The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-12-04
THE
VEIL OF
CONVENTION
By MARY MAC MILAN
g by short story Pub. Cos


bits of their conversation and
far enough away to watch them
without being detected. was an alien
In the city and had got into the,
habit of dining at this little hotel
because of the comfort / had out of
one Of the walters intelligence. He
seemed to divine my homeIessness, but
there was no fulsomeness in his SYM
oathy, which would have exasperated
ne, only a delicate comprehension
which waived any mention of the cir
cumstances and was subordinated
completely to my physical comforts.
My table was always reserved for me
oy window where l might find enter
tainment and could sit looking over
my private mail and reading the eve
ming paper as long as / chose. The
waiter was French-American and
there had quickly grown up between
Us that comradeship sometimes to>be
found between the served and the
servitor Tonight he was busy with
these other people, which seemed to
distress him keenly, and he came to
explain the unavoidableness of the sit
uation and assure me he would send
me a good man.
The party at the other table would
nave compensated for any loss might
have had. They were four-a middle
aged pair, manifestly husband and
wife, and younger couple. The
young man, by his hospitable details
Of manner, confessed himself the host.
He was a handsome fellow, and
though not tall had satisfying sym
metry of form tapering from the
strong, broad shoulders to the muscu-
lar slenderness of limb. His thick,
atraight brows, protruding massive
ness of forehead Just over the eyes,
and squareness Of jaw would have
made his face little heavy but for
nm opposing refinement. He had bril-
liant, winning eyes and under his
close cropped mustache a clean, thin
tipped mouth. He wore his clothes as
if they belonged to him and were not
! a merely conventional society uniform,
and there was no jewelry to adorn
them, not even watch-fob.
They were having good dinner and
they were very gay over it, but that
was not what caught my attention and
held it as it is caught and held by
consummate acting on the stage. They
were all fne-looking, well-nourished,
yressed with richness and careless
ness of fashion that told its own tale,
ARf good blood; but the core of their,
Agnetism was their complete lack of
consciousness, their abundance Of;
Fconfidence, the aplomb of self
ppment and successful living
were jolly and laughing, enjoy
heir dinner, each other, life, and
atmosphere of content and power
e them attractive and delightful.
1 transpired that they were intend
ing to go to the theater, and as the
time drew near for their departure
there evidently arose difference of
opinion in regard to the purpose. The
elder woman was immensely interested
In the play that was to be put on; the
younger was not, did not wish to cut
short her dining and had some other
sort of amusement she preferred later.
She, the young lady, was quiet and
deferential and modest, but the secret
disclosed itself that of all the sentient
Fascination the party had for an OBJ
server, she was the center. She was
dressed in closely clinging gown Of
some sort of silky, shimmering, palest
gray fabric, and big black hat with
Dig, soft, graceful plumes-an arrange
ment reminding that a dark hat and
tight gown are most becoming. These
became her. She was not distinctly
s beautiful. but she had skin like the
flush of summer sunrise and won
ierful eyes-they were pale green, per-
laps. suggesting the sea, under low,
straight brows and with long, straight
ashes When with lowered head she
swept side glance at one of her COM
3anions, you knew how he must thrill
you were thrilled at the mere con-
temptation. There was deep dark
less about her eyes in confusing con-
;rast with the marvellous fairness of
ner skin. Her voice had the caressing
sweetness that makes one glad as the
scent of an old-fashioned garden pink,
Dr. the sound of bell at evening, does.
She would draw people to her, not by
ler perfect beauty, but by her warm
'adiancy of being, an ineffable love-
mess.
The elder lady became at last laugh
ngly impatient and the younger then
With eager courtesy consented to go,
out the older man interposed, and it
vas finally settled. after much good
laturedl banter, that the older couple
should go to their box at the theater
md the younger would join them later
either there or at the other place they
nad In mind. There was a display of
he usual huge, stiff napkins and then
# evening wraps, for 1t was spring
and the night might be cool despite
The alluring softness that came in