Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-19


party land live in the only country in the
world where mother make such boast OF
children in their teens
q know it," responded the mother with sigh
of pious contentment, land I'm deyoutly grateful
for our free institutions.
Free and easy institutions Mr. Crump sug
gested; then pnching Poppets cheek, he asked
well small child, and what do you do on New
Years Day."
"Oh, retheve all day long. 1t it'll quite tire
thome" said Poppet, gravely
Crump he gave hasty farewell nod, made
some strange noise under his breath. Josie
thought it was a groan, but Tiny, who stood near
est, said, ut swear, awful swear"
81 Think said Poppet, "he 18th dreffuly poky,
and hathn't any thyle."
The early calls mostly from very young
men, solemn under sense of juvenility, or hila-
rious and kindly patroniZing toward elder people.
At eleven o'clock Josie whispered to Sissy:
What bore | hate boys
By noon old married men and the heads of fam
lilies hurried in, paid elaborate compliments, de-
clared that Mrs. Bell hadn't grown day older in
twenty years then made off checking against
the name Bell in business-like way just at the
carriage door,
AT last!" exclaimed Josie, about one o'clock
lat last the manageable men are coming"
They came by dozens-men who led the Ger
man, who drove their own "fourln-hands
men who ounged about clubs men who had seen
life in Paris, and watched talkatve young girls
with sinister interest.
Rather late in the afternoon Mrs. Bell became
so pleased with tall handsome dark-haired man
of about thirtyive who spoke in mellow voice
and with English infection, that she contrived
to whisper to Josie, whats his name?
I'm sure don't know, mamma" answered the
young lady, gayly There dozens here whose
faces ] can't recall.
ooh, yes' Sissy chimed in with langud
smile, I'VE sent many cards you know
Mrs. Bell, who had begun to feel he would
make an ideal son-in-law, said to the gentleman
with a proper preamble, 1T is objectionable, but
we have really forgotten your name
MONTGOMERY he suavely replied Your card
came to my hotel-the Windsor"
"Oh yes, certainly, of course. The girls sent out
a great MANY Pleasant CUSTOM isn't it,"
Charming CUSTOM answered Mr.. Montgomery,
so-convenient-that is l mean $3.50 cordial"
His eyes We're fixed in horrible stare directly
Mrs. Bells shoulder, and he hurriedly offered
his arm MY dear madam the stammered
dreadfully) will you permit me to admire Che
jerked out the words) 1.-The works of art in the
next room?"
Mrs Bell turned about to see at what he was
staring in that CHASTITY way, and found standing
behind her nothing worse than a short stout man
of forty or so, with horid countenance, and
pleasant smile upon it, who was waiting 10 pay
his NewYears compliment. That duly received,
she took Mr.. Montgomerys proffered arm and
went into the next room to view large oll-palnt-
ing The stout gentleman followed them ana
cheerfully offered the remark ZINE picture MT.
Montgomery dashed off to a corner where there
was a piece of statuary. The stout man dashed
off to the corner also, and gave the opinion Fine
statue"
"Poppet," whispered Mrs Bell, reckoning the
child to her, 'go and ask Josie TINS gentleman
name"
Meanwhile he was delivering quite little lee
ture on art "The wonderful permanency OF
works in marble renders them of value to the MS.
torian they are, SO TO speak, peIriheu hie'oiS'
he said, blandly.
Ponnet came running back, and said in capital
imitation of her elders Eve really can't thay who
eUerybody ith
Mr. Montgomery's attention seemed fixed on a
fno etching that hung near the open door, and
hn