The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1905-08-04

I get SO mucn OIL tue trees anu LHo
road out home, he exclaimed, that ID
| rather change off a little when / come
| to the city Couldn't we go to the the
! ayter for awhile?"
Mrs. Gibson. inwardly thanking Proyi-
! dence that 1t was too late to comply with
this suggestion, explained the fact to ner
visitor. Then she removed her bonnet
and gloves, ordered some iced lem
onade and waters, and endeayored to
make Mr.. Brankin a degree less upcOm-
Portable than he seemed.
at seems little warm here, don't you
Think" she suggested. won't you re-
move your coat?"
She. meant, of course, the long, old
fashioned bay" garment that Mr..
Brankin evidently regarded with deep
est pride and affection, but the uncOn-
yentional youth read into her words the
whole-souled home meaning. He not
only removed his overcoat, but also the
shorter coat beneath it. Mrs. Gils0u
crimsoned at the maids irrepressible
glance at his shirt sleeves, but said
nothing. Simon had directed her to be
good to Mr.. Brankin; she would make
no halfway sacrifice.
When Mr.. Brankir, after much nerv
Gus perspiratiOn aid many strange
grimaces, confessed taat his new patent
leather shoes We're fair murderin' his
feet she offered the relief of a pair
Of her husbands slippers. They went
up to MIR Gilson's room to procure
these and Mrs. Gilson. innocently turn
ing into the second floor den" sacred
to similar uses, hoped the visitor would
remain there. But nc, indeed!
i think it's more cheerful-like down.
stairs" he presently announced, look
ing wistfully from the window. 4
sorter like to see the street."
And in the parlor window, coatless
but delighted, he sat all afternoon,
while Mrs. ellison, entertaining group
after group of the fashionable callers,
who never before had elected TO appear
on other than her recognized days,
suffered mental agonies with the calm
smile Of stole Her only relief lay in
sweetly explaining that Mr. Brankin
was the son of an old friend Mr.. ellison
had known as a boy in the country.
Mr.. Brankin, with desperate desire to
be agreeable and to shine in society,
adfad intimate details and particulars
with an ungram matical vim that great
~ amused the other guests. Mrs. Gil
son sought in vain an opportunity
quietly to deny herself to visitors~fOr
the rest Of the day. When Mr.. Gibson
at last made his appearance his exhaust
I1r. nj
dropped fat on the sofa, utterly regard
less Of the fine new gown.
I'D rather clean house for a week
than go through a siege like that again,
she remarked. reprOachfully, when Mr..
Gibson, hastily changing into his dinner
coat, explained that he had been COM
PEELED to invite Mr.. Brankin to remain
over night It's enough to kill one to
live through an afternoon such as I've
had"
.sNever mindt" consoled Mr.. Gibson,
with one Of the rare careSses that in
variably reduce Mrs. Gilson's proudest
anger to delighted compliance and salts
faction You're a sweet little woman
to help out your old hubby no nobly, and
I'll take care of him all evening You
can tell the girl you're not at home and
rest"
But he reckoned without Mr.. Brankin.
That impressionable young man, more
than charmed with Mrs. Gilsons grace
and beauty, insisted upon spending the
entire evening in the parlor. where he
committed fresh social enormities with
easy unruffied freedom
Your slippers ain t nonetOo easy, Mr..
ellison" he remarked, after declining to
go to the theater or TO the club on ac-
count of his blistered feet, $50 [ guess
I'll just slip EN- off little. An Mrs.
ellison said could take off my coat
The hours dragged terribly, and Mr..
Gibson suggested an early retirement
as soon as he could decently do SO. But
Mr.! Brankin. evidently with some idea
of conventionality or politeness, insist
ed and reiterated that he was not weary,
even while his heavy eyelids closed. It
was nearly morning before he could be
lured to bed and the first streak of dawn
found him creeping about the house in
the conspicuously quiet manner that
never fails to arouse the ordinary
"a into