In "The Old Beauty", a man named Mr. Seabury is intrigued by a dignified older lady at the out-of-the-way French hotel where he is staying, and soon learns she is the former Lady Gabrielle Longstreet, whom he knew many years before. The pair renew their acquaintance, and spend many pleasant hours together, along with Gabrielle's friend and companion, Mrs. Allison. Gabrielle (she doesn't care to go by her former title) seems to regret that she didn't appreciate her older friends back before the war, and misses the way of life that ended with that conflict.

Willa Cather's writing always pulls me along. It's somehow just a pleasure to read, even in a quiet story such as this. The ending paragraph was a bit abrupt and strange, but overall I'm glad I read this story. ( )