The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1902-12-05
MRS. HAROLD stage.
Copyright 1870 and 1901 BY Rob, BOuners sons


perfectly proper. II she were like
most girls. | should naturally advise.
on grounds OF respect, waiting for an.
other year; but. you see. Eleanor was
eighteen last autumn. and II she were
To walt she would be twenty before
she came out which, considering her
excessive shyness and quietness.
would be the worst thing possible for
her. ] am afraid OF the poor child
becoming morbid. All she seems TO
care for is wandering through the
woods or sitting on the beach by her
self for hours. or else reading. II can't
be good for her. | like to see girls at
her axe bright and taking an interest
In things. It's to be expected that
she should mourn her father. but Il
isn't healthy TO allow her grief TO prey
on her mind"
IL is the green-eyed monster that
doth make the food Il feeds on
Shakespeare" said the young banker.
JOLLY. No. that's Jealousy; but Il
applies To grief just as well. You let
yourself get harping on a thing and
it's all up with you"
Then you agree with me-"
AS 90 what?' said Harold. noticing
his wife's anxious air.
The propriety OF her coming out
after the LIST OF January.
ANY plan that you and Eleanor fix
on viii suit me, cherub. leave IL all
in your hands"
You have said you mean 10 give
her u ball" Emma remarked. medi.
tntiyely.
so do; handsome ono. I'm be a
good excuse FOR throwing open our
new house.
Well. then, shall consider Il set.
tied: only | shall have to be thinking
about her clothes at once. / don't
suppose the child viii make any OBJ
jections."
she felt. nevertheless. a little anx.
ious on this last head until she had
talked TO Eleanor. who. however. said
that she was not competent 20 decide
as to the proper time for laying aside
her mourning. and that her aunt was
the best Judge.
Il should be very sorry. dear. 20
give you the impression that was lax
In such matters" said Emma. serious
ly. but | think your future happiness
may be very dependent on your com.
Ing out this winter; SO It seems 10 me
YOU do right In being a little loss
strict in following custom than in or
binary cases.
Eleanor merely asscnted: but next
| day, when they were alone together
I after breakfast. she suddenly con
fr0nted her aunt with the inquiry why
there was any need OF her coming out
90 all.
Need Of your coming QUIT" Emma
said. IN tone OF Gstonishmcnt Then.
after a moments attempt TO graphic
in her own mind with the extraoral
narincss of such a proposition. she re-.
piled. with dignity: Your Uncle Hur.
old depends on your coming out. HI.
oanor."
The girl looked nj her vaguely.
Il should be very happy without Il. 4"
she said.
Emma surveyed the calm rccalci.
;rant in a dumbfoundcd fashion tha,
was still more naughty. She felt that
she was called on 90 combat n frame
Il mind radically out OF gear and
that she must speak unequiyocally.
1T Is not a question of your present,
happiness or of your unhappiness. Fl.
canor. but of your whole future. II
YOU do not show yourself in the world
/ and become familiar with It's usagcs
how are you To NJ yourself for your
part In life. whether as n wlfe-fol
you are likely to be married-or, even
assuming that you are not-as-as
your Uncle Harold's niece and my
/ niece"
Mrs. Stagg conscientiously based
her argument on nigh moral grounds.
/ She had no patience with the cynical
or mislnformed people who habitually
/ stigmatlzod society as hollow and Fri,
olous. or who declared that girls came
out merely TO find husbands Such
critics were either cnyious. or did not
know what they were talking about. IL
was too much the custom FOR those ON
! the confines OF good society 90 sneer
al those on the other side Of the hedge
without knowledge Of their feelings
and privileges.
But cannot dance" answered
! Eleanor. which was an objection quite
apart from the real ones which had
! prompted her To speak.
Her aunt felt ineXpressibly relieved.
MIsled by notions that are common
among persons of her class. Mrs.
/ Stage had begun 90 fear that her
/ nioce's Ecruples were born OF that
/ dreadful democratic spirit which ar.
/ CUES that a country schOol.ma am
without social experience Is the peer
In breeding and elegance Of any lady
/ In the land. Horrible visions OF the
consequences OF such n standard had
noated before her eyes. which now
boamed benovolencc on the culprit. as
she said:
Il wrote last night 10 make arrange
ments about that. my dear. You will
dance beautifully. You have just the
figure for 81. and you are light on your
feet Mile. Iaurcns will come three
/ times week until you are proficient.