Evening star., 1907-07-14
v L.

older woman had been going through the
invitations and notes left for her inspec-
tiou by her social secretary and looked
thoroughly bored. Her contemplation OF
Mary, though seemed to encourage her: Sc
crecly Mrs. Whiting was pleased both
with the appearance and the unexpected
good manners of her young relative. She
had suffered some qualms of anticipation
after inviting her and had feared a crude,
hIsh-voiced young person, who would be
simply d social nightmare and have to be
rclesatcd to the backstairs and the third
story Nary's undeniable charm. her grace
and ease of manner her perfect French.
which had already won compliments from
Mrs. Writings continental guests, more
tEau compensated for the absence of that
horid style Of beauty that the aunt really
admired. The girls finish, her repose and
her UndGubtSd good taste We're reassuring,
too, and Mrs. Whiting had already fallen
INTO the habit of consulting her in small
matters that sac had been accustomed to
decide alone.
She stirred now with rustic of rich silks
and the creak of ttght-laCed stays, and
sliding one of the chains around her neck
she mounted hsr goid-rimmed eyeglasses
and looked again at the dinner LIST on the
desk.
Lawrence Ryland has accepted for the
2Sth,' she observed; Il believe that's the
hrst dinner he has accepted here for two
years. His head is turned with adulation"
Mary looked UP. DO you mean Mrs
Cheever's cousin?" she asked.
Mrs. Whiting glanced aside at her from
under white lashes. Yes; l did not know
that you had met him
Il met him at Harriet Cheevers, and
aftcrward at the ball at the German en-
bassy."
Mrs. Whiting looked thoughtful, but made
no comment Instead she turned over
some notes I've got to get new secre-
tary," she observed finally; Miss Hatch is
going to be married. I've about decided
To take Frances Fennel. OF course she's
had no experience. but she's a sharp little
thing and she knows all the gossip in
town
Is that a requisite?" Mary asked
amused.
It's useful my dear" replied Mrs
Whiting calmly; you don't make many
mistakes in seating your dinner guests and
You know when to cool off. There
good many scandals just now in society.
m sure, that. with all my experience in
entertaining, | am somewhat puzzled as to
how long l am to continue to invite the
Cheevers and Madame Syrene together-of
course Harriet could let you know if she
chose by snubb!ng her but l can make
nothing of Harriet.
II remember Madame syrene," Mary said
thoughtfully, ''the cat woman who lighted
her cigarette at the candelabrum.
Yes: the cigarette habit grows here
assented Mrs. Whiting; "of course she
SMOKES ana SdTlDleS rather TO the limit.
Heaven only knows how she has managed
to keep along with that old man her hus-
band so long. He must be either blind or
charitable. Personally I've always thought
hm nun an old fool. OF course Fred Cheever
has spent about half million on her al
ready; she's perfectly Unsuitable. and Har-
riet sits there and plays the saint and
martyr to perfection"
shes an attractive woman, Mary OBJ
served; lin Paris half the artists would
be crazy to paint her: she has classic
profile"
Mrs. Whiting moved the slide of her eye
glass chain sharply. Il had nearly for
gotten that you had that craze" she said
coldly. pray don't discuss painting and
the Latin Quarter here; YOU would be i'm
mediately put down as a Tri!by,''
Il m afraid my toes are not classic
enough replied Mary softly; I've worn
pointed-toed shoes and French heels TOO
long"
Mrs. Whiting turned more toward her and
rested her elbow on the arm of her chair.
Her face viewed in this position struck
Mary as essentially cold and selfish. you
are not particularly young. Mary" shr OBJ
served calmly, land it is time that you took
serious view of life. OF cOurs. you must
marry. Opportunities are not numerous
here; most of the men on the social lists
are either turley-lcgged boys or tney are
themselves looking for money-which you
haven / The foreigners are naturally all
for dots. and. for the most part they are
not worth considering unless of assured |
rank at home. This narrows the matter
very much. l shall give you what chances
l can; it remains for you to make the |
most of them. | am quite willing to con
tribute to your wardrobe. which seem3
rather meager for the money / sent; | Sac
that you should have used more. l am pre-
pared to do all these things. but beyond
tions."
My dear Aunt Rachel your liberality
has already overwhelmed me-" replied
he of hAr
revealed under their thick lashes.
Her composure the something that was
akin to mockery in her glance. disturbed
Mrs. Writings complacence. More than
once the girl had made her sharply un-
comfortable. She now. a mountain
GUS figure in morning gown of black silk
and moved ponderously toward the door In
passing she gave her niece a searching
glance.
Il can't account for your profile" she
abruptly: sit is not from our
yet 1t seems vaguely familiar,
the impression comes to again and
again tnat | have seen 1t before.
Mary Lang blushed. Even in her mo-
ments OF victory she was on the verge Of
prectpice. You didn't know my mothers
family she said hastily.
Heaven forbd!' replied Mrs. Whiting
oevouuy as she withdrew.
Let alone In the morning room Mary
stt lor while looking into the fire. Sud-
den attacks like this were of course to be
expected and could be parried but con-
staht watchfulness has a price She was
urea: YET there was. day by day, a grow
ing fascination in the role She was sue
cessiuI' IN way she had already
achieved little social triumph and the
ease OF the life. its glttering gayeties its
idleneSs. were all having their effect The
contrast to her former way of living u,as
great that she could no longer rac.II ~ |
without shudder at her prolonged endur
ance of such conditions A few thousands
the remnant of her mothers abundant |
earnings. had been invested for her at an
early age and yielded a meager income
which kept the wolf from her door 1t had
paid her board at the convent and clothed
her decently in clothes that she secretly
despsed. To woman of discrimination
and taste In the matter of dress 1t is almost
as bad to wear the clothes that called
plain and appropriate as 1t would be to
go in rags. From the bottom of her heart
Mary had always rebelled against hers. al
though she had acquired wonderfully
deft touch In making over her hats and
iashionlng new waists, but knowing as she
dld, the incalculabe difference a beautiful
gown would make in her appearance, she
coulo scarcely be blamed for a keen regret
that she was compelled to be disguised in
mohair and cheap woods when women who
were dumpy and plain could AFFORD the
beautiful creations of the great Paris
dressmakers.
She had inherited her tastes and her d,s-
position from her mother witbont bo,,ir, =,