The Newtown bee., 1879-07-09
THE TWO MIR. SMITHS.

" It is not either her money or her position that dashes me, Carol; it is my own name. Think of asking Eleanor Bethune to become Mrs. William Smith! lift had been Alexander Smith,"
 Or Hyacinth Smith,"
 Yes, Hyacinth Smith would have done but plain William Smith!'
 "Well, as far as 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 ;n and Carol threw his cigar into the fire and began to buckle on his spurs. =. ''" Come with me, Carol.
 No, thank. you. It is against my principles to like any one better than myself, and Alice Fontaine is a tempta- tion to do so."
 "I don't like Alice's style at all, "Of course not, Aiice'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 it's 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 for them"
 oOulu you .IlOb, Itthlug BIlS. Dt- thune and her money, take her name also ?" ...... .. ...,...........
 "N-n-no. A man does not like to lose all his Individuality in his w;fe's, ,Carrol." :"
 "Well, then, 1 have no other sugges- tion, 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 undoubtedlya 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 inde- corum, and had the air of being uncom- fortable unless his hands were in kid gloves.
 Smith had standing invitation to Mrs. Bethune's five-oclock teas, and he was always considered an acquisition. He was also very fond of going to them :; for under no circumstances was Mrs Bethune SD 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 yenu 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 hoiday-making
 Alice met MT. Smith with enapresse- n,e,st, fiuttered about the tray, like a butterfly, wasted her bonmots and the sugar recklessly. and was as full of pret- g ty animation as her cousin Bethune was of elegant repose.
 ts During the afternoon Eleanor's hand had rested a moment very tenderly in his; he had seen her 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 her, for he was rather proud of his let ters; and indeed it must be confessed z 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 stpid party, and as soon as she saw his writing she began to consider ls how much more delightful the evening would have been if Mir 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