Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-12-30
Plural BlessedneSs.

Plural Blessedness.
Before the glass, as usual. I dc
believe, Ruth, that you are vsiner than
ever"
Tha person addressed pirouetted
across the room, shook her ringlets
snocthed out her draperies, and settled
herself gracefully in chair before re.
plying.
Don't be GROSS, Myrs, there's dear.
I have to take little pains with my
looks when people are dropping il
almost every hour in the day to See
the BRIDE"
The bride! On. yes! I beg you,
pardon; I had almost forgotten tina,
your honeymoon is Tot over. And now
seeing that VIC are alone. tell me; is i;
hoAeymoon altogether ?"
at would be, only for one thing
Philip is just ne sweet as he can be, but
then he is SO awfully religious. You
know they pretend that it is a man.
religious duty to treat all his wives just
alike, and Philip actually believes that
The first week after We we're married
he stayed here, of course; but the sec
ond week he told me it wss his duty t.
go hohe-just think of it-home-and
every blessed day of that week be
staged with his first wife. Last week
he was here again, and now he il away.
That's something that I didn't bargain
for, and don't mean to stand it."
II confess I don't quite see how you
are going to help yourself"
"Oh, I'll manage him, never you
fear. BY the way, how ugly bis FIRST
wife is growing! She has changed sc
within q month that l declare when
met her on she street yesterday hard
ly knew her; ard I suppose now she
will go and tell Philip that wouldn't
speak to her-the spitefol thiue!"
"You ought not to talk in that way
Ruth. The poor woman sees trouble
enough, 1 have no doubt"
"Well, can't help it, snd I'm sure
it isn't my fault. If she didn't wan'
Philip to marry me, why did she give
her consent? =? And if she is growing
old and ugly, am not to blame fol
that. and Philip is not to blame either
for wanting a wife that doesn't look like
grandmother"
"Ruth, how cid are you?"
II shall be sixteen next birthday
My poor child! I pity you."
"Now. Myra, that is just like you
always trying;to spoil my good times
don't know, I'm sure, why I should
be pitied, unless i. is because Philip
insists on taking rooms right here al
fathers instead of giving me a house
of my own. Bat I'll have different
arrangements in SIX months, rs you'll
see. If don't mansge to be the mis-
tress of his new house by that time, my
name is not Ruth"
Indeed! And what will you d.
With Jessie?"
"Oh, she can havs the old house
It's comfortable enough, and she dom
care anything aboat style. She look
Ikea dowdy lately. Why, the dresl
she hDd on yesterday was a perfec
fright"
perhaps che has too much on hel
mind just now to care about Dress"
If she knows anything at all. sh'
ought to know that dress goes grea
way when you want to please man
Last week when Philip came ovel
here. he looked as if he'd just been to
fureral-I dare say Jessie had beer
giving him some awful lectures but
had studied what to &C. and was read,
to meet him. / had the new silk b,
gave me made up lovely and I wor'
tea-rose ribbons. and Jane Taylor cana
oyer and dressed my hair. She said
looked like a picture, and I believ,
Philip thought SO. too, for he bright
ened up wonderfully after came dow,
stairs"
well. Ruth, 1 want you to take al
the comfort Yon can; though, if 1 wer
You, Gm sf,aid I should look for war,
sometimes to the day when I would b.
obliged to step aside AID give place t,
some ore else; and you know it is th,
last wife who gets all the attention."
Now. Myra, 1 don't think there j.
another person in the world wso would
say such things to me-and in my bon
eynoon, too" Here an embroidered
handkerchief Was produced, and the
ofide buried her pretty face in it,
folds.
Don't cry, Ruth. 1 didn't mean &c
make you feel bad"
?he face came up again from it,
hiding place.
II Won't cry and spoil my eyes, for l