The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-22

| Mrs. BOvril was at home-not to all
| the world, but to the select few who
| happened to interest her in that partic-
ular year of her grace. There were nc
old friends among them. Mrs. Bovril
| had few old friends, and she did not
encourage them. She used to say they
were like old servants, and became i'm
| pudent as time went on. Besides, she
| liked a change, and the men-well, ii
! only took an intelligent man three
weeks to find her out.
There were usually about four wom-
| en- in the room, and they were care
| fully chosen for their ugliness and pa
| tent dispositions. Every one said she
| hired them to irritate the men and
| increase their longing to escape to her
| side. 1t was certainly an understood
thing at Mrs. BovriPs that only one
man was to sit by her at time. She
! gave each one his turn, if he de-
served 1t, and expected him to serve his
seven years cheerfully in another cor
ner of the room. That they were con-
tent to do this is proof of the Won
derful fascination she exercised over
her admirers.
Today, however, the young men rub
bed their eyes and stared. What was
Mrs. Bovril thinking Of? There was a
young and beautiful woman languidly
slipping tea on Mrs. BovriPs own par
ticular sofa; she must have got in by
accident, or force, or guile. Their hos
tess would never have been SO foolish
as to ask possible rival.
They were mistaken, however. She
had been the subject of a special invi-
tation. The fact was Mrs. Paunce-
forte Deane was there to learn. She
had not long been married, and had
lived in the country all her life. Mrs.
Bovril had taken pity on her ignor-
ance, and had asked her round to show
her how things ought to be done.
my DEAR" she had said some days
previously, 'you really must have some
admir- ers.''
at have my husband" Mrs. Deane
had replied with provoking innocence.
"Your husband? Yes, of course. So
have I. But, if your husband is the
only man who is going to admire you,
you will soon lose your attractiveness
in his eyes. Men like their wives to be
run after. 1t gives them the pride of
possession. They like to think they
have got what other men are longing
for"
"And what other men may take from
them. Is it not rather dangerous, Mrs.
Boyril?'
How seriously you take everything,
child. There is no harm"
Not in playing with fire."
Fire? Fiddlesticks! Come round on
Tuesday. have a few people in. You
will like them, I expect. They are
rather different to the ordinary peo-
pie, and I don't want all of them for
myself"
Mrs. Deane had laughed. But she
was girl, and liked something new,
so she came round.
Mrs Bovril was kind, gave her the
second best man and the best seat, and
told all the others how charming she
was.
Fresh from the country, you know,
Algy," she mumured, where all the
beautiful cows are, and buttercups and
things. Isn't she lovely?"
Algy was fool enough to say Eyes"
so he was packed off before his time
was up, and he made things so I'M
pleasant all around the other side of
the room that the people dropped off
one by one, and soon Mrs. Boyril and
Mrs. Deane were left alone.
"Well, my dear" said Mrs. Bovril
when Algy, who had stayed to see all
the others driven out, had gone, chow
have you been getting on?"
IT don't think my husband will have
any cause to be Jealous" Mrs. Deane
replied, leaning back in a more COM
Portable position than she had hitherto
allowed herself
Dear me, how unfortunate you are.
You don't know how to treat them,
you silly child. You should have
watched me. A lot can be done in that
way. suppose you talked about
books, and the theaters, and bicycles,
and all those sort of things" and Mrs.
Bovril smiled CONTEMPORARY.
what else should I talk about-to
strangers ?''s replied the pupil rather
wearily, for, to say the truth, Mrs. Bow
been interested in anything.
Mrs Bovril laughed. you absurd
creature. Do you think that sort of
conversation interests them? They are
only interested in you-and themselves.
You must be more personal. Discuss