Francis Lynde

The Helpers Francis Lynde

THE curtain had gone down on the first act of the opera, and Jeffard found his hat androse to go out. His place was the fourth from the aisle, and after an ineffectual attempt tomake a passageway for him without rising, the two young women and the elderly manstood up and folded their opera chairs. Being driven to think pointedly of something else, Jeffard neglected to acknowledge the courtesy; and the two young women balanced theaccount by discussing him after he had passed out of hearing."I think he might at least have said 'Thank you, '" protested the one in the black-plumedpicture-hat, preening herself after the manner of ruffled birds and disturbed womankind."I'm in love with your mountains, and your climate, and your end-of-the-century impetus, but I can't say that I particularly admire Denver manners."The clear-eyed young woman in the modest toque laughed joyously."Go on, Myra dear; don't mind me. It's so refreshing to hear an out-of-church opinion onone's self. I know our manners are perfectly primitive, but what can you expect when everytrain from the East brings us a new lot of people to civilize? When you are tempted to groanover our shortcomings it'll comfort you wonderfully if you will just stop long enough toremember that a good many of us are the newest of new tenderfoot