The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-31
CHAPTER XIII.

~~0@~A ~
She was not sorry to forego
the doubtful luxury Of meditation
on the sadness Of life. When
Miss Trsvor's card was brought
to her she told the servant to
show her up and bring tea I'm
mediately. She was not interested
In Agnes Trevor. a younger sis
ter Of Polly Vane. but at all
events she would talk about her
settlement work and give a CON-
fortably commonplace atmosphere
to the room in which tragic
clouds were rising. AS it had
happened, Mary, during these
past weeks, had seen little Of
New York women between the
relics Of her old set and their
lively societyloving daughters.
The women between forty and
fifty whether devoted to fashion.
politics, husbands. children or
good works, had so Ear escaped
her. ana Agnes Trevor. who
lived with Mrs. Vane, was prac.
tically the only representative of
the intermediate age with whom
she had exchanged a dozen words.
But the admirable spinster had
taken up the cause OF the Vienna
children with enthusiasm and
raised a good deal Of money.
besides contributing literally her
self. She was forty-two and, al.
though she was said to have been
beautiful girl, was now merely
patrician in appearance, very
tall and thin and spinsterish. with
a clean but faded complexion.
and hair-colored hair beginning TO
turn gray. She had left society
in her early twcnties and de.
voted herself to moralizing the
East Side.
She came in with a light step
and an air OF subdued bright
energy, very smartly but plainly
dressed in dark blue tweed, with
a large black hat in which a wing
had been accurately placed by
the best milliner in New York.
Her clothes were SO well-worn,
and her grooming was so meticu-
lous. her accent so clean and
crisp, her manner SO devoid of
patronage. yet subtly remote,
her controlled heart so kind that
she perennially fascinated the
buxom. rather sloppy, prefer
naturally acute, and wholly un-
aristocratic young ladies' of the
East Side.
Her Diary
Mary. who had a dangerous
habit OF characterizing people in
her Day Book. had written when
she met Agnes Trevor:
She radiates intelligence. pood
will, cheeriness. innate superior
'ty and uncornpromising Vir-
ginity."
Dear Mary!' she exclaimed.
in her crisp bright tones as she
kissed her amiable hostess. How
delightful to find you alone. I
was afraid you would be sir.
rounded as usual"
"Oh. my novelty is wearing
off," said Mary dryly. But I
will tell them to admit no one
else today. I find enjoy one
person at time. One gets
rather tired in New York Of the
unfinished sentence"
"Oh. DO" Mary's quick eve
took note Of q certain depressed
excitement in the fine eyes of
her guest. who had taken an
upright chair. Lounging did not
accord with that spare ascetic
figure. And you are quite right.
It Is seldom one has anything
like real conversation. One has
to go for that to those Of our
older women who have given up
gociety to cultivate the intellects
Gcd gave them"
Are they any?" murmured
Mary.
"Oh. my dear, yes But, Of
course, you've had no time TO
meet them in your mad whirl.
Now that things have slowed
down a bit you must meet them"
I'm afraid it's too late. I sail
in a fortnight"
"Oh!' Miss Trevor's voice
shook oddly, and the slow color
crept up her cheeks. But at that
moment the tea was brought in.
"Will you pour it out?" asked
Mary. I'm feeling rather lazy"
"Of course" Miss Trevor was
brightly acquiescent. She seated
herself before the table. The
man retired with instructions that
MADAME was not at home to other
callers.
Mary watched her closely as
she stirred the tea with little
business.like air, warmed the CUPS.
distributed the lemon and then
poured out the clear brown fluid.
''Formosa Oolong," she said,