The Meeker herald., 1901-07-13
Her Forgiveness
BY EtAelyn Leslis Hsstsa.
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tcopyright M. by Aashoss synAaaaaAS

mi me O'Clock! We will now be-
IN hold the animals parade" muir
INJURED Mrs. Stanley Weston. glancing
at the little gold clock that had Just
announced the hour with musical self
satisfaction.
Don't be rude, Betty. They're my
guests-if they arc bore. How DO
l look?"
"a touch of rouge, my dear, would
assist the ensemble. Pallor Il sup
posed to be interesting and sounds
well in books and things. But In
real life it's apt to be pasty-looks
like disordered liver or love or some
thing"
Betty! You are ntrocious!"
Mrs. Stanard picked up q little sill
yer box and delicntely applied . touch
of rose-bloom to her cheeks. Mrs.
Weston stretched her blue satin slip
pers toward the bright CRATE fire with
luxurious little wriggle, but her
eyes, blue ms the slippers, never left
her hostess face. They narrowed
shrewdly as Mrs. Stanard leaned close
to the tapers.
"a little more! That's better. Not
sleeping well-hm? Don't care
whether school keeps and all the
rest of it? Won't do, my dear. Ruin
Gus to the complexion. Cut II out"
II wish you would not use that
abominable slang. You talk like some
factory girl" Mrs. stanard put the
silver box back on her dressing table
with y weary little gesture and the
blue eyes narrowed again.
my dear, It II absolutely inpoasible
to express ones self In the qnsen's
English nowadays. II II eoud fern,
Of course, but inadeqna4a-@ Awfsity
Inadequate. The factory afri Ssys II
sentenee what good form takes j
chapter to express. And even then
the factory girl has the best Of Il.
What are you fretting about?"
''Nothing."
Mrs. Weston elevates her artificial
ly penciled eyebrows and thoughtful
ly pats the pearl clasps on her long
suede gloves with one finger. The
other folds her arms on the silver
Cupid frame Of her tall chcval glass
and drops her head on her arms.
After carefully counting tine pearl
clasps three times Mrs. Weston mods
in n satisfied manner. then allows her
eyes to travel up the long lace train
till they reach the bare shoulders and
still. bowed head.
That pose is very graceful and
fetching, cherie," she says cheerfully.
"But it's wasted. There's no one here
but me. And it's 9:15."
She looks sharply at the listless face
in the mirror. then rises with little
frou-frou of silken petticoats and gets
= glass Of wine from cabinet.
"Drink, pretty creature, drink. 1
don't dare, for 1t always makes my
nose red. That fact alone has saved
me from the gold cure. For II there's
anything enjoy it's the wine when
1t is red. And could, like Omar, d.
vorce barren reason without n qualm.
But my complexion! Especially one's
nose. And now, Mrs. Stanard, If YOU
do not want your guests to go home
in o dudgeon, minus hostess and tenn
per. 1t behooves you to make your
presence material in the drawing
room. And do not propose to waste
this new gown on the desert air any
longer. Come on"
A little later and white lace and
blue velvet are surrounded by light
and color, the sweeping gowns Of
fair women and the black coats Of
the men as contrast. The air is soft
a nd 1op r.
house flowers, and through the hum
q cultured voices creep the faint
strains of -istant string instruments,
Mrs. Stanard's face In serene and
slightly smiling. and her voice has lust
that touch of personal interest that
sooths and attracts, as she greets each
of her guests with perfect tact. Her
eyes dark md tranquil. pass from face
to face and tell nothing. The hours
pass and find her still smiling, inter
ested. unwearied. Only the flowers
ers them she presses the thorny stems
hard against the soft flesh for mo-
ment. A sharp pain is relief from q
dull ache. sometimes. And she smiles
oddly as she drops the dead flowers be-
hind her and pulls the frosty lace 4
little higher where one thorn has
married the skin.
II missed you last night. You did
not go to hear Calve."
( 4 tall man with dark, strong fac.
was bending over her. The face was
too grim to be handsome. 1t was hear.
lily lined and the eyes were deep-set.
keen, rsNsent.
Another engagement. And II was
Carmen? was 10 sorry"
Smiling. she gives him her habd a
moment and lifts her eyes to his, :.