The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-09-09
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| L tried TO pull 1t out Oh your nanu,
she said, whereat the opposite bargain
hunter relaxed not only in Sood nature,
but in her hold on the damasll. and
she would hear no other settlement but
my friends possession of the coveted
piece. In the end we three parted the
best of friends over that bit of damask.
and away from the shop I followed this
excellent leader to a restaurant.
She chose her table, and then we
waited for the friends who We're to
meet and lunch with us.
Ten. fifteen, twenty-five minutes we
waited, and when they arrived, breath
less and full of apologies. my friend
Went forward to meet them With an air
! that WIS a triumph Of the highest
courtesy a hostess can show.
Too bad to think of all the anxiety
and worry you have had she insisted
please don't think of me- but sit right
down and forget it all in this nice hot
bouillon," and sure enough we did for
get it all. We ate our luncheon with
the greatest zeSt, because the hostess
took such Il comforting air OF gay un-
concern If she was annoyed. OF in
cOnVcnicnc"d, her manner gave no out
ward and visible signs of the inward,
agitation: ana when the luncheon was
done | counted it as mark Of true
high breeding that she did not later
discuss with me the delinquency Of her
guests and the fra ility of the excuses
they had Offered her.
Test Of True Accessibility.
Out OF the restaurant at last and into.
the street Wa went again, with our card
cases in our hands. We We're to call
together a bit. and the first drawing
room was FULL to overlooking. We found
a seat near a quietly dressed. shy for
eign looking young woman. who evil
IDENTIFY knew no one present but the
hostess. who was too busiy engaged to
pay very much attention to the
shrinking little figure in the corner.
Ny companion sat down beside her..
though, and made remark: II con-
cerned the weather. The spinster
looked little alarmed and then a
great deal relieved 20 find that some
one, even an unknown. had come to
her rescue. In five minutes the shy
sha bhilyd"cSsad woman had Il glow in
her cheeks and a happy light in her
eyes: she was telling my friend ALL
about he" violin studies. My friend
was not saying one word. She VAS al.
attention.. however She was listening
as though Of al things il. this world
violin music interested her most. and
then there was an exchange ot cards,
and the musician proved to be n wola-
an, Of worldwide reputation, who has,
volunteered to play AZ the entertain
ment 20 be given shortly by my most
agreeable friend who would never,
have asked so great a favor, and whose
fortune is by no means princcly eGoughi
to afford the big fee that this mistressl
Of the violin asks when eneagedl
through her manage1
But such aSreeablit% is a won.ler-
full power for purchasing friends and
faVors. AS we went away from that
house we stopped once o. twic" and,
left cards with messages peuciledI
thereon. at homo where some mem
n mil 81 l.,
ing from Il lore' illness. 1T anotherj
where new baby had arrived. ard at
a third where the owner was entertain-
inG Il house guest
Every card meant a kindly thought
and signitied a tiny but none the ,esst
takes little time and energy to do it, Il
try not to let day pass withou: re
membering that there is somebody byi
whom these little courtesies will be ap-
preciated," said my friend as We
walked home through the twilight.
At thc Erd of the Day.
There we're guests expected for din
ner. l knew, and after day full OF,
consistent and energetic effort, my hos
tess was weary enough. But in good!
time. before her husbands ellen! and;
his wife. and couple of neighbors.
rang her bell. she was dressed and
ready, smiling and apparently So
pleased to play the hostess III her own
we'll lighted drawing room.
She marshalled us into her little din,
ing room, where an unmistakable odor,
of too thoroughly fried FISH hung in the,
air. and where the new waitress made,
5lunder after blunder; where 4 candle,
shade fell over with a crash, and burnt
a big brown spot in the fine damask;
cloth and where clumsy yoNml. man
finally climaXcd it all by upsett;nr his
glass of claret. 1t was an hour to tr,y,
any woman's soul. but when we were
piloted back into the draw:.S room ard
coffee was served ard the cuests
reluctantly rose to 80. they each ana
every one said that they had had a
pleasant evening with a Yest that did
not belle their words.
We had q good time because our
hostess had let the clumsy young man
apolosize and forgiven him quite as If
the little incident With the wine glass
was sort OF Il gentle Joke. and by no
means an accident With admirable
tact she had allowed the Mustered maid
to calm down, gain her BEARINGS ana
eventually the meal was served very
nicely. When the boullon can,e on
slightly scorchcd, she made no excuse.
and we drank ours without thinking
because ut that moment our hostess
made on" host tell his hest ne.Y story
and we We're set into roars OF heartv
laughter.
What faults there We're iii the cook
ing and serving OF the vian6s were
successfully hidden under the hostess 4
charm OF manner: she made herself an
agreeable that we all did our level best
in turn. II the wine was weak, the
wit was strong, and with sometime
akin to real reverence realized how
with little tact :. little unsclGshncss
and little personal effort nv friend,
had made rainy day. ful! Of irving.
petty duties, small disappointment
and unavoidable annoyances prove one
of the brightest ana most succassfuI
and helpful IN her life.
Adelaide Gordon.