The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-04-25
; Her Forgiveness
BY Ethelyn Leslie Huston.

Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndicate)


Copyright, 1901. by Authors syndicate.)
IN me o'clock! We will now be-
IN hold the animals parade" muir
INJURED Mrs. Stanley Weston, CHANGING
at the little gold clock that had just
announced the hour. with musical self
satisfaction. ,@23tt ~,
Don't be rude, Betty. They're my
guests-if they are a bore. How do
/ look??''' I'M
"a touch of.rouge,, my dear, would
assist the ensemble. Pallor is 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 atrocious!"
Mrs. Stanard picked up a little sill
yer box and delicately applied a touch
of rose-bloom to her cheeks. Mrs.
Weston stretchedsher blue satin slip
pers toward the bright CRATE fire with
a luxurious little wriggle, but her
eyes, blue as the slippers, never left
her hostess face. They narrowed
to the tapers. : &
"Aelittle more! That's better. Not
sleeping well-hm? Don't care
whether school keeps and all the
rest of it? Won't do, my5dear. Ruin
Gus to the complexion. Cut it out"
j IT wish you would mot use that
abominable slang You talk like some
factory girl" Mrs. Stanard put the
silver boNsback on her dressing table
with a weary little gesture and the
blue eyes narrowed again.
"My dear, it is absolutely impossible
to express ones self in the queens
English nowadays. 1t is good form,
of course, but inadequate. Awfully
inadequate. The factory girl says in
a sentence what good form takes a
chapter to express. And even then
the factory girl has the best of it.
What are you fretting about?"
Nothing"
Mrs. Weston e~levates her %artistical.
ly penciled eyebrows and thoughtful.
ly pats the pearl clasps on her long
suede gloves with n finger. The
other folds her arms on the silver
Cupid frame of her tall cheyal glass
and drops her head on her arms
After carefully counting the pear
clasps three times Mrs. Weston mods
in a satisfied manner, then allows he1
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 a little
frou-frou of silken petticoats and gets
a glass Of wine from a cabinet. 81.
Drink, pretty creature, drink. ]
don't dare, for it always makes my
nose red. That fact alone has saved
me from the gold cure For if there's
anything ! enjoy it's the wine when
it is red. And I could, like Omar, di.
yorce barren reason without a qualm,
But my complexion! Especially ones
nose. Andnow, Mrs. Stanard, if you
do not want your guests to go home
in a dudgeon, minus hostess and tenn.
per, it behooves you to make your
presence material in the drawing.
room. And I 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
and ~languorous with the odor of hot.
house flowers, and through the hum
of cultured voices creep the faint
strains of Instant string instruments
Mrs. Stanard's face is serene and
slightly smiling, and her voice has just
that touch of personal interest that
sooths and attracts, as she greets each
of her guests with perfect tact. Her
eyes, dark and tranquil, pass from face
to face and tell nothing. The hours
pass and find her still smiling, inter
ested, unwearied. Only the flowers
droop at her breast and as she unfast.
ems them she presses the thorny stems
hard against the soft flesh for a mo-
ment. A sharp pain is relief from a
dull ache, sometimes. And she smiles
oddly as she drops the dead flowers be-
hind her and pulls the frosty lace a
little higher where one thorn has
marred the skin. az 'h
II missed you last night. You did
not go to hear Calve."
A tall man with a dark. strong face
was bending over her. The face was
too grim to be handsome. 1t was heav-
lily lined and the eyes were deep-set.
keen, reticent.
another engagement. And it was
Carmen? I was so sorry"
Smiling, she gives him her hand a
moment and lifts her eyes to his.
"You are late" she adds, pleasantly
"Unavoidably-as I need not tell
you. But 1 was philosophical over the
delay, as I thought if 1 came late you
might permit me to stay awhile. Aft
er the crush. don't you know"
He smiles with whimsical entreaty,
and she mods assent as she passes him
on to Mrs. Weston and turns to the
guests that follow. Mrs. Weston gives
him both small hands with frank gen.
ercsity, and with a strategic movement
brings him into position slightly be-
hind her own plump shoulder and I'M
der a big palm tree that shadows them
both. 8& & I