The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-03-18
XIII

she was not sorry TO IOrego tDo
doubtful luxury OF meditation on
the sadness of life. When Miss
Trevor's card was brought to her
she told the servant to show her
up and bring tea imm ediately. She
was not interested in Agnes Trevor,
a younger sister of Polly Vane, but
at all events she would talk about
her settlement work and give .
comfortably commonplace atmos.
phere to the room in which tragic
clouds were rising. AS it had hap.
pened. Mary, during these past
weeks. had seen little of New York
women between the relics Of her
old set and their lively Sooisty.lov-
Ing daughters. The women between
forty and fifty. whether devoted to
fashion, politics, husbands. chill.
dren. or good works. had so far
escaped her, and Agnes Trevor,
who lived with Mrs. Vsne, was
practically the only representative
OF the Intern ediate age with whom |
she had exchanged a dozen words. }
But the admirable spinster had
taken up the cause of the Vienna
children with enthusiasm i and
raised good deal of money.ube.
sides contributing literally herself.
She was forty-two. and, although
she was said to have been beauti.
full 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 TWEEN.
ties and devoted herself to moral.
izing the East Side.
She came In with a light step sHd
an air OF subduedl bright energy,
very smartly but plainly dressed in
dark blue tweed, with a large black
hat In which a wing had been accu.
rately placed by tie best millinas
IN New York. Her clothea' tsM
so well-worn, and her grooming
was 80 meticulous, her accent 90
clean and crisp. her manner so de.
void OF patronage, yet subtly re-
mote, her controlled heart so kind
that she perenially fascinated the
buxom. rather sloppy. preternatu.
rally acute. and wholly unaristo.
cratic young ladies of the East
Side.
Mary. who had a dangerous hab.
It Of characterizing people in he,
Day Book. had written when sh.
met Agnes Trevor: "She radiate.
Intelligence. good will, cherriness,
innate superiority and uncompro
missing virginity."
Dear Mary" she exclaimed IN
her crisp bright tones as she kiss
ID her amiable hostess. "How de-
ightful to find you alone. vas
afraid you would be surrounded al
lsual."
"Oh. my novelty is wearing off,"
said Mary drily. But will tsE
hem to admit no one else TODAY.
find enjoy one person at time.
One gets rather tired in New York
II the unfinished sentence" q
"Oh. do" Mary's quick eye took
tote OF certain repressed excite
nent in the fine eyes Of her guest.
Who had taken an upright chair.
Aounging did not accord with that
spare ascetic figure. "And you
ire quite right. It is seldom one
las anything like real convsrsI
Ion. One has to 30 for that to
hose Of our older women wh@
ave given up Society to cultivate
he intellects God gave them"
Are there any?" murmured
dary. :.
"oh, my dear. yes. But, Of course.
'ou've had no time to meet them
e your mad whirl. Now that things
AVE slowed down q bit you must
meet them"
I'm afraid it's too late. I sail
q fortnight"
OH" Miss Trevor's voice shook
ddly, and the slow color crept up
Ter cheeks. But at that moment
he tea was brought in.
viii you pour It out?" asked
larry. I'm feeling rather lazy"
"Of course" Miss Trevor was
acqu4escent. She seated
erself before the table. The man
etired with instructions that Ma.
|ame was not at home to other
alters.