The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10

her: she is too impossible. SO spoke
Mona Drydesdale. with the suggestion
OF toss OF her head, as Mrs. Parker.
1.-The most recently-settled resident in
the suburb, fiuttered styly from the
room. Mrs. Parker was two-months
+ bride, and had not yet thrown off the
difIidenco of her girlhood. She found
j lit trying ordeal to return the calls
.tof such of the local society who had
b lhpnored her by their visits. OF these,
Mrs. Drydesdale was not among the
number.
what is the matter with her.
asked Mrs. Peinberton, of her remain
ing guest. 'The little woman seems
harmless enough to me--only she Is
most embarra ssingly shy"
Aren't we SLOPPY enough already in
Glentham?" asked Mona Drydesdale.
with some indignation. Its always
the way with place of this Kind
within easy reach of town. a few nice
people settle there-ind it out for
themselves-then comes the specula
tive builder. and puts UP ugly little
rows of stucco villas, to which he gives
pretentious names. and then the city
pours out it's legions and takes pos
session All that remains for the nice
people is to clear out"
~. Mrs. Pemberton laughed with some
:. appreciation at the picture, which
though exaggerated. had elements OF
truth in it. For Glentham, only half
an hour distant from London. had been
a rustic Surrey village. with several
country mansions in the vicinity, until
1t had been invaded in the manner de-
scribed by Mrs. Drydesdale. Other
mansions of more modern type had
sprung up. erected for the most part
by wealthy and retired tradesmen, with
: the result that the original residents
; had taken to flight or let their houses
for the most part to members OF the
invading army. And then close 10
fhe station. We're the rows of mean
4 villas that constituted such an offense
in the eyes of Mona Drydesdale NO
doubt all this spelt prosperity to the
many. but it was anather1a to the few.
and Mona was loudest of all In her
denuncation of what she called the
..shoppy" spirit of the age.
,Ts- For she herself had lived at Glen
than ever since her girlhood, and III
the same house which she occupied now
with her husband, who. for her graft
fication. and at her suggestion. had
leased Penton Lodge from her parents.
She looked upon herself. therefore, as
one of the oldest residents in the
-neighborhood and leader of the loca
society.
1t was for that reason that she was
i SO constantly at losgcrheads with the
wears wife. her dearest friend though
Mrs. Pemberton was by many years
her senior. There was no doubt what
ever as to the aristocratic connection
both of John Pemberton and his spouse;
their names figured in the peerage, and
that was an all-eflcient passport 10
the esteem of Mrs. Drydesdaie.
Setting down her empty cup-for she
had been taking tea at the Nicarase--
Mona drew on her gloves, while she
continued her TRADE against her
neighbors.
before long therell be no one in
the place TO associate with. AS it is
I've had TO accept the Benningtons--
though he's wholesale jeweler-anc
the Deanes, who made their money II
the stationery business. But then Mrs
Deane's sister married a baronet, ant
she sometimes has her relations to stag
with her; while the Benningtons are sc
wealthy that they could push their
way In anywhere. They know lot OF
quite nice people. But. really, one
must draw the line mewhere-and
draw 1t at Mrs. Parker, whose husband
keeps a shop. just an ordinary tailor
Fshop-yes. and looks after 1t himself.
He has several shops, my dear cor
sefn large way Of business. Built 1t all
up himself, too, which I consider very
much TO his credit. John has taken
quite fancy 70 Edgar Parker. who IS
a weli-rezd ard Intellectual man. even
though ne u in trade: and poor little
Mrs. Parker VIII be quite nice when
1 she has got over her shyness. After
Eli. Morzr-tn4 good LADY smiled COM
fortasIy ard rolarzntly-..a man may be
geatlssaza L.stsv;ef his profession
OF IN .-ats.'
In GALS coafesstoa u faith, Mrs. PEN
barton rzT=zIed nEeh ot Hsr true ma.
ture. sh= -zs thoroughly liberal
minded. and ser kindness Of heart was
manifest 70 al -ho knew her She
trod gently ard rrazttuiEy down the
path OF life. making 10 enemies. exer-
cising her gitr III tact 70 the advantage
of herself and her husbands parish
toners. smoothing away the difficult ties
that would crop up in manner
peculiar to herself, she vas q worna r
of middle age. and had BEEN beautiful
In her youth: she had settled down
now to comfortable maturity and her