Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-03-06
THAT SIMPLETON.

of fllmy silken texture, over which
masses of soft white lace were arts
tlcully arranged. Every eye was upon
her as she quietly glided to her place
at one of the tables reserved for regu-
lar boar1ers. Those of romantic ma
ture might have imagined the face OF
an angel appearing through white
clouds floating over sea OF bright
blue sky. There was not the slightest
doubt that upon the faces of the men
there were expressions Of admiration.
The big husband by whose side she sat
made no effort to conceal the fact that
this exquisite piece of femlninlty-who
had been his wife for ten years-was
still the object of his ardent and ever
Increasing worship. As he deferential-
ly bent his head to her Iii reply to some
slight request, the 4pig woman sitting
just opposite glanced reproyingly at
her own husband, as II to say, "Mr.
Leslie Is a model husband. If you
were only like himw But the express
sion of reproach was Immediately sue
ceeded by frown of Indignation as
she noted that Mr.. Leslle's chiyalry
was quite lost upon her mate, as he
was evidently absorbed In the vision Of
beauty at Mr.. Leslie's side.
The vision was only talking common
place; but with such genius-or was
1t magnetism ?-that every one seemed
helpless under Its influence, although
the women present were evidently not
quite In harmony with the situation
nor the fragile looking woman of thir-
ty with the child's face. In spite of
this antagonistic undercurrent they
were, however, almost as irresstlbly
attracted as were the men. Women
are usually more analytical than are
men. and mentally dissected Mrs Les
lie, although they inwardly rebelled
that she possessed the power to claim
a second thought. When discussing her
together they denomlnated her "a silly
chit" doll face" ''simpleton," "know
nothing" and so on. They never adj
mittcd her attractions. hut openly Won
dered what there was In Mrs. Leslie
that all the men went wild over If she
did have one grain of sense-they aver
red to the contrary--she certainly pos
sessed little education, and would of
ten make the most astonishing blum
ders.
Yet she always held crowd of male
admirers around her, while the intel
lectual women who could talk politics,
literature, science or art, We're quite
neglected If she were present 1 Sine
was no coquette. however. and in spite
of much jealous watching was never
discovered to be guilty Of moral In
discretion. The women were Jealous
of her. The men enjoyed her because
they were not jealous.
She always seemed unconscious of
either admiration or censure, and
though she had the most exquisite
taste In dress, there was no apparent
vanity In her nature. To-day. in spite
of certain whispered comments and
chances of disapproval, She innocently
chartered on. her delicate, child-like
face flushing prettily at times, al
though she could not, as Mrs. Adams
said. stalk fifteen consecutive minutes
without displaying the most egreglous
ignorance even upon ordinary sub
jects." Yet the men always ignored
her mistakes Just now she caught the
word tariff from conversation he
tween Miss Adams and Mrs. Smith.
and she quietly interrupted in blrd-llke
tones: "Oh, has that bill passed? Let's
see, what was II called" One of the
ladies giggied audlbly as Mr.. Smith
CALAMITY replied:
"Oh. yes; the Dingley bill, you
meanT
Eyes, that's 1t. Who introduced II?
A smile from the women, and the no
lite and quiet reply:
mr.. Dingley introduced It; It is nam.
ed for him."
"Ah, is that so? How nice. Mr.
DIngley Is an Engllshman; remem.
Der nowr'
"Foolr' whispered Miss Adams, while
Mrs. Smith applied her handkerchief
cough, although she knew her ruse was
detected by the look of scorn Mr.. El
lis gave her as Mr.. Smith again made
courteous reply. and then, with charm
ing tact, changed the subject to one
more adapted to Mrs. Leslle's capacity
That night, when the guests were as.
sembled upon the commodious hotel
porch. the men, as usual, forming a cir
Gle around Mrs. Leslie, the women thus
isolated discussed more satirically
than ever "the siren" and her cnarac-
terstics. One declared she was not
only brainless but soulless, incapable
of any great and noble thought or ac-
tion. go. -, -
But" responded Mrs. Smith in sar-
castle tones, Initiative of Mr.. Ellis. "she
is so genuine and sympathetic; such
q sweet, womanly woman"