The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-08-31
INTO THE
INNERMOST
By ANNIE 1. MUzzEY


The HarIands were just moving int
their new house--a tent-like structur
In close proximity to the Queen Ann
cottage of Mrs Laura Mortimer Law
renee, who had watched the develop
ment Of the unpretentious buiidins
with chagrin and disdain.
Curious, isn't it?a she remarked t.
her son Hugh. with a scornful eye OF
the household goods unloading at hei
neighbors door Very curious thai
poor people cannot have the sense tC
perceive the folly of an attempt to SCI
themselves up as owners Of real es
tate, when the effort to do SO results
in an ugly blot offensive to the refined
and cultivated taste of the beholder.
Having returned the present eve
ming from a years absence abroad,
this was the young mans first outlook
4 on neighborhood changes.
why. really, do you know that
think that a rather picturesque affair
on the whole?" he resumed. observing
critically for the first time. the object
Of his mothers contemptuous remark.
Hugh leaned forward, his languid
eyes opening wide with sudden inter-
est as a girl with a mist Of sunny
hair blowing back against the broad
black brlm Of the hat framing her hap
py face. ran out and catching some
article from the household furnishings
unladen at the door. disappeared like
flash Of light within.
"Ahl" he breathed "Who are these
people, mother?" he questioned, pres
emily, vainly waiting for reappear-
ance Of the figure which had attracted
his attention. Have you made their
acquaintance?
Il? No, indeedl" was the dignified
response. Mrs. Thompson, however.
has volunteered to explain to me that
they are eminently respectable. The
father is a Woodworking, but imprac-
tical sort Of a person, always dream
ing out inventions that never meet
with adoption; the eldest, and only
son is a carpenter aspiring to become
an architect; one of the daughters is
wood carver, and the other a gradu-
ate Of the cooking school, and EN-
ployed at very high prices by some of
our first families to prepare fancy
dishes for special occasions, going to
their houses like a common servant.
Think Of that And the whole family
contributing, am told, to the erection
~ 90. otx
appears to be the first property they
have ever possessed
"A laudable enterprise remarked
Hugh Lawrence
1t was not long before Hugh was
on very sociable terms with his new
neighbors whom, however, his mother
still ignored In every member of
the family he found a genial and in
teresting companion, though he was
unable TO approach Miss Ethel in the
friendly relations already established
with the frank, brotherly Sibyl
True, Ethel was entertaining and re-
sponsive in a matter-of-fact imperson-
al way, but while the dark-haired
Sibyl would talk of herself as frank
ly and freely as of any other interest
ing tonic, Ethel would withdraw with
a touch-menot air. and remain icily
uncommunicative whenever he ven
tured to breach the subject Of per-
sonal feelings and affairs.
Evefs more than by this repellant /
quality Lawrence was piqued by the
girls failure to recognize him outside
her own house. Time and again he |
had met her upon the street and she
had given no token whatever of ac-
quaintanceship with him; though. per-
haps only the previous evening he had /
by her own freside talked with her Of |
art, science, literature and kindred /
subjects with which she was familiar. /
with a sympathetic interchange Of /
sentiment which had seemed to him /
to constitute bond of friendship. /
This fact annoyed him more than he
felt was reasonable He was vexed
with his own chagrin.
His inward resentment of such rude
ness eliminated one day when, APP
his mothers house after a
walk, he saw just nearing a
side gate the slight erect figure Of
Miss Ethel. attired in a plain stuff
gown, it's straight length relieved by
white breadth of apron. and her sunny
tendrils OF hair pushed under a de
mure cap that enoircled her head net
exactly ike the aureole of a saint.
He attempted to speak to her but she
passed on into the servants entrance
With scarcely a percepuble bow
Discounted. Lawrence wheeled ana
walked around to his usual entrance.
For what purpose is Miss Harland
ia your htchen?" he asked his
mother
Bless youi to make one Of her in
mitable desserts. She is all the rage.
ion't you know; and to be In fashion
We must employ her when she viii
to favor us. though her
lrices are as exquisite as her dishes.
~