that
had occupied apartment No. 10 for the
past two years went to Denver and
gave somebody else chance The
lucky one who was first on the list was
n woman.
She passed through the examination
a widow.
Somehow the Renwood had always
Disseminated against widows.
The other women in the house, espec-
tally Mrs. Hannibal Wade. who Rad
gradually grown to be regarded as a
leader, and who had helped to revise
the latest catechism, objected to them.
H you can help it, Mr.. Merrick."
Mrs. Wade said to the proprietor one
day, when she was infiicting one of her
confidential talks upon him. never
take widows in the house,
The most of them have worried one
man into the grave or the divorce
court, and their sole object in living is
to entrap other victims I am afraid I
Shall have to give you warning now.
Mr.. Merrick, that If you ever take a
widow into the Renwood 1 shall be
forced to leave you"
The friendly advice and admonition
ought to have been sufficient cause for
the instant dismissal of the case of the
such an extraordinary percentage on
other points that the genial landlord
could not summon the hardihood to re-
fuse her admission.
Mrs. Wade CHANGED to be away at the
time and Mrs. Raynor had been oc-
cupying apartment No. 10 for more
than a week when she came home.
90
points was display or fine indignation
whenever occasion demanded t,and she
came out with unusual brilliancy in her
chosen role when she examined the
records in the morocco-bound book
and learned what had been done in her
absence.
She went to the proprietor about 1t
at once.
Il see." she said, that you have
broken the rule which was tacitly
agreed upon some time ago between
you and your patrons and have let No.
10 to widow. 1t is needless to state
that / am greatly surprised at such a
breach of faith on your part Can you
give me an explanation. Mr. Merrick,
that will justify such a course?"
We'll. Mrs. Wade" returned the pro-
prietor, phlegmatically. IT am sorry if
1 have offended you, but 1 fail to see
how 1 have violated any agreement.
This Mrs. Raynor came to see me
several months ago about taking a
suite of rooms here and I promised to
let her know as soon as there was a
vacancy. l assure you, Mrs. Wade,
that even YOU can take no exception
to her. She is good-Iooking-but not
SO handsome as yourself, he added.
automatically
She is As years old, and unencum-
bered. She belongs to an excellent
family and is rich enough to start a
national bank of her own If she cared
to do so. I wish you would call on her
Mrs. Wade, I am sure acquaintance
would Danish prejudice"
But Mrs. Hannibal wade's righteous
wrath was not to be appeased by any
excuses which the unIucky landlord
could produce in his own defense
NO" she returned. IT do not care to
know her. She may be all right, but
she is not to be trusted and ought not
to have been permitted to come here
However, it is not too late to remedy
the evil. Surely, Mr.. Merrick, you can
eject her from the house on some pre-
text or other at the end of the month
If you don't 1 am afraid you will have
trouble"
AS general thing the latest arrivals
%
welcome. Teas, dinners, and receptions
were given in their honor, and they
were installed in their new quarters
with great eclat.
But no such hospitality marked the
coming of Mrs. Raynor. To be sure.
the great events of the Renwood's So
ciety calendar came and went as usual,
but the handsome widow was religious
ly excluded from them all.
She means mischief" said Mrs.
Hannibal Wade. "She will bring dis
credit upon our house. 1t is our duty
to issue bull of social excommunica-
tion. Perhaps that will bring Mr. Mer-
rick to his senses"
The general animosity manifested
toWdIu MIS- IkdyuOT became more
active as the end of the first month
drew near.
This intense bitterness was greatly
aggravated by the outspoken admira-
tion Of the men, who vert strongly dis
posed to champion the cause of the
woman who had apparently done moth
ing to merit such severe condemna-
ton of the men who were strongly dis
Greet remonstrance which Mr.. Hanni-
bal Wade urged against the injustice
of the case which prompted his wife to
seek another interview with Mr.. Mer-
rick.
That Mrs. Raynor has now been here
a month" she said, "and I trust you
have hit upon some plan whereby we
may get rid of her."
NO." said Merrick, slowly; IT can't
x1ox