Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1921-04-28
Graciou. Lady
By ALvAH ). GARTH
"a. 1899. Western Newspaper Union, I,

10. 1875. western Newspaper Unionl
"A kindly, gracious lady, doubtless
~" observed Mrs. Carter Holmes
lightly. "but understand she has seen
her day."
EYES," nodded her visitor. Mrs. Var
ney. "They had money once apd
quite ruled the social destinies Of
Williston. Everything went in a bank
crash and they have moved here to
feel less the. humiliation of their af-
fairs"
"Of course she will have the wisdom
and prudence not to break into our
circle. Mrs. Wharton and her daughter
Isola must be in measure. shall we
say, unsophisticated and crude"
II think that about expresses It."
nodded Mrs. varney, and so these two
active outposts Of society dismissed the
theme.
No notice would have been taken Of
Mrs. Eunice Marston If she had not
been an old college friend Of Mrs.
Vera Reprogle. The latter ruled So
ciety and her. word was law in It's
operation. She had quietly told some
chosen friends the history Of the
Whartons. and had given them to un-
derstand pretty well that she intended
to quite recognize them and insist upon
their doing so also.
Certainly when the Whartons first
appeared in a public social way they
could find no fault with the dignity,
graciousness and refinement of Mrs.
Wharton. As to the daughter Isola,
those who were not fully charmed with
her loneliness and pretty ways were
Jealous debutantes. or their scheming
mothers. for young Harold Reprogle
manifestly was attracted toward her
from the start.
"Oh. you needn't imagine that Mrs.
Reprogle is doing anything more than
courteously showing attention to an
old friend" insisted Mrs. varney. who
had a daughter on her hands. ''This
is obligatory and quite the thing to do.
But. trust me. she will not see her son
thrown away on penniless girl like
Iso)a Wharton"
There were frowns and shrugs. how
ever, when Mt second social function
Mrs. Reprogle made Isola quite the
queen Of the occasion. ::
Following this was a grand and
exclusive occasion at tea. where the
cream Of local society was supposed
to be In evidence and invitations were
not literally given out. There was q
good deal Of secret longing for the dis
tinction Of, pouring at the FUNCTION,
and the hopes cf. those ambitious
ladies eager to push themselves for.
ward were ardent and In evidence
whenever two or more Of the social set
discussed the coming tea. $
"Mrs. Reprogle is so queer" com.
mented Mrs. Carter Holmes. "She
thinks more Of giving some lonely.
|. obscure person happiness than keep.
ing strictly within ethical social lines,
don't you think?" 5
'Yes. that is Oftentimes her way
nodded Mrs. varney. "If she followed
ont set social rules. ! think you. Mrs.
Holmes. should pour 81
"Oh! / scarcely expect the honor
declared the lady addressed. while al
the time she coveted the distinction
more than any other honor Mrs. Repro.
I. gle might confer upon her. There were
Others who had planned for the priv.
,lege. /:
I It was a day Of days for Mrs
Wharton when the occasion arrived
All the old tenderness Of her friend
Mrs. Reprogle seemed to develop and
enlarge as she greeted her. Mrs
/ Wharton was somewhat older than the
b majority Of the CHESTS who were main:
" young married women. The con.
trast to their stylish attire In her
{ plain hlack dress that had seen sery.
Ice, did not detract from the, mntroniy
grnrt0asness of her MIXTURE which cap
t'vntesl NIL right thinkers IN the little
assembly, I 81;