The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-06-23
ReclaiilI'lIiing|. i !, a Dire|ict,
: BY: H. L. COLSON.

: BY H. l.. COLSON.
copyright, 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
Lemon or sugar?" asked Mrs Ham
ilton,, arching her black eyebrows.
"Lemon--and make it rather
strong" replied Mrs. Van Vecht, re-
garding her pretty hostess with Ian
guild admiration.
well, what is the verdict" asked
the hostess, fixing her keen black
eyes upon the other.
1T is an excellent list" replied the
other, slowly removing her eyeglasses
and fixing her great baby-blue eyes
on Mrs. Hamilton. II do not know
a positive genius of social affairs, my
dear, I think: will have to make you
my residuary .legatee,'' and the social
leader laughed lightly and then sighed
as she thought of the time surely
coming when she must resign her
throne. For just moment she re-
garded the hostess with glance al
most Vindictive as: she realized the
others advantage of ten years youth
and her striking beauty.
Then she brushed the thought away
with careless gesture, realizing that
such emotions are the very things
which put wrinkles and age into a
woman's face, and she resumed the
placid expression for which she was
famed. =:
There is just one thing about this
list" she: continued resuming her
eyeglasses and toying Indefinitely with
it, ':that<I do not approve of and which
I: do not understand
What is that?" asked the other re-
garding her guest narrowly.
"Why-I only ask it in, your inter-
est, Louise" this was the first time
1she ever had used Mrs. Hamilton's S
given name and the latter recognized
the unconscious manifestation of
friendship-"why did you invite Mrs.
Pelham % :
A light color came to Mrs. Hamil-
ton S face and her eyes fixed so keen
1y upon the face of the older woman
dropped.
els she not absolutely eligible?" she
asked, toying with her spoon.t
-"Absolutely-per replied Mrs.
Van Vecht emphatically: And then
| she. added weakly: But she is such
a fool'' -
f. Mrs. Hamilton looked up and laugh
| ed a most merry and delightful little
laugh! =;
"Goodness, if 1 am to trim my So
cial lists by such a standard who will
be left?''
Mrs Van Vecht laughed a little
too. at. this sally. Then she glanced
sharply at the other and said delib
erately.
"All the world knows of the dead
SGT she has made at Hamilton
Mrs. Hamilton Redeemed to her ears
Come, now my dear, don't get
angry" cut in Mrs. Van Vecht in her
mastery way There is no use OF
| you and beating about the bush. II
you want to paddle your own canoe
we'll and good. If you summon me
for advice I am going to give it tC
you-or not respond at ALL
"You are right" replied the hostess
in low voice. II beg your pardon
i I'LL know of the condition of which
you speak and-and-and that is the
very reason why I am inviting her,
"Foolish child,'' replied Mrs. Van
Vecht, sagely. THE men are prone
enough to temptation without. putting
the morsel right before their jaws day
and night for week. A house party
il, the country, my dear, gives oppor
>tunit ties enough for mischief, heaven
knows, without involving the mere or
dinary temptations with a situation
where a apretty wOman-and she is
pretty, Louise-is making a dead set
for man and that man your own hus
band, and you making out the invita-
ton list-Louise, Hamilton didn't sug
gest Pelham. did he?" "
"No, indeed" replied Mrs: >Hamil.
ton warmly Hell be the most sur.
prised person in the party when she
arrives aa::I' II tell you just how it is. !
know: the woman is making all sorts
of advances after Bert. Now, I know
the danger of that sort OF thing, and
| l1u1 EOIAE ~ LG1AC uClO1N 4uCOou1
<'Not a scene, surely!, exclaimed
Mrs. Van Vecht in alarm.
Il hope you know me better than
that replied Mrs. Hamilton with an
injured look. mo, have heard and
seen just what you have. And I don't
doubt Bert-not now, but with that
sort Of thing hanging fire nobody
knows when something might; happen
The first, thing anybody knows I will
be whispered about as an injured wife
and be pitied and all that sort OF
thing can't stand that sort OF
:Ething:, Now Bert and have survived
five years: Of matrimony pretty well.
We have, not become common to one
another, and we never have gotten be
yond* the stage of extreme courtesy.
We never have had al word between
us which might be- .classed asz1even
harsh Each has given the. other full
|liberty to live our Individual lives,
ENow# this woman comes S along and
4 ~ !, -. % r,,+ 7,, u :5