Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-08-19
Copyright. 1901. bu Z. c. Mcclure

~ -. -. -. 60 - - - -. r.. -. ~. ~
The coolness between Mrs. Went
worth and Mrs. Drewelowe was segin-
ming to occasion remark. They met
frequently, for Mrs. Drewelowe was
the gracious mistress of beautiful
Euclid avenue home, while just around
tie corner, upon a short and unpreten-
tious side street, stood the smaller
house rented by Professor and Mrs
Wentworth
Years ago they had been girls to-
getller in the little village of Mayville
when she of the stately mansion had
been only Maria Duzenbury, daughter
of the most shiftless man in the vii
lage.
In those days Mrs Wentworth had
lived on no side street. but in the state
ly white pillared mansion which
crowned the highest hill in Mayville
and which was pointed to with pride
as the home of Judge Titus. Fate
plays strange tricks. After the death
of the judge. when the lawyers We're
quite through. somehow there was lit
tie or nothing left for the daughter, al
though one Of the lawyers took his en-
tire family abroad within the year and
the other built himself new house.
The trouble began at the Culture
club. Mrs Wentworth had felt sure
she had detected most peculiar smile
upon Mrs. Drewelowe's face at the
,,.ox;e.a ,,,o,e,a,,f r-bap chn ctnnd mr.. RI
read her paper OH Egyptian Archi-
lecture" Then. later in the afternoon,
Mrs. Roberts, also of Euclid avenue.
had leaned over and said Iaughingly.
Mrs Wentworth. Mrs. Drewelowe
says she doesn't believe you ever wrote
that paper 1t WAS so good she thinks
your husband must have written it"
Any clubwonian knows this is most
grieyous Insult
Mrs. Wentworth gave charming little
teas iii modest. side street fashion.
and the bitterness ranked in her heart
to such in extent that she left Mrs.
Drewelowe off her list the next week.
Then there WAS an elaborate social
function at the Euclid avenue man
sion, and Mrs. Wentworth did not re-
ceiye cards.
But the climax was reserved for Eas-
ter morning in the vestibule Of the Eu-
cid avenue church.
Mrs. Drewelowe and Mrs. Wentworth
met. and. remembering the sacred
threshold. bowed less coidiy than
usual. then gasped and stood trans
fixed Taking in every flower and
knot of lace. they realized that their
beautiful new Easter bonnets were ex-
actly alike.
Their husbands. balancing their hats
carefully in one hand and with the
other holding each Il vestibule door,
were courteously awaiting them. They
had cordially shaken hands, for 1t ill
became dignifed meli to notice wo-
mems small quarrels
Mrs. Drexelowe was first to recover.
"a beautiful morning" she said in her
sweet, even tones, and a bar of purple
and yellow flashed from the window
across the vioIets in her bonnet as she
turned and swept after her husband.
Mrs. Wentworth bowed In silence,
biting her lips in vexation. and raised
a delicately gloved hand up to see Ii
her bonnet. that had cost her SO many
economies. WAS really upon her head
or upon that cs rich Maria Drewelowe
She felt that now. rs ever since they
had lived ii the city. Mrs. Drewelowe
had the best Of her.
a little path had opened through the
! garden of spring millinery across the
congregation. and through it she saw
| Mrs DreweIowe tarn and stare direct
| ly back at her. smile III 4 superior way.
then whisper something to AIRS. Rob
srts in the pew Just behind. whereupon
| Mrs Roberts laughed most immoder-
ately. considering the time and place.
The hot blood rushed to Mrs Went
4 werth's face IN such force az to make
her quite Gizzy She knew what Mrs.
Drewlowc had said as well as though
she had heard every word.
annie Wentworth. never content
with running after me- has managed
in some way to copy my bonnet. and
1 don't you tl.;ak, Mrs. Roberts, it is an
outrage?
Alas. Annie Wentworth. daughter
of Judge T':ti.s. to be thus openly fiout-
ed by a Ds;1eni,rry.
1t was Lad enough to be reduced te
living on a size street. TO watching hel
in the lead OF the most exclusive set in
the city. bit to be accused OF copying
her cIothes-that was the last straw
Move, Indeed they'd move the 1st OF
May. She would resign from the Cul
ture club. They would 90 where she
might never meet this regal queenly
daughter of afmless. shiftless old Du
zenbury or her husband. who had mad'
his fortune in kerosene.
The minister scared away In mag
nificent flights of oratory. but Mrs
WentEortFs mind constantly returnes
to the problems OF how the bonnet
came to be alike and what Mrs. Drewe
: lowe had whispered TO Mrs. Roberts. A
last she solved the first question. Mrs
DreweIov e Lad discovered her treasure
the little milliner who made it possibl
for her. the wife of Professor Went
worth. to appear for SO In bonnet
which Looked as though they had cos
$50. the poor little relic of better day
who lived in the old tumble down brio
: building behind the cathedral and VIII
had wonderful knack for copyini
expensive lonnets- To place her old
est customer in such humiliating Pc
sition. Mrs. Wentworth turned coll
! all over with the remembrance OF tn
whisper. oh. the letter she woui
send with the bonnet straight back t
2 that traitress.
!. she was quite hysterical by the tim
the last amen was pronounced AM