The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-07-25
THE GIRL WHO MAKES COM
PARSONS.


Eya's engagement had been an
nounced and there followed a series
of receptions and teas. 1t came
Mary's turn to entertain for her.
Mary was miserable. 81 do not know
how l can possibly do it," she walled
in my ear. II haven't thing suit
able"
looked at her in surprise. Moth
ing suitable! And you with your
beautiful home and linen and china.
Yes; but the house Is old. Do
you think | can ask Mrs. Lewis and
Grace Sturges into my parlor? Their
homes are finished in the latest style
and my hall and parlor have white
woodwork and the carpets go clear
through to the Dashboard"
Your rooms are beautiful-old-
fashioned and elegant"
"And then my linen" she be-
gan.
Double damask of finest quality,
and always beautifully Numbered"
'But you do not grasp the differ
ence," she continued. THE hens Cd
my napkins are too wide for the
style of to-day. One does not see
much drawn work now. It is all
plain hemstitching or rolled hens.
After the beautiful new ones, so up
to date, that Grace used l could new
eF ask her here.
my china is old. My grandmoth-
er brought it from England. One
never sees that style any more"
What was to be gained by talking
to her? The only thing there was to
do was to let her wall and relieve her
mind.
Her habit of making comparisons
was bad enough when one was alone
with her; 1t was almost unbearable
in q crowd.
do look as we'll as Alice does?'
she would ask suddenly, soto voce
- at a party. Just look. most Of the
girls have worn white. wish
had. Does this pink look all right?'
Or perhaps all the others were in
colors; then the wind set from the
opposite direction. why didn't
someone tell me that everyone meant
to have something gay on? I wish
I'd worn my foulard. Madge has
a beautiful foulard. Do you like
mine as well as hers? She has rea
lace at the sleeves. I wish I could
have had. Mines a blue. wish
had got a darker one, like hers
Don't you think the dark blues are
pretty?"
Mary was tall and slender, as will
Lowry as a reed and as graceful as q
sylph. Her bearing was fine. One
day we met a woman so exceedingly
tall that she attracted attention or
the street. Mary forgot everything
about the reception we were about
to attend and the good time we knew
we should have. Am I as tall q!
that woman?" 1 ignored her ques
ton, but she pinched my arm ant
made me answer.
Gracious, MOI" exclaimed.
''Am I as thinT"
I treasured her as far as l could
But at intervals during the Afternoon
she brought up the subject again.
When she saw a nice roly-poly IA
little body she eyed her with envy
"I'd love to be plump. / hate to b.
skinny. Don't you think I'd lool
better If I gained in weight? Nv
done everything. I almost dranl
olive oil. What would you do?"
"Keep quiet and not think abou
it."
This remark but opened a ne,
avenue for comparison.
do you think talk too much
I don't talk as much as Jane Ander!
Do you think / do? Sometimes L
give anything If I could talk as we
as Eva. don't know, though
There are times when l should Xix
to be silent and reticent like Jose
phine. Do you ching
A bore? OF course she was. Sc
fish she most assuredly was. Sh
had subjected herself to compariso
until the habit had become chroni,
She could see nothing but hersel
and all things must be compared t
herself-to her own disadvantage.
We all know Mary. Some of U
=. perhaps are Mary and just needin
to be shown up to ourselves. TIL
revelation is not pleasant one. N
che likes to be bore; no conscieI
tious person means really to be Sc