Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-06-17
THE TWO Mr.. SMITHS.

cit is not either her money or her
position that dashes me, Carroll; it is
my own name. Think of asking Eleanor
Bethune to become Mrs. William Smith
Ifit had been Alexander Smith"
Or Hyacinth Smith
Yes, Hyacinth Smith would have
done; but plain William SmithI'
well, as far4as I can see, you are not
to blame Apologize to the lady for the
blunder of your godfathers and god
mothers. Stupid old parties! They
ought to have thought of Hyacinth =
and Carol threw his cigar into the fire
and began to buckle on his spurs.
"Come with me, Carol.
"No, thank you. 1t is against my
principles to like any one better than
myself, and Alice Fontaine is tempta-
ton to do so"
II don't like Alice's style at ALL
"Of course not. Alice's beauty, as
compared with Mrs. Bethune's settled
income, is skin-deep."
If sarcasm was intended. Smith did
not perceive it. He took the criticism
at its face value, and answered, Yes,
Eleanor's income is satisfactory; and be-
sides that. she has all kinds of good
qualities, and several accomplishments
Il
suitable name for them"
"Could you not, in taking Mrs. Be
thune and her money, take her name
also ?'
"N-n-no. A man does not like to lose
all his individuality in his wife's, Carol" +"
''Well, then, / have no other sugges-
tion, and | am going to ride"
So Carol went to the park and Smith
went to his mirror. The occupation
gave him the courage he wanted. He
was undoubtedly very handsome man,
and he bad, also, very fine manners; in
deed, he would have been a very great
man if the world had only been draw
ing-room, for, polished and fastidious,
he dreaded nothing so much as an indie
corum, and had the air of being uncom-
Portable unless his hands were in kid
gloves.
Smith had standing invitation to
Mrs Bethune's five-o'clock teas, and he
was always considered an acquisition.
He was also very fond of going to them
for under no circumstances was Mrs.
Bethune so charming. To see her
in this hour of perfect relaxation was to
understand how great and beautiful is
the art of idleness. Her ease and grace,
her charming aimlessness, her indescrib-
able air of inaction, were all so many
proofs of her having been born in the
purple of wealth and fashion; no par
venu could ever hope to initiate them.
Alice Fontaine never tried. She had
been taken from life of polite shifts and
struggles by her cousin, Mrs. Bethune,
two years before; and the circumstances
that were to the one the mere accidents
of her position were to the other real
holiday-making.
Alice met Mr.. Smith with eYnpresse-
naeaat, fiuttered about the tray, like a
butterfly, wasted her bonmots and the
sugar recklessly, and was as full of pret-
ty animation as her cousin Bethune was
of elegant repose.
During the afternoon Eleanor's
hand. had rested a moment very
tenderly in his; he had seen hel
white cheek flush and her eyelids droop
and he felt almost sure that he was be-
loved. And as he had determined that
night to test his fortune, he was not in
clined to let himself be disappointed
Consequently he decided on writing tc
her, for he was rather proud of his let
ters; and indeed it must be confessed
that ne had an elegant and eloquent
way ofputting any case in which be was
personally interested.
Eleanor Bethune thought so. She re-
ceived his proposal on her return from
= very stupid party, and as soon as sht
saw his writing she began to consider
how much more delightful the evening
would have been if Mr. Smith had beer
present. His glowing eulogies on he
beauty, and his passionate description
of his own affection, his hopes, and hi,
despairs, chimed in with her mood ex
actly. Already his fine person ant
manners had madea great impression OF
her; she had been very near loving him
nothing, indeed, had heen needed bu
that touch of electricity conveyed in th,
knowledge that she was beloved.
Such proposals seldom or never taxi
women unawares. Eleanor had beer