Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-21
CHA TER ~.
A Shock for Betty.

'rhompsons arrival in London, which de-
lay meant that Hiram Baxter and his
wife. having waited vainly at CharinG
Cross station for the expected traveller.
had now returned. quite out of sorts.
especially Mrs. Baxter. to their rooms at
the Savoy Hotel.
Il think it's very inconSiderat lie of Betty
to be SO careless about her trains. You
wired her, didn't your said the wife as
she stood before a cheval glass prepare
tory to removing a new and very large
Sreen-velvet picture hat, with gold-brown
plumes and dropping brim. Beneath this
effective covering her hair was discreetly
Swallowed. her eyes, il they were calcu-
lating. seemed only pensive. and the pout-
ing Of her mouth was transformed to an
expression of winsome pleading-so much
for the wizardry of a woman's hat.
AS she stood before the mirror Mrs.
Bakers half-turned face wore that side
long. disquieted look with which a wom-
an always regards her newest hat, hall
pleasure Of possession and half regret for
! that other hat, the one In the shop that
she did not buy and whose fetching COL
orS and enticing lines have ever since
haunted her. pleasing panel picture
she made in the black-framed oval OF the
cheval glass; a harmony In green and
golden brown. Boldini might have paint
ed that mirror picture of Eleanor Bax-
ter. She was harmony of insincerities.
a woman who seemed to have youth and
height and slenderness. but who really
had none of these. This. however. was a
ing glass.
II wired her all right" answered
Hiram.
ut quite upsets my plans" complained
Eleanor. ''Of course I was glad to come
to town yesterday dear. to meet YOU
when YOU arrived from the steamer. but
it's most annoying to be kept in London
now. All the relatives are expecting you,
Hiram.
Are. eh? How many Of emp
"Only Cousin Harriet and Cousin Ho-
ratio and Cousin Lionel and the coun-
tess. The dear baroness left yesterday.
I'm sorry she cou dn't stay to See You.
Yes, it's a pity the dear baroness
dryly.
I'm glad We won't miss the bazaar to-
morrow afternoon Eleanor ratified on:
1.-The Progressive Mothers bazaar. You
know Cousin Horatio delivers the ad-
dress. and / want you particularly to be
there. Hiram
Baxter nodded thoughtfully. Il sup
pose So" Then his face gradually broke
into smile. Progressive Mothers! Say.
can We beat that? / always thought old
the bish says
Hiram! Please do be more careful OF
your language!" Eleanor's voice was
petulant.
"Oh. / see. 1t amt the thing to call
old Bunchester bish. All right. dearie.
What I started to cay was that his lord
ship o. Bunchester tells me We amt be-
gun to hear the last word vet in the mat
ter O. raisin' children. He got five hun
dred out o. mel mean dollars
BY this time Mrs Baxter had composed
herself in a comfortable armchair. and.
having nothing else to do, was studying
her husband critically.
you look tired, Hiram" she decided.
"T'm tired all rig If he nodded
You look worried. too"
The big fellow reflected moment and
then said. slowly: WELL 1 admit I'll
feel better when I see independent Cop
per about twenty points higher.
Mrs. Baxter eyed him keenly. Nothing
has happened? Nothing is wrong?" she
asked with growing alarm.
For few moments Hiram sat silent,
swered. kindly: Eleanor. 1 guess ven
have to know exactly how things are.
Since we've been married, and that's a
good many years. I've done my best to
make We happy. I've tried to give we
everything We wanted. I never thought
the time would come dearie. when I'd
have to ask ye to economi1e. but
He hesitated while she listened with
widening. startled eyes.
Hiram she easped.
He bowed with a slow impressivenesS
that struck terror into her worldly soul.
I'm awful Sorry. but the time has
come"
"Economize.' repeated Eleanor. in a
daze. ut isn't possible"
Again Hiram nodded. Eyes. it is. I'm
pretty we'll tied up with the obligations
I've undertaken. and-dearie. we've got to
economize."
copper speculation" she lamented
Il couldn't keep out. You knew I
couldn't. Bryce Thompson was my part
ner. my friend. and-he's dead. I amt
goin' to have any slur on his memory.
I've paid his debts. dollar for dollar, and
I'm carryin' his copper stock. Bryce
made mistake. but he meant we'll. He
did it for his daughter. Betty. and"
here Bakers voice grew tender as he
saw Eleanor's distress: don't you worry.
little woman, Well come out O this cop
per fight on top
These comforting words seemed only to
arouse sharper resentment In Mrs.
Baxter, who turned on her husband an
must be upset and-we must economize.
1 suppose you're going to discharge some
of the ServantS?'
Hiram answered with his most winning
smile: Say, we guessed it the first time.
We've got a dozen servants up at Balm
bridge Manor. and I believe five could do
the work just as well-Or better
"Absurd!''
BET We seven dollars and a quarter
five servants could do the work of that
tives.''
you needn't say they're all my rela-
tives. How about Betty Thompson? She's
more extrayagant than any OF the
Others
Bet yet she'll be the first one to take
her coat off and hustle when she
knows"
Eleanor's lips frightened for another in
dignant outburst, but, by a great effort.
she controlled herself and spoke with her
most irritating manner Of lofty disap-
proval: Hiram. / wish you wouldn't
use that VULGAR American word"
Baxter stroked his chin thoughtfully
under his white mustache. Think it's
vulgar, eh? The English aristocracy
think it's vulgar to hustle. but tell me
where the English ariStocracy would be
if it wasn't for the dollars that American
fellerS like me have hustled for?''
At this juncture Eieanors maid APP
peared with word that Miss Betty Thomp-
son had arrived and had gone to her
apartment, which, ii appeared, did not
please her. She wanted a sitting room
overlooking the Thames. whereas this one
opened on a courtyard.
Tell Miss Thompson I'll see her I'm a
moment" said Mrs. Baxter. Then. when
the maid had gone: There! You sec
Mistress Betty must have the most ex-
pensive rooms in the hotel.
well, why not?" retOrted Baxter. She
thinks she's a rich girl and can afford
EN-" He sat looking thoughtfully at his
big, strong hands while Eleanor rose to
go. II hate to tell her. butt s'pose l