The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-01-10


der heart was touched. She paused a
moment in embarrassment, and perhaps
even revolyed the idea of yielding ia
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 your
self about those Howell girls. They've
been unfortunate to be sure, and they re
very passable, indeed; but there's a
prejudice, you are aware, against girls
who stand in stores; and who knows
but Mrs. Mowbrav would take offence
at my inviting such persons to meet her
l should't like to do it, indeed, without
first asking her; and | can'tdo that this
time. She is very particular, and so
excessively high-bred."
"Then / don't think she'd regard
you the less, my DEAR" l ventured to
say, "for being acquainted with two
such excellent girls as Patty and Lizzy
Howell"
"Mr. Jones, don't be a child" re-
piled my wife, flinging herself to the
other side of the bed. "At your age
you should know something of the
world. Exclusive people, like Mrs.
Mowbray, don't care to meet nobOdies.
She was very choice, as you saw, whom
she admitted to her acquaintance this
summer; 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's nerves
and deprived her of sleep, so | said no
more, but closed my eyes and cOurted
slumber anew. l have no recollection
of anything after that till woke up
next morning, and leaving Mrs. Jones
abed, as usual, went down to see that
the fires were all right and to do the
marketing while breakfast was being
prepared.
The invitations to the party were is
sued that week, Mrs. Mowbray gracious
ly promising to attend.
When the important evening arrived
my wife was all nerves. At every ring
of the bell, the color rose to her face
with expectation, but guest after guest
entered without Mrs. Mowbray appear
ing. Her nervousness 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 the new friend
might yet arrive, but in vain.
"What can the matter be?" she said
to me, as soon as we were alone. 81
hope the dear babe is well. Perhaps
however, Mrs. Mowbray is herself sick.
Dear me, l am afraid / shall not sleep
for anxiety. The first thing I'll do to-
morrow will be to call on Mrs. Now
bray and see what is the matter"
Wouldn t that be against etiquette ?"
l ventured to ask. g 1t seems to me
that Mrs. Mowbray should send you
note or message, or something of that
sort, to apologize for her absence"
Mrs. Jones did not reply in words,
but she give me look. And such
look! 1t expressed all the Indignation
which her outraged bosom felt at having
the slightest suspicion cast upon her
friend.
When came home to dinner that day
l saw at a glance that something had
occurred to ruflle my wife's nerves.
She had nothing whatever to say to me,
but she scolded the servants and chill
dren necessarily. ] was too wise to
inquire what was wrong. / knew that
Mrs. Jones, if she thought proper,
would tell me; and if not, that idle
questions would only aggravate her
secret troubles.
But the next day, having heard
something that cast light on Mrs.
Mowbray's absence from our party. |
could not contain myself when came
home.
"Did you ever hear, my love-" said ]
as began to carve the turkey at dinner,
"that the Misses Howell had a married
sister,"
Mrs. Jones looked sharply up, as if
he suspected meant more than said,
and then answered lacOnically:
81 heard it casually, but never asked
further"
cit seems" continued, "that Mrs.
Mowbray is that sister"
"I've heard so since," said Mrs.
Jones, sharply; and turning to our Sec
ond child, who was asking for the wing
bone, raped him over the head, ex-
claiming, " Haven't told you to wait
till you're helped9 Take that, now,
and learn manners"
allowed a minute or more to elapse,
in order that my wife's ebullition might
subside, when remarked;
"Mrs. Mowbray, it seems, expected
to meet her sisters here"
81 shouldn't wonder If she did,"
snappishly said Mrs. Jones, looking
down into her plate, and apparently ab
sorbed in parting wing joint.
"When she found" continued,
"that her sisters were not asked, she
grew indignant. She heard the reason,
1t seems. Your friend Mrs. Wharton,
whom you have made a confldante, told
some lady, who told her; and hence her
anger"
"I'm sure don't care If never see
tbe proud thing again. said my wife,