Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-28

Il think her pretty, of course" he
said; s'but | suppose that's because i m
fond of her. | don't think she would
be called a beauty. And as for genius
she's very clever at accounts; but
she doesn't sing, or paint, or anything
of that sort. She's never had the time
or money for such things, poor girli''
Bnt Margery had turned away with
an impatient gesture.
There is nothing, then" she said,
despairingly; mo; it couldn't be
worse"
Harvey rose from his seat, with an
energy which set the bell in the castor
jingling.
This is absurdI' he said indignant
ly. at is more than absurd; it is I'M
just and narrow-minded. How sensi-
BILE = presumably sensible people,"
Harvey corrected rather bitterly, ''can
say, in regard to a person they have
never seen, that 1T could not be worse,
is past my comprehension
eve will not talk of it, said Mrs.
Seely, holding up restraining hand.
Discussion will not mend matters.
And you are to be married next
month";"
ION the ninth" Harvey rejoined
''Of course you will all be there?' he
added rather obviously.
by no means, said his father
shortly.
''You could hardly expect it, said
Mrs. Seely reproachfully.
Every well; If Mohammed won't
come you've heard the observation.
We shall pay you visit Immediately
on our return from our wedding tour,
with your kind permission. You must
know Dora"
When he left the house an hour later,
ne had the required permission.
His mother and the girls had even
kissed him goodbye, in an injured and
reproachful way, and his father had
shaken hands coolly.
But his ears still rang with that
odious assertion, sit could not be
worse!" and he was thoughtful all the
way back to the city.
The Seelys were in a state of sub
dued excitement.
Harvey's wedding tour was COM
pleted; and they had received a tele-
gram that afternoon to the effect that
he would be ION hand tonight with
his new wife.
The Cgning groom table was set for
dinner; and Mrs. Seely wandered from
one end of it to the other nervously.
Her husband sat under the chande-
lier with his evening paper, but he
was not reading it; Kitty and Margery
fiuttered about uneasily, watching
through the window for the return of
the carriage from the station.
Il hope" said Margery with ner-
vous attempt at cheerfulness, ''that she
will be barely decent-presentable.
Think of the people who will call! I
hope she won't be worse than we're
prepared to see her."
''She couldn't be-" said Mrs. Seely
dismally.
There was roll of wheels, and the
twinkle of the carriage-lamp at the
door, and the bell rang sharply.
Kitty and Margery clasped hands in
sympathetic agitation; Mr.. Seely drop
ped his paper and rose; and Mrs.
Seely advanced toward the hall-door
with dignity.
1t opened wide before she could
reach it, and Harvey entered, his face
suffused with genial blissful smiles.
This is my wife" he said proudly;
''my mother, Dora; my father, my sis
ters, Kitty and Margery."
And with a caressing touch, he took
by the hand, and led forward among
them
What!
Mr.. seely gazed at the apparition
with startling eyes; Mrs. Seely drop
ped the hand she had started to hold
out, with her face growing ashy; and
Kitty and Margery gasped.
For what they saw was a woman of
forty years, with face
powdered and painted in the most I'M
manner, with thin grey hair
over .wrinkled forehead in
affectation of youthfulness,
and with a diminutive gaily-trimmed
bonnet perched thereon, with an af-
fected, mincing gait, and simpering
smile.
This is my wife," Harvey re-
peated; ''have you no welcome for
her?"
Lie U1Iuc b1LICItQ-
''Mebbe they think I amt good
enough for 'em, dear?" she observed |
5artly.
Impossible, my pet" Harvey re-
sponded, and patted her falsely bloom
ing cheek affectionately; ''besides, if |
YOU were but shadow caricature
of your own beautiful. self, they would
not have been surprised. They were
for the worst"
He looked at his Mortified relatives
The truth of his words flashed over
them.
Yes, they had all said repeatedly,
that lit could not be worse But this
wrinkled, bedizened crea-
ture-had they dreamed of this?
Harvey watched them with an I'M
disturbed smile-his father, turning
away at last, and rubbing his forehead
with his handkerchief weakly; Mrs.
Seely, gazing at her daughter-in-law
with a dreadful fascination, and the
girls, sinking into chairs in dismayed
silence.
ssVVaU mother. - sold Harvayr I;ob+