The Washington critic., 1885-10-01
WASHINGTON CRITIC, EVENING,

duced last year, and no one knows how
strictly ] have to economic in order to
make both ends meet And u strong
young woman like you ought not to sit
down on sicltly man with family,
like my husband because"
"Stop--oh-stopl" said Plume, lift
ing up her hand, as if to ward Off some
invisible terror Gle said ! was wei.
come. He told me
That's just like Abel ~ said Mrs.
Piercy, scornfully. He'd take i'm all
creation if he could. He never stops
TO think whether he can afford II or
not
81 am sorry that | intrudc," said
Plume, with dignity. at shall not be
for long, will look at the newspaper
at once"
eyes, that's deal the best plan,
assontcd Mrs. picrcy, ungraciously.
"Of course you won't mention our lit
tie chat to Abel lie might be vcXcd
and, after all, I'm only speaking for
your good"
Plume looked at her with an expires.
sion of face which somehow made
Mrs. Abel Picrcy feel rs if she were
shrinking up like withcrcd walnut
in lis shell.
eyes, know" said She. "But You
need not be afraid; am no talc.bcarcr
to make mischief in any ones family
Mrs. Picrcy felt very uncomfortable
after this little conversation was ended.
How she did look at met thought
she. But ! only spoke the truth after
all. We cant be burdcned with her
LOT AI.1 al Ia. ,,1,n.t,.
And no matter what she says | believe
she has been an actress No one but
an actress could ever put on such royal
ways as that -
Half an hour altcrward when the
bell rang and some one inquired for
Mrs. Oswald Picrcy, Mrs, Abel nodded
her head TO the cake she was taking
out Of the oven.
Company already" said she; "and
gentleman company, MS | livel Well, if
this is the way she intends to go on, the
sooner she suits herself with a situation
the better"
Mrs. Percy had been secretly
anxious for an opportunity of quarrel.
ing with her sistcr.iu-law Here it was
at last; and when the old gentleman
with the glossy broadcloth suit was
gone, she bounded into the parlor with
a RED spot ON either chcck.bone like
signals of war.
$50 you have been receiving com
pany, Mrs. OSWALD" said she.
eyes" Plume innocently answered.
Gentleman company, tool' cried
Mrs. Piercy.
at was Mr.. Van Ordcn, my hus-
band lawyer, explained Plume.
I'm, ! dare say! said Mrs. Picrcy.
"All that sounds very well, but | have
lhc character OF my mouse to look to,
and
'IIe is coming back with Il car
riage," hurricdly spoke Plume 81 am
to go to his wife's house at once. Mrs.
Van Ordcn is willing to give me the
shelter which my own relatives grudgc
mel"
Il wish her joy of her bargain, am
sure" said Mrs. Abel Piercy, with II
toss of the mountains of false hair that
crowned her head.
And so the two women parted, in no
| spirit of amity.
81 dare say she'll go straight to the
store" thought Mrs Abel, land in
vent pitiful story for my husband $
benefit. And Abel will make Il great
fuss-Abel was always soft about his
relatives-but | shan't mind it, al
ways have been mistress in my own
house, and | always intend to be, Os.
wald's widow or no Oswald widow. "
| Nevertheless, she could not help
feeling little apprehcnsivc when her
husband came in to tea. For when
Abel really was angry, his anger sig.
nilled something. But TO her surprise
he entered all smiles, and rubbing his
palms, gleGfully.
so Plume has gone said he.
YES, said Mrs. PicrCy, pretending
to be busy with knot in the second
child's shoe. "Shc has gone, but how
did you know it,
"Nan Orden stopped at the store to
tell me" answered Mr., Picrcy.
Strange, wasn't it, And quite rO-
mantle, too"
"What on earth is the man talking
about?" said Mrs. Abel Picrcy, aroused
at last into something like active inter.
w ny, ann rune lcll you III
seems that those last investments tnul