The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-19
THE TWO MR.. SMITHS.

at is not either her money or her
position that dashes me. Carroll; it is
my own name. Think of asking Eleanor
Betlune to become Mrs. William Smith!
Ifit had been Alexander Smith"
Or Hyacinth Smith"
Yes, Hyacinth Smith would have
done; but plain William Smith"
"Well, as far as / 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-
tion 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 skn-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.
If only could offer her.. with myself, a
suitable name 1Or ullem.
Gould 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, l have no other sugges
ton, and l 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 had, 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 a real
holiday-making.
Alice met Mi. Smith with enapresse-
7nent, fluttered about the tea-tray, like n
butterfly, wasted her bonmots and the
sugar recklessly, and was as full of pref
ty animation as her cousin Bethune was
of elegant repose.
hand had rested moment very
tendcrly in his; he had seen her
white cheek flush and her eyelids droop,
and he felt almost sure that he was be-
loved. And rs he had determined that
night to test his fortune, he was not in
clined to let himself be disappointed.
Consequently he decided on writing, to
her, for he was rather proud of his let
ters; and indeed it must be confessed
that he had an elegant and eloquent
way of putting any case in which he was
personally interested.
Eleanor Bethune thought SO. She re-
ceived his proposal ON her return from
very stupid party, and as soon as she
saw his writing she began to consider
how much more delightful the evening
would have been if Mr. Smith had been
present. his glowing eulogies on her
beauty, and his passionate descriptions
of his own affection, his hopes, and his
despairs, chimed in with her mood ex-
actly. Already his fine person and
manners had madea great impression on
her; she had been very near loving him; !;
nothing, indeed, had heen needed but
that touch of electricity conveyed in the
knowledge that she was beloved.
Such proposals seldom or never take
women unawares. Eleanor had been