The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-16
MR. OLD EoeYs vlsIr-

"Oh. but you mustn't go without seeing
my daughters objected Mrs. y, extend
ing a OBTAINING hand as I rose 10 take my
| leave. I had always obeyed her in the
! old days when L was an underestimate
and she was my first love. and I found
the ancient habit still strong upon me; so
1 resumed my seat.
Daughters2" 1 echoed helplesslv. q
How unkind Of youi To make me be-
| lieve L m twenty again. and then suddenly
parslyZe me back into middle age by
mentioning daughtersl How many are
| there?"
Only two, Rose and Agnes replied
she, apologetically. adjusting her widow
! cuffs daintily. But you shall Judge
them for yourself, for here they are
The drawing room opened as she spoke
/ and two young girls entered that is,
became conscious Of a tan, blooming.
| young presence bringing an impression OF
: sunlight and gayety and Partisan dnery
/ into the darkened drawing room. and il
was only when the first effervescence Of
/ this impression had subsidized that
| realized the existence OF a quiet. little
! figure, clad in sober gray, who was fol-
| lowing her sister gravely.
This is Rose, said the mother proud
| ". They say she is exactly ike me 1T
! her age"
bowed low before the fresh young
/ vision Of loneliness, suddenly feeling the
weight OF my fifty years ruthlessly re-
! stored to me. The girl flung herself upon
tie sofa, piquant, perfumed iutter OF
/ silk and lace.
I'm simply starved" she declared
merrily. Just fancy, mamma. they
/ gave Us tea and sandwiches and little
| sponge cakesl And an invitation affair,
! tool"
Mrs. L. is very old fashioned" admit
/ ted Rose mamma. I'm surprised you
81 hi ali 1-sI
| sponge cakes a distinct concession.
There was absolutely no tone about
] the whole thing" complained Rose.
There wasn't a man there. Just think
/ Of It'll And such a mob Of womenl I
never saw such awful clothes in my life.
Agnes says they are all clever. we'll
known persons, but l should think IL
must be because they haven't the faintest
idea OF how 10 dress themselves"
rs this Agnes?' I asked, as the slen-
der little maid in gray stood glancing
shyly at me from beneath her brown
lashes.
How dreadfully stupid Of me- ex-
claimed Mrs. X, in a yexed voice. "Ag
mes is so mouse like one never remembers
her. Come here, child, and meet an
old friend OF mine who has just returned
from Venice
We looked at each other for an instant
and while I still felt the burden Of my
years, which the kindly hattery of her
mother had removed from my shoulders.
for the moment, yet, IN some subtle
fashion, did not mind it; in fact, felt
soOthed and comforted
I'm so glad to meet one Of mothers
old friends" she said shyly.
7 mustn't forget TO tell you about that
old trump Mrs. L. asked US to meet at
her tea" said the pink-and-white beauty
on the sofa 4 only wish you might
have seen herl 1t was almost worth
wasting an afternoon, She was old and
ugly, and such a gown! It must have
come out of Noah's ark. But Lou Per-
kins and a few other girls Of our set were
there, and we managed gradually to fade
away into corners, and we decided on the
leaders for the next German, and we got
Anne Smith to promise US a tea-a real
one-for next Tuesday. She didn't wish
to give it at frst-shes awfully stiDgy
for such a rich girl-but we got it out Of
her at last"
And what did you do. Miss Agnes?"
I inquired
She turned toward me and a delicate
pink swept beneath the shy, brown eyes.
Il like Mrs. l., you know" she said
apologetically. "I always have such
nice. interesting times there. She's the
dearest, old lady-just like chapter out
Of Miss Austen"
agnes has such queer tastes,' put in
herself out to be nice to people. Why,
even the trump from Noah's ark, mamma
felt sorry for her and tried TO draw her
out"
1T was rather quiet at first" Agnes
admitted, blushing thus to discover her
self prominent, ''and Miss NJ, was very
kind to notice me. She's so clever her
self that I should have felt stupid If she
had not been so simple and pleasant.
But my dear Agnes, who under the
sun is this Miss Mp asked her mother.
Worst dressed woman you ever saw,
put in Rose, and queer, too. I heard
her asking Lou Perkins what college
she attended. You should have seen
Lou wither her. She was simply su-
perb. She told her she had left Miss
Aliens finishing school last year, and
Louis manner must have given her a
very good impression Of just what that
meant"
"Oh, Rose" said Agness, reproachfuliy
Miss NJ. is so clever and interesting. She
is a sister of the great African explorer
and has been around the world eight
times. I enjoyed so much some OF her
adventures"
Then Africa IS probably where she
picked up her costume" said Rose. flip
PANTY, at was certainly savage"
I rose to take my leave Of my early
friend and her daughters. The radiant
beauty on the sofa gave me a careless
nod Of dismissal and just the edge Of an
indulgent. Indifferent smile, but Agnes
shook my hand cordially and said sim
ply: I'm so glad to have seen you, Mr..
Old-Fogy."
As / walked back to my hotel in the
tender sunset lights, and reflected on my
recent visit. 7 fell to wondering what had
become OF all the dear, quaint, old ladies
I remembered in those distant days be
fore went to Venice, those peaceful-vis-
aged. sweet old danes with their ever
present knitting. their old-time tales,
their kindly advice and wise saws. They
seemed altogether displaced and posted
aside by these pseudo-yOuthful rnatrons
so very little older in manner and ap-
pearance than their own daushters
whittier had vanished those modest re-
firing vo,sng ladies' OF my youth. who had
believed in both God and man. ana whose
love had made the world 50 gloriousY As
7 recalled the pretty, beribboned, frivo-
lous Rose. with her unyOuthfUl cynlcisn
and superficial. thoughtless criticism, /
began to wish myself safely back again
il Venice with my memories and dreams.
but 1uSt al that instant glanced up az
the darkening cky, and caught the ten
da~ tsrnid radiance Of the evening star.
II made me think OF Agnes who was so
unlike her mother and sister, and as the
memoir. OF the sweet. grave young face
and little gray figure rose IN my MIND,
7 axpariercad a curious comfort which
softsned the sharpness OF my regret
No Great Less
Miss clara 60 Featherly. who IS max
ing IN eveniag caID-Poor nttls Bobby
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