The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-30

ladylike." he was grumbling within,
as he dutifully made his way to his
aunts presence.
The electric lights flooded the
flimsy railway table on which were
spread rows Of small-sized cards An
elderly lady of quality was musing
over the pasteboard rows A lady Of
quality was distinctly the phrase
TO catch ones fancy at the first
glimpse OF Mrs Winter. Not an aged
lady, either. for even at So that ele.
gantly nodded. slim figure, that abun.
dance Of silvery hair-partcd in the
middle and growing thickly on each
side in natures own fashion. which art
can not counterfeit, as well as softly
puffed and massed above-that ox-
quisitely colored and tcxturod skin,
strangely smooth for her years, with
tiny wrinkles of humor. TO be sure,
about the eyes, but with cheeks and
skin unmarried; that fine, firmly carved
profile, those black eyebrows and
lashes and stil brilliant dark eyes:
most of all that erect, alert, dainty
carriage. gave no impression Of age
bNt they all, and their accessories of
toilet and manner, and a little prlm
touch OF an older. more reticent day
in both dress aad bearing, recalled the
last century phrase.
A soft gray bunch Of chinchilla fur
lay where she had slipped It on her
soft gray skirts: one hand rested in
the fur-her left hand-and on the
third finger were the only rings which
she wore. band of gold, worn by so
years, and a wonderful ruby, wherein
tat least such was Rupert's phantasy)
a writhing flame was held captive by
its guard of diamond icicles The
same rings admired by her nephew
ever since he was cadet--just the
same smiling. inscrutable high-bred,
uhchanging old damel
Good evening Aunt Rebecca; not
a day older" said the colonel
Good evening, Bertie." returned the
lady. ext ending a hand over the cards
excuse my not rising to greet you;
I might joggle toe cards. OF course
I'm not a day older; | don't dare 10
grow older at my age Sit down I'm
extremely glad to see you, I've a heap
TO talk to you about DO you mind II
| run this game through first?"
The colonel didn't mind He raised
the proffered hand to his lips; such
homage seemed quite the most natural
act in the world with Mrs. Winter
And he unobtrusively edged his own
lean and wiry person into the vacant
seat opposite her.
How far are you going?" said she,
after few moves of the cards.
My ticket says Los Angeles; but
it had to say something. so chose
Los Angeles for luck; I'm an ire
sponsible tramp now, you know and
may drop or almost anywhere You
are for southern California, aren't
you?"
Eventually; but we shall stop at
San Francisco for two or three
weeks"
DO you mind II ! stop of with You?
want to get acquainted with my
ward said the colonel
That's good idea. BERTHE"
He seems rather out OF sorts; you
aren't worried about-well, tubcrcu-
losis or that sort OF thing?"
Il am worried about just that sort
OF thing; although the doctor says
nothing organic al all is the matter
with him; but he is too melancholy
for a boy; he needs rousing; losing
his father and mother in one year. you
know, and he was devoted to them.
can't quite make him out. BERTHE; he
hasn't the Winter temperament I
suppose he has legal right to his
mothers nature; but IL is very annoy
ing. IL makes him so much harder
10 understand-not that she wasn't a
:, good woman who made Tom happy
but she wasn't a Winter However.
Janet has frightened him up consider
ably-you've seen Janet-Miss Smith?
What do you think OF her?"
Winter said honestly that she was
very nicelooking and that she looked
right capable; he fell into the idiom
OF his youth sometimes when with a
southerner.
She is" said Aunt Rebecca.
Where did you find her?" asked
the colonel carelessly, Inspecting the
cards
Aunt Rebecca smiled Il thought
Milliceni would have given you all
the particulars. She was nurse, secre-
tary companion aad diet cook to
Cousin Angela Nelson; when she died
got her. Lucky Tor me-"
SO should Judge" commented the
colonel politely
Il presume MillicAot has told you
that she Is an adventures and after
my money and heap more stun II
she hasn't she will Get notion
once In Millicents head and a surgical
operation is necessary to dislodge IL,
Janet is the only mortal person who
could live with poor Cousin Angela,
who had enough real diseases to kin
her and enough imaginary ones TO
kill anybody who lived with herr
Janet made her comfortable. would
not stand everything on earth from
her-thOugh she did stand a heap
and really cared for her. When she
died Cousin Angela left her some
I ~