Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-09-17

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Queen Of sheba.
"oh, what a pretty thing this ~"
she said, lifting a pale gray gown from
the filmy heap.
Yes. | s'pose the loot onsembsl OF
that's good. But them pale colors
don't fit me; an the work on that
won't stand the eyes OF q con.
Missioner"
II suppose Mr.. Bernard has q lot
OF things, too" Esther said as soon as
she could control her face.
You bet! Only mems things amt
interestln like women's. wish Inen
wore lace an things. like they did
when that picture was took" She
glanced up at an exquisite engraving
OF a scene at the court OF Louis XIV.
Il presume Mr.. Bernard would
rather wear the dress OF 1869"
Yes. An I'd rather he would His
manners don't somehow fit what he's
got now. never noticed that Bill
was short on manners when he was
wearin' a blue shirt, an punchin'
mules. or huntln' a lead. But in this
fine house, him pushin' victuals with
silver knife. an eatin' soup audible.
while people sets round an tries not
TO laugh an the flowers and the pic.
lures someway shamin' him-why
good Teller as he is, wish he'd go
back to his blue shirt an mules, or
else buy some manners. An the worst
of It IL, | know ! got Just as bad n case
OF not iittin' here myself; only I'm
that stuck on myself. cant see IT,
Ive-been going back right now on all
my polish for a coon's age"
Esther ventured no reply. and the
other woman began to put away her
wardrobe. Amt 1t too bad NAV had
to die fore got a chance to wear half
these here new things? Blacks so un.
becoming! An | can't even wear
white ruches; thems for widders."
Ether was startled. No wonder con.
! ventional people could not understand
Sally u. Esther knew that no more
| devoted daughter had ever lived than
Sally b. had been; yet who. that knew
nothing OF this would believe II ia the
| face OF her last remark?
Bet she had a good time" the other
went on. I'VE took her all over Yer
rup; an she lived two months after
We come home. bought her more
cloes than she'd had In all her life
before; she could put on a different
dress every day in the month! We
/ took her riding in the victoria, took
her to the theater. the Gin. an every.
where. She didn't suffer none;
THANH God for that" She went in and
out OF the closet once or twice with.
out speaking. and Esther waited.
! Her sentences had been tossed by
gusts OF emotion; now speech was
entirely wrecked. While she struE.
gled for calmness Viola entered.
"Oh. Stella! Esther" ViolG's arms
went round the other girl ipGpulsively
and she burst into tears.
What under the canopy are ye cry.
ing for?" her mother asked: yet she
knew; and her own tears were hardly
restrained.
"Oh, ma. It's so good to see her! She
belongs to the old, honest time when
we said what we thought, or kept
still"
The mother WINGED. Viola's unus
ual emotion disclosed unwelcome facts
She was taller, and had blossomed
into a soft, wood.vlolet sort OF beauty
that yet had something mystic about
II; as rare as felicitOus.
They spoke OF many things. Viola'i
womanhood EMBEDDING her in n mantle
Of Sedateness. Esther knew she haC
been defrauded OF her girlhood, and
longed to set her free from her un
youthful self-control; wondered II she
would, at the last test, sacrifice herself
to her mothers ambition.
They went the round OF the bed
rooms. the kitchen. where Vic Wal
greeted Esther with voluble cordially
the stables. Conservatives, and breeze
swept gardens; and Esther was pre-
pairing for the street when the mait
brought a card.
Mr.. Bryan. ma" Viola said. He
face grew gray and dull; while he
mothers was swept by a quick pano
rama OF doubt, question. mother love
ambition.
She put her arm about ViolR's slen
der waist Honey. nanny expects I
heap OF you. VIII you do IT."
Viola turned suddenly, spoke will
strange impetuosity. Don't, ma!
can't do Il! Freddy Bryan's honest
He'd ask me just the same II wa
poor. thought would say yes. wheI
told him I'd give him my answer to
day. But won't cheat him. I'll tel
him | can't care for him as he dc
serves. It's no use, ma" She put nj
protesting hand. and even Sally B
was held TO silence by the new stern
meas In her daughter.
And Esther. distressed at the tras
edy In the girls face. made her adieu
quickly. that Sally b. might not Sc,
, the angry resentment in her heart