Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-01-26
NUMBER 4.

" for being acquainted with two such ex-
celent girls as Patty and Lizzy Howell"
" Mr. Jones, don't be child" replied
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 ac-
quaintance this Summer l may say, in
deed, 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 l said no more,
but closed my eyes and courted slumber
anew. have no recollection of anything
after that till woke up next morning,
and leaving Mrs. Jones abed, as usual,
went down to sec that the fires were all
right, and do the marketing while break
fast was being prepared.
The invitations to the party were issued
that week, Mrs. Mowbray graciously
promising to attend
When tho important evening arrived
my wife was all nerves. AT every ring
OF the bell tho color rose to her face with
expectation, but guest after guest entered
without Mrs. Mowbray appearing. Her
nervousness soon began to change TO anx-
ioty, and this, Os the hours wore on, To
disappointment and dsmay. She delayed
supper for full hour, thinking that her
new friend might yet arrive, but in vain.
What can the matter be % sho said
to ne, as soon as we were alone. ~
hopo the dear babe is wol. Perhaps,
however, Mrs. Mowbray is herself sick.
Dear me | am afraid shall not sleep Tor
anxiety. The lrst thing III do to NOR
row will be to call on Mrs Mowbray and
see what is tho matter"
! Wouldn't that bo against etiquettc!"
| | ven:ured to ask. " It seems to me tina.
Mrs. Mowbroy should send you II note or
message, or something OF that sort, to
apologize for her ABSENCE"
Mrs Jones did not reply in words, but
she gave me look. And such look
1t expressed all tho Indignation which
her outraged bosom folt at having tho
slightest suspicion east upon her friend.
When ! came home to dinner that day,
| sNw ut glance that something had oc-
cured to rulllo my wifc's nerves. She
had nothing whatever to say to nc, but
she scoldod tho servants and children in.
COS antly. | was too wise to inquire what
was wrong. | knew that Mrs. Jones. it
she thought proper, would tell mo and.
il not, that idle questions would only az
gravote her secret trouble.
But, the next day, having heard soma
thing that cast light on Mrs. Mowbray'.
absence from our party, could not con
tain myself when | came home.
"Did you ever hear, my love-" said !.
as began to curve the turkey, " that the
Misses Howell had married sister ?"
Mrs. Jones looked sharply up, as if sho
suspected | meant moro than | said and
then answered, laconculy:
IL heard it casually, but never asked
furthor."
at seems" continued "thot Mrs.
/ Mowbray is that sister"
l'vo heard so since" said Mrs. Jones,
sharply; and TO our second child, who
was asking for the ng-bone, raped
him over tho head, cxclaming, " Haven't
! told you to wait till you're helped
Take that, now, aud learn manners"
allowed a minute or more to elapse,
in order that my wilo's bulition might
subsilo whom remarked
Mrs. Mowbay, it seems, expected to
meot her sisters here"
81 shouldn't wonder If she did,"
snappishly said Mrs. Jones. looking
down into her plate, and apparently alb
sorbed in parting a wing joint.
Whom she found" continued, "that
her sisters were not asked, she grew in
dignant. She heard the reason, it seems.
Your friend, Mrs. Wharton, whom you
have made conGdante, told some lady,
who told her, and hence her anger"
" IN sure don't care il | never see
the prond thing again" said my wife,
reddenlng very much, but still without
looking up. "Ono would not have sup
posed that she was sister to the Misses
Howell"
After another pause passed said
Did you call on Mrs. Mowbray, as
you intended ?''
Mrs. Jones was silent for full minute,
and seemed half disposed to decline ans
worng altogether but finally she bluit-
ed out her reply as follows:
" Yes, | did, since you must know
She was not at home-so. at least the
footman said, but if | didn't see her at
the drawing room window" ard hero
she burst into tears of modification and
rage, may 1 never cat another mouth.
lul.n
saw that it would not do to continue
the conversation ; SO quietly ate my
dinner, kissed the children, and went my
way.
OF course tho intimacy of my wife with
Mrs. Mowbray ceased from that fatal
party and am sorry to say that the
Misses Howell have, as the phrase goes,
"cut our acquaintance"
.az@ss-s-.s.u+,-r-r7------
A SCHOOL board inspector asked small
nupn nf ,Vhnt thn surGlpa of Tho earth cnn