The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-06-06

DlC- presumably 'oCHoiDiC PSOPiS, AAoi
vey corrected rather bitterly, 'can say,
in regard to person they have never
seen, that lit could not be worse, is
past my comprehension
'We will not talk of it, said Mrs.
Seeley, holding up restraining hand.
Discussion will not mend matters.
And you are to be married next month.
'On the NINTH Harvey rejoined.
'Of course you will all be there2' he
added rather obviously.
by no MEANS said his father short
ly.
you could hardly expect it, said
Mrs. Seeley reproachfully.
'Very we'll 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 he had required the 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 obi
Gus assertion. 1T could not be worse !
and he was thoughtful all the way back
to the city.
i X
The Seeleys were in state of sub
dued excitement.
Harvey's wedding-tour was COM
pleted; and they had received tele-
gram that afternoon to the effect that
he would be 'on hand tonight with
his new wife.
The dining-room table was set for
dinner; and Mrs. Seeley wandered
from one end of it to the other nervous
ly.
Her husband sat under the chande-
lier with his evening paper, but he was
not reading it; Kitty and Margery
futtered about uneasily, watching
through the window for the return of
the carriage from the station.
4 hope said Margery with ner-
vous attempt at cheerfulness, that she
will be barely decent-presentable.
Think of the people who will call l
hope she won't be worse than we're
prepared to see her.
she couldn't be- said Mrs. Seeley
dismally.
There was a 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.. Seeley drop
ped his paper and rose; and Mrs. See
ley 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
tiers, Kitty and Margery.'
And with caressing touch, he took
by the hand, and led forward among
them
What
Mr.. Seeley gazed at the apparition
with starting eyes Mrs. occicy 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 woman ol
apparently forty years, with a face
powdered and painted in the most un'
blushing manner, with thin grey hail
crimped over wrinkled forehead in a
sickening affectation of youthfulness.
and with a diminutive gaily trimmed
bonnet perched thereon, with an af
fected, mincing gait, and a simpering
smile.
'This is my wife Harvey repeated
'have you no welcome for her?'
The bride Uttered.
'Mebbe they think I amt goot
enough for 'em, dear?' she observed
tartly.
Impossible, my pet,' Harvey re
sponded, and patted her falsely-bloom
ing cheek affectionately; besides, il
you were but a shadow caricatur'
of your own beautiful self, they woult
not have been surprised. They were
prepared for the worst.
He looked at his Mortified relative
meaningly.
The truth of his words flashed owe
them.
Yes, they had all said repeatedly
that 'it could not be worse But thi
wretched, wrinkled, bedizened creatur
had they dreamed of this?
Harvey watched them with an undis
turbed smile-his father, turning ava
at last, and rubbing his forehead wit
his handkerchief weakly; Mrs. Seele
gazing at her daughter-in-law with
dreadful fascination, and the girls sink
ing into the chairs in dismayed silence
well, mother said Harvey lightly
sof course a new addition to the famil
is an object of interest; but don't fol
get that l have an appetite, and gettin
married has rather improved it. TAX
off your bonnet, my own. Here
Kitty
Kitty came forward with set-fac
and tightly closed lips, to receive tn
marvellous combination of beads an
silk flowers held out to her with a di'
gusting air of sprightliness. She W;
afraid to trust herself to speak.
Poor Mrs. Seeley, sick at heart, ha
made her way to the bell and rang i
and dinner came down presently.
Turtle soup!' the bride observed
looking around the table with girls
smile; 'ain't nothing 1 admire so
Just pass that celery, father-in-lav
Delicious amt it, darling?'
Extremely, my dear said the bride
groom complacently.
Ignorant and vulgar! What dreadfl
thing would they discover next?
1t was an evening they never forgo
The unfortunate parents sat with pa
faces and unsteady hands, staring int
their empty plates, or looking at eac
other with fresh horror at each simpe
ing, senseless, ungrammatical remal
of their terrible daughter-in-law.
IL