The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-15
BY ESTHER wAeeAMAN NELL

pity for the shabbiness of this old home and it's inmates, but this feeling now gave way to a respect approaching reverence. The hallway was so diff ferent from anything she had ever seen, so quaint in it's old-time splendor. And then, as if to complete the pie ture of vanished days, Mrs. Kerwin came smiling down the stairway. I'm so glad to see you" she said, hurrying forward with both hands out stretched, without waiting for the for mality of an introduction. q hope you ate not hurt. One of the men in the field told me that Philip had caught a runaway horse and l feared there had been some serious accident"
 Nothing more serious than a torn habit" said Eileen smiling; "I was only dropped in a dry ditch.'
 Miss O'Connor Is staying at Senator Manton's," said Philip.
 And that is five miles away" Eileen continued. q rode further than I in tended. l would like to stay here, if you don't mind, until the rain is over"
 Why my dear child" said the old lady, with true southerner's hospital ity, I've are so glad to meet any of Philips friends. Your habit Is drench- ed-I must find dry dress for you.
 
 his mothers waist. Her head did not quite reach his shoulder.
 What can we do?" he said, with a humorous expression of dismay, T fear Miss OConnor will have some difficulty finding a gown of yours to fit"
 Then perhaps Minnie has some thing" said the gentle lady, intent only on the comfort of her guest. Minnie! Minniel she called.
 ciI 4f bn hall and a young girl appeared with , book in her hand
 Miss OConnor, from Washington, my daughter" said Mrs. Kerwin. We must find Miss O'Connor a dry gown. fear she will take cold" Minnie looked up at the tall girl with unmistakable admiration, and holding out her plump hand she said: You were caught in that dreadful rain? How wet you arei And mother and I are two such tiny things that none of our gowns will fit you But" she added, hesitatingly, "there Is q trunk full of my grandmother's s clothes in the garret-she was very tall-if you don't mind anything so old fashioned"
 q delight in old fashions" said Miss O'Connor, but Pm proving a trouble some guest, I fear"
 "If you only knew how I delight in rummaging in the garret," said Minnie with naive enthusiasm. Come to my room and I'll dress you up so you'll look like a picture, and we won't let the habit get dry until morning"
 Philip, to quiet his mothers fears about his own stalwart health, went to his room to change his coat, and then going into the library, settled himself in a deep armchair to read such news from Washington as filters slowly into the county papers. Half an hour later attracted by slight noise on the side of the room, he looked up to find Miss OConnor standing before the fire in @ sh ort- t-waisted gown of red satin of the fashion of a half century ago.
 Don't let me disturb you" she said. q am merely experiencing a new de- sire. l believe I am actually longing for q grandfather"
 She rested both hands upon the man tel and stared up at picture In gilded frame set in the chimney piece above her head. It was the portrait of a delicately featured young man ar rayed in black and wearing a tiaring Byronic collar, Who was he?' she asked.
 He was your husband if you are the ghost of my grandmother he said, ris- ing and coming closer to the fire.
 q do feel like ghost" she said, dreamiIy q feel as if my world was left so far behind"
 Her cheeks were flushed and in her deep gray eyes there was new ex- pression of sadness. Philip regarded her for a few moments in silence.
 Are the sensations of a ghost pleas ant?" he asked.
 "Oh. you don't understand she said. bar itnpnt tiant1V nnOn the bearskin rug. T doubt if a man ever understands a woman. Did it ever oc- cur to you what part you men call on us to play? We must be good looking, no matter how old. We must be gay to make you glad. We must think of you always-always, or else you forget us. and then we are powerless either Tor good or for evil.
 Not at all" he said, in blunt contra diction 'Your viewpoint is being colored by the fashion of your gown. No wom- an is as helpless as in the days of our grandmothers.
 "Oh, I know I'm taking the worldly point of view,' she said wearily. The narrow, political point. I've been upstairs talking to your sister-she is so tender, so good so unworldly, that she has made me remorseful, and because I was troubled I selected the gayest gown in the garret. Minnie has gone to see about luncheon; she will return in a moment and 1 don't know that shall ever have the chance to talk to you again. At pres ent I'm animated by a feeling of loyalty to my father. You said you did not like him"
 He was silent, making no attempt to soften his first statement He was think ing that she was beyond classification, and was wondering why her rich beauty had never appealed to him before.
 q fancy that your dislike is founded upon his political methods she went on. "You don't approve of the means by which he gains his ends. I wanted to tell