Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-02-27

siderable factor in the encompassment
of this sartorial distinction. He waits
now, eager for a first glimpse OF the
young woman whose charms, even by
report, have already won the best de-
votion he has to give. A grievous err
ror it is to suppose that Cupid's ar
tillery is limited to bow and arrows.
And now, instead of the rude COM
mercial horde that laughed loudly and
barian, we shall sit at table with peo-
pie born to the only manner said to
be worth possessing;- we except, in
deed, the visiting tribe of Bines, who
may be relied upon, however, to be-
have at least unobtrusively.
AS a contrast to the oppressively
Western matron from Kansas City,
here is Mistress Fidelia Oldaker on
the arm of her attentive son. She
would be very old but for the circum-
stance that she began early in life to
be belle, and age cannot stale such
women. Brought up with board at her
back, books on her head, to guard her
complexion as if it were her fair name,
to be diligent at harp practice and
conscientious with the dancing master,
she is almost the last of school that
nursed but the single aim of subjugat-
ing man. Tonight, at seventy some
thing, she is bit of pink bisque fra
gility, bubbling tirelessly with remin-
iscence, her vivacity unimpaired, her
energy amazing, and her coquetry
faultless. From which we should learn,
and be grateful therefor, that when
girl is brought up in the way she
ought to go she will never be able to
depart from It.
Here also is Cornelia Van Geist, sis
ter of our admirable hostess-relict of
gentleman who had been first or
second cousin to half the people in
society it were really desirable to
know, and whose taste in wines, din
ners. and sports had been widely
praised at his death by those who had
had the fortune to be numbered among
his friends. Mrs. Van Geist has
kind, shrewd face, and her hair, which
turned prematurely grey while she was
yet wife, gives her look of age
that her actual years belle.
Here, too, is Rulon Shepler, the
money-god, his large, round head turn
ing upon his immense shoulders with
out the aid Of neck-sharp-eyed,
grizzled, fifty, short Of stature, and
with as few illusions concerning life
as the New York f1nancier is apt to
retain at his age.
| If We be forced to wait for another
guest of note, it is hardly more than
her due; for Mrs. Gwilt-Athlestan is
truly parsonage, and the best people
on more than one continent do not be-
come unduly provoked at being made
to wait for her. Those less than the
very best frankly esteem it privilege.
Yet the great lady is not careless of
engagements, and the wait is never
prolonged. Mrs. Milbrey has time to
say to her sister, Eyes, we think it's
going; and really, it will do very we'll,
you know. The girl has had some
nonsense in her mind for a year past
none of us can tel What-but now
she seems actually sensible, and she's
promised to accept when the chap pro-
pOses." But there is time for no more
gossip.
The belated guest arrives, enveloped
in vast cloak, and accompanied by
her two nephews, whom Percival Bines
recognizes for the solemn and taciturn
young men he had met in Shepler's
party at the mine.
Mrs. Gwilt-Athlestan, albeit dec
orative personality, is constructed on
the same broad and generously grace
full lines as her own victoria. The
fair-minded observer would accept as
sufficient promise of good third. Yet
hardly could slighter person display
to advantage the famous Gwilt-Athles-
tan jewels. The rope of pierced dia-
monds with pigeon-blo rubies strung
between them, which she wears wound
over her corsage, would assuredly over
weight the frail Fidelia Oldaker; the
tiara of emeralds and diamonds was
never meant for brow less majestic;
nor would the stomacher of lustrous
gray pearls and glinting diamonds ever
have clasped becomingly figure that
was svelte-or Skinny" as the great
lady herself is frank enough to term
all persons even remotely inclined to
be svelte.
But let us sit and enliven a proper
dinner with talk upon topics Of legit-
innate interest and genuine propriety.
Here will be no discussion of the
vulgar matter of markets, staples, and
prices, such as we perforce endured
through the overturned and too-abun-
dant repast of Higbee. Instead of
learning what beef on the hoof brings
per hundred-weight, +. Q. b. at Chey-
enne, we shall here CLEAN at once the
invaluable fact that while good society
in London used to be limited to those
who had been presented at court, the
presentations have now become SO nu-
merous that the limitation has lost it's
significance. Mrs. Gwilt-Athlestan thus
discloses, as if it were trifle, some
thing we should never learn at the
table of Higbee though we ate his
heavy dinners to the day of ultimate
chaos. And while we learned at that
distressingly new table that one should
keep ones heifers and sell of ones
steer calves, we never should have been
informed there that Dinard had Just
enjoyed the gayest season of it's his
tory under the patronage of this enter
prising American; nor that Lady de