Evening journal., 1904-10-29
WITLESS
WILES
By Martha MccrIlOeh-wiIIiams
Copyright 1904. by Martha Meculoeh.walsm,

Harrowby town held its breath,
watching the encounter Of the Carrs
ana the Phlllpscs Superhcially, it
was a comedy; potentially, a tragedy
After loftily ignoring each other for
thirty years. the rival houses were at
last forced 10 take intimate cognizunce
one Of each other.
1t came about naturally enough. John
Carr and Luke Phillips, the present
heads of the families, had been in col
lcgo days the chosen friends or Billy
Bluff. who now. as the famous Sena-
tor Bluff. was in narrowly on purpose
TO visit them A great card was the
senator. Neither of the enemies could
afford to give him up wholly TO the
OTHER. AS he knew nothing of the un-
friendliness they did not choose to en-
Tighten him. Contrariwise, thcy made
tacit and temporary truce sT4aking
civllly TO each other IN his presence
and even sitting at each others boards
TO do him cordial honor.
This was less awkward than it might
have been. since there had never been
a violent breach only a drawing away
and looking to the other side os the
street or over heads in casual en-
counters
Tho quarrel was over the choice of
minister. and of course, all the bitter
er for that The Carrs had been worst
ed and. though they stlll came to ST.
Mlchacls ana duly supported all its
good works. they took no part in any
thing else. Therefore everybody felt
TINT their grudge was the greatest
Luke Phillips pretty well ran the min
listers ana quite ran the church.
A mastorful man, with a daughter Of
his own stripe, he could not very well
help Il. Orlana, the daughter, was in
deed so much a chip Off the old block
her fine name made part of the comedy
she was twenty-five, tall and stout,
with dark eyes and fine carriage, to
say nothing OF the way she wore her
clothes. Almost every Sunday her
fingers fairly itched to get hold Of
Louise Carrs gibbons.
Louise was the younger by five years,
sweet faced ana sunny tempered but
I
So she had clean clothes and whole ii
never bothered her in the least what
else they were or were not She Ger
tamly did look odd I'm plain coat sleeves
when every other woman in church
had dangling, baggy puns and frills
all over her arms.
Perhaps If he had not seen her first
in a party frock with no sleeves to
speak of Senator Bluff might not have
given her second thought. He was
bachelor ana as rich as he was distn-
gushed. Gossip limited, too, that he
was looking for wife. Gossip said
also IN way not 20 be gainsnld he
wonld look a long time before finding
anybody better suited TO the position
than Orlana
Oriana herself was quite of that
opinion, although of course she kept it
unspoken. Senator Bluff was ccrtntlly
! impressed at their first meeting. lie
insisted upon putting up at the hotel.
although dining or breakfastlng every
day with his old college chums. Louise
was away at her grandmother's when
he came. Thus for a whole week Ori-
ana had a clear field.
Then the Grays gave n party, and
Louise danced at it, slim white
wrath moving on winged feet with
yellow hair tumbling all about her
rosy face and every fiber vibrant with
JOY in the music and the rhythmic mo.
tion.
Until he saw her Senator Bluff had
said staidly that his dancing days were
over. At fifty one might well leave
such things 10 the new generation
Judge then Oriana's wrath when she
saw him waltzing with Louise and
waltzlng extremely well. looking fun
In his partners face the while and
smiling as he had not smiled since he
came to IIarrowby.
Next day IL was even worse. The
senator breallfasted at the Cars and
Immediately afterward took Louise and
her mother for a long vagrant drive
about the country. Gaping the climax.
he brought them along with him to
dine at the Phillips house, saying airily
70 Oriana. who was mistress of &C.:
you see. l take your father at his
word He said the, house was mine
while ! stayed"
"Nou did quite right" Oriana said
sweetly. reassured by a glance at Lou
ise The girl had on a faded blue ging-
ham two years out of date, and her
hair was positively stringy. No doubt
the senator thought OF her as only a
little girl in the awkward age hence i'm
need Of special consideration. No man
in his senses would look at her in com
parison with Oriana. stately vision
in canary yellow gauze. with dark red
roses nOdding against her bare breast
and nestled amid the darkness OF her
/ hair.
Louise gazed at her joyously "You
are always splendid. Miss Ana. To
night you are n queen" she said, then
went TO dinner. quite unconscious OF
her own rumpled appearance.
She had smoothed her hair a bit and
stuck a spray of sweet peas in the low
coil so the flowers drooped against hel
soft. white neck. Young Luke Phil
+ lips. who took her QUO looked at hel
and patro1izingly decided that she was
a dowdy. Before dinner ended hs
changed his mind. Senator Bun man
aged somehow TO set Louise telling
stories and acting them. She had tho
rare and heavenly gift of losing her
self entirely in whatever she did. So
uftorlv no~iocffntr hier nlofa cho vvos