The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-05-24
NV Wife's New Friend.

ance of blooming forever, but which soon
wither in the worlds cold blasts. l used to
! think that this character was confined to
school girls, who profess immortal fidelity
in letters crossed and recrosscd, but forget
each other as soon as they have caught a
| lover
My wifc's last acquisition, in the way Of
q bosom friend, is Mrs. Mortimer Mowbray,
with whom she became acquainted last sum
mer, while we were visit out Of town,
Mrs Mortimer Mowbray had her carriage
with her, and created quite sensation; in
fact, every lady in the house was eager to
become her confidan;; but the amiabie de-
pertinent Of Mrs. Jones, combined, doubt,
with her intellectual accomplishments, rem
dered her the favorte; and she it was, who
daily occupied the spare seat in the carriage
and had the honor of advising Mrs. Mowbray
in those thousand grave perplexit!es under
which women suffer
We returned to the city after the Now
brays, bu. my wife though usually very firm
on questions of etiquette, waived her privi-
/ leges on this occasion and made the first
call. She was graciously received, and came
! home in high spirits. All that evening she
could nothing but talk of Mrs Mortimer
{ Mowbray. ''Such an elegant establishment"
"a tnotman, with manners like a prince,
waited at the door" The drawing room
was the perfection Of luxury and taste. Mrs
Mowbray had on such a sweet cap, and al
together looked SO lady-lke. Her manners
I were indeed most aristocratic, just what one
/ would suppose those Of a countess to be-
! In few days Mrs. Mortimer Mo-bray re-
turned nay wites call; she came in q splen-
dId new carriage, and with new pair Of
horses Her equipage created quite a sensa.
ton IN our Street Mrs. Jones, soon after
tins, began 10 act as if brooding over some
vast design, which not being yet quite ma
tuTed, she deemed it wsest to be silent re-
specting. At last, however, the mighty Sc
cret was brOachcd
Il was thinking, icncs," she said one
night aS was composing myself TO sleep
on my pillow, that we ought to give
party. Not a regular bail, ind, ed, but Sc
Iect entertainment, where a few congcnial
minds may be brought together | should
Ike to introduce my dear Mrs Mowbray TO
some OF the choicest OF our acqnaintanceS"
Now detest parties small or large, but
as the deiicacy OF my wifc's nerves does not
allow Of her being thwarted, made no OBJ
Ject'on to this proposal, though sighed to
myself "Of course, M dear" | said.
Iou know best"
Wen ask about thirty continued my
wife, warming with the subject There's
Mrs Wharton, and Mr. Horace Shinn, and
Mrs Price, and the three Misses Trelawney:"
and thus the dear creature ran on until she
had mentioned about forty names, and saw
that her select party of congenial souls "
going TO be, after all, crowded rout.
." You have forgotten the two Misses How
ell, said at last, when my wife stopped
for want of breath.
The two Misses Howell were amiable, in
telligcnt and pretty girls, in whom | took
particular interest, because their father who
had once been an extensive shipping mer-
chant, having become reduced and died bank
rupt, the sisters were compelled to earn their
own livelihood They had numerous rich
relations on whom they might lave billctted
themselves; but, with spirit Of proper in
Inaintainance, instead or eatns the 6redtd OF
charity. had long nourished I romantic
idea Of seeing them married well, and conse-
Tucntly had made i, point always TO invite
them TO our parties, TO praise them highly
10 young gentlemen there, and in every
other indircc; way TO assist in realizing my
pet scheme.
Ny wife had heretofore seconded me in
my benevolent plan; but on the present oc-
casion, she hcsitated to reply; and | knew
a, once that there was something the matter.
"Ahem," she said, at last clearing her
throat, "Ahem, The Misses Howell are
very nice girls. to be sure-that is, in their
place-but as i; is to be select party, and
as have already mention rather too many,
and as Mrs. Mowbray may not want TO meet
all sorts Of people, and as"
Stop, my dear" said | with sigh, for
| saw that my favorites were not TO be IN
vted, you have given reasons enough. IL
is great pity, though" and | sighed again
"a sigh eloquent of resignation.
Ny wife heard my signs, and her tender
heart was touched. She paused. a moment
in embarrassment, and perhaps even resolved
the idea Of yielding to my wishes, but in the
end she raised herself on her elbow and
said. "Mr. Jones, do listen TO reason. You
don't know how foolish You make yourself
about those Howell girls. They have been
unfortunate to be sure; and they are very
passable, indeed, but there is prejudice
you are aware, against girls who earn their
own livelihood, and who knows but what
Mrs. Mowbray would take offence at my in
viting such persons to meet her. shouldn't
like to do it indeed, without first asking her;
and can't do that this time. She's very
particular, and so exclusively high bred
"Then | don't think she would regard
you the less, my dear, venture to say, for
being acquainted with two such excellent
girls as Patty and Lizzy Howell"
"Mr. Jones, don't be a child. replied my
wife. AT your age you should know some
thing Of the world. Exclusive people, like
Mrs. Now bray, don't care to meet nobodes.
She was very choice, as you saw, OF whom
she admitted to her acquaintance this sum
mer; | may say, indeed, that | am the only
one Of all she met whom she recognizes
now"
To have protracted the conversation would
have excited my wife, nerves. and deprived
her Of sleep. so said no more, but closed
my eyes and courted siumber again. l Lave
no recollection of anything after that till
woke the next morning, and leaving Mrs.
J6ncs in bed as usual, went down to See that
tlle>tires were right. and to take walk while
breakfast was beng prepared.
| The invitations to the party were issued
! that week, Mrs. Mortimer Mowbray gracious
/ ly promising to attend.
When the important evening arrived my
wife was very nervous. at every ring OF
| the bell the color rose to her face with ex-
/ pectation, but guest after guest entered with
out Mrs. Mowbray appearing. Her nervous
ness soon began to change to anxiety, and
/ this, as the hours wore on, to disappointment
and dismay. She delayed the supper for
| full hour, thinking that her new friend might
yet arrive; but in VAN.
"What can be the matter, l wonder!'
she said to me, as we were alone. IL hope
the dear babe is well. Perhaps, however,
Mrs. Mowbray is herself unwell. Dear me,
am afraid | shall not sleep for anxiety.
The first thing shall do tomorrow will be
to call on Mrs Mowbray and see what is the
matter" -,
"Would not that be against etiquette:'
I yentured to ask "It seems to me that
Mrs. Mowbray should send you note or
message, or something Of that sort at least
To aDolOoize her absence.