Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-01

Salu MIS-. SeelV anNlOuSly.
"Tbe family is quite respectable, -
her son responded quietly. Dora
mother is widow. She sews for a
lace-goods house, and Dora has been
assistant bookkeeper in our establish
ment; that is how met her."
Mrs. Seely groaned.
"A bookkeeper-a seamstressr she
calculated. ''Oh. Harvey, you could
not have done worsen'
"A penniless grip" said his father
solemnly; land after all we have
hoped for you! No; it could not be
worse"
"A common working-girl," said Kit
| ty in choking voice; land everybody
will know it! Oh. Harvey, it couldn't
be worse.
The young man looked from one to
another in astonished. hurt, and half
contemptuous silence.
Margery turned to him, with a gen
tie sympathy mingling with the disinay
in her face.
Perhaps" she said, hopefully; "per-
haps there is something to make up9
Perhaps she is wonderful beauty, or a
great genius, or somethingp"
Harvey gave her grateful smile.
II think her pretty, of course" he
said; ..but suppose that's because IN
fond of her. don't think she would
be called 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 girl!''
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 absurdr he said indignant
ly. ut is more than absurd; it is un-
| Just and narrow-minded. How sensi-
BILE - presumably sensible people, ?"
Harvey corrected rather bitterly, .'can
say, in regard to person they have
never seen, that it could not be worse,
is past my comprehension"
1--WE 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";
.'On 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.
Very 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,
he 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. 1T 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 tele-
gram that afternoon to the effect that
he would be ION hand tonight with
his new wife.
The dining-room 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. 81
II hope" said Margery with a ner-
vous attempt at tcheerfulness, 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. 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
tiers, Kitty and Margery."
And with 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 un-
manner, with thin grey hair
crimped over wrinkled forehead in a
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 re-
peated; ''have you no welcome for
her?'
The bride Uttered.
''Mebbe they think l amt good
enough for 'em. dear?" she observed
tartly.
Impossible, my pet" Harvey re-
'ponded. and patted her falsely bloom
ng cheek affectionately; "besides, if
you were but shadow caricature
If your own beautiful self, they would
,ot have been surprised. They were
for the worst.
He looked at his Mortified relatives