The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-09-15
WAY BEHIND THE TIMES
BY JULIA cuNEo.
Mrs. Preston felt sure that she was

Mrs. Preston felt sure that she was
not going to like her new neighbors.
Whats the matter with them?"
asked Preston in some surprise.
ooh, they are sort of slow and
thousands Of years behind the times"
his wife replied. And, Tom, I do be-
lieve the head of the household was
out on the back porch in his stocking
feet the other day! Just think In
his stocking feet!"
MY! what a savage performance"
And, you know, they didn't have
much furniture-just some old fash
Toned things. Nothing new and mas
sive."
well, that may be-" said Preston.
but I'm for the old man who dares
to walk about on his own back porch
In comfort"
ooh, of course, they are respectable
people" Mrs. Preston conceded.
They surely are" said Preston.
THE mother looks like one of the
white-haired home-sweet-home kind"
Mrs. Preston hesitated moment,
weighing honesty against femininity.
YES" she admitted, "the mother does
look comfy, and the two girls are rath-
er pretty too"
II haven't noticed them" remarked
Preston almost OVERRIDING the tone OF
Indifference. He had to be careful
about such things, for though they had
been married for three years, Mrs.
Preston could not yet understand that
a happy marriage does not necessarily
blind a man to the existence Of all
other women
ooh. well, perhaps it's Just as well
that they are old fashioned and slow
said his wife. ut will leave US nicely
to ourselves. shall be pleasant and
neighborly, but nothing more"
Mrs. Preston was The new neigh
bors seemed to love peace and quiet
too, for they passed most OF their time
at home, The world rolled smoothly
One morning Mrs. Preston had 9
telephone call from town. Mrs. Var
Dyke wanted her to put on her pref
test gown and come to luncheon tt
meet two cousins of Van Dykes
lovely girls, and 30 talented" sale
Mrs. Van Dyke. "They live some
where in your suburb-moved In /,
month or two ago. am sure you will
enjoy knowing them"
4 Mrs Preston scarcely breathed. Tn,
Van Dykes headed her list of friend
and the cousins were well know
young women and had wonderful
country place somewhere or other
She FASTENED to put on her newes
gown.
The gown was very becoming, but
with the perversity peculiar to sue
garments, 1t refused to button Itself
and Mrs. Preston was powerless t
coerce 1t. There was only one thin
for her to do-go over to the ne,
neighbors' to be hooked up. So Mr.
Preston went, serene in the freema!
only of woman kind.
The white haired mother did tn
hooking up, praising the gown an
complimenting its wearer.
An hour later Mrs. Preston and Mr.
Van Dyke chatted pleasantly in tn
fragrantly dim restaurant while the
waited for the young women.
J The hostess leaned forward. ether
they are-those two girls in the love
ly gowns, Just speaking to the hea
waiter. Gertrude designs all thei
clothes. Aren't the girls pretty? s
often, you know, bright people ar
positively Ill looking"
Mrs. Preston gasped. The tw
graceful girls coming toward ther
were the daughters of the white
haired woman who had hooked he
up!
you ought to see," murmured Mrs
Van Dyke, their home in the country
1t is a gem. People rave over tan,
them. Such exquisite old furniture.
Mrs. Preston sat still and vowe,
many yows.-Chicago Daily News.