Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-09-14

feet" she offered the relief Of pair
of her husbands slippers. They went
up to Mr. Gilson's room to procure
these and Mrs ellison, innOcently turn
| ing into the second floor den" sacred
to similar uses, hoped the visitor would
remain there But no, indeed!
81 think it's more cheerful-like down.
stairs" he presently announced, look
ing wistfully from the window. Il
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 a 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 a desperate desire to
be agreeable and to shine in society,
added intimate details and particulars
with an ungrammatical vim that great
ly 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.. ellison
at last made his appearance his exhaust
ed wife retired to her own room and
dropped fat on the sofa, utterly regard
less of the fine new gown.
'T'd rather clean house for week
than go through 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. tits enough to kill one to
live through an afternoon such as I've
had"
Never mind" consoled Mr.. ellison,
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. Gilson's grace
and beauty, insisted upon spending the
entire evening in the parlor, where he
committed fresh social enormities with
easy unruffled freedom.
"Your slippers amt none too easy, Mr..
Gilson," he remarked, after declining to
go to the theater or to the club on &C
count Of his blistered feet, 80 1 guess
I'll just slip 'em of 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 1t
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
sleeper. Mrs. ellison herself prepared
for him an early breakfast, since the
maid would no. rise until nearly seven.
Then she insisted that Mr.. Gibson take
him for walk.
The fates were kind to Mr.. Gibson in
that the unhappy youths feet were still
so tenderly resentfIl Of the new, tight
patent feathers that much walking was
impossible. They were unkind to Mrs.
Gibson in that Mr.. Brankin, while more
than willing to attend matinee with
Mr.. Gibson in the afternoon, could not
be persuaded to go downtown with him
in the morning. He hung about the
house, still coatless and in stocking feet,
until Mr. ellison came for him after
luncheon. Mrs. Gibson, solemnly thank
full that he felt he must leave town
that evening, babe him good-by with
cordiaiity she endeavored to render at
least partly sincere. Mr.. Gibson, also
solemnly thankful to conclude the az
fair for the time being, saw Mr.. Bran
kin off, after downtown dinner and
returned to Mrs. Gibson with a sense Of |
temporary relief but coming disaster.
well, what is it?" inquired the
astute lady, convinced that her weary |
husband concealed some guilty secret |
beneath his ostentatiously calm de-
meanor. Hasn't the man gone, after
ALL or did you invite him to spend |
Thanksgiving with US? Let me know
the worst at once"
"He-he said he'd had such a good |
time, and he admires you so much"
confessed Mr.. Gibson, that really
couldn't help it, Mary did say we'd
be glad to entertain him for a week
some time this summer. l know you'll
stand by me just this once more"
But Mrs. Gibson, though good wife
and somewhat more than ordinarily I'M +
selfish, felt by no means equal to this
new test of her affection and endur-
ance.
VERY well, Simon" she announced
with cool decision, "Ill stand by you
to the extent Of ordering the breakfasts
for a week, and good dinner the night
Of his arrival. But after that-it will
be the club or nothing, Simon. shall
receive an imperative summons to at
tend my ailing mother half an hour after
he arrives. Chicago Record-Herald.
OLDEST TREASURY CLERK. !
Passing of q DEPARTMENT EmploYe