Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-05-21
WAY BEHIND THE TIMES
BY JULIA CUNEO.


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, 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
ioned 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"
81 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.
"Oh. we'll, perhaps it's just as we'll
that they are old fashioned and SLOW"
said his wife. 'It will leave US nicely
to ourselves. I 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 a
telephone call from town. Mrs. Van
Dyke wanted her to put on her pret.
tiest gown and come to luncheon to
meet two cousins Of Van Dykes,
lovely girls. and so talented" said
Mrs Van Dyke "They live some
where in your suburb-moved in a
month or two ago. am sure you will
enjoy knowing them"
Mrs Preston scarcely breathed. The
Van Dykes headed her list of friends
and the cousins were we'll known
young women and had a wonderful
country place somewhere or other.
She fastened to put on her newest
gown.
The gown was very becoming, but,
with the perversity peculiar to such
garments, it refused to button itself,
and Mrs. Preston was powerless to
coerce it. There was only one thing
for her to do-go over to the new
neighbors' to be hooked up. So Mrs.
Preston went, serene In the freemas-
only Of woman kind.
The white haired mother did the
hooking up. praising the gown and
complimenting its wearer.
An hour later Mrs. Preston and Mrs.
Van Dyke chatted pleasantly in the
fragrantly dim restaurant while they
waited for the young women.
The hostess leaned forward. 'HThere
they are-those two girls In the love
ly gowns, just speaking to the head
waiter. Gertrude designs all their
clothes. Aren't the girls pretty? So
often. you know, bright people are
positively i'll looking"
Mrs. Preston gasped. The two
graceful girls coming toward them
were the daughters Of the whited
haired woman who had hooked her
up!
"You ought to see," murmured Mrs.
Van Dyke. their home in the country.
1t is gem. People rave over it-and
them. Such exquisite old furniture.
Mrs. Preston sat still and vowed
many vows.-Chicago Daily News