Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-08-19

SuOTJly.
"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
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, lit could not be
worse!' and he was thoughtful all the
way back to the city.
The Scelys were in state of sub
dued excitement.
Harvey's wedding tour was COM
pleted; and they had received tcle-
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. Secly wandered from
one end of it to tho other nervously.
Her husband sat under the chande-
lier with his evening paper, but he was
not reading it; Kitty and Margery flut-
tered about uncasily, watching through
tho window for the return of the car
riage from the station.
81 hope" said Margcry, with a
nervous attempt at cheerfulness, that
she will be barely dcccnt-present-
able. 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. Sccly,
dsmally.
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
dropped his paper and rose, and Mrs.
Seely advanced toward the open hall
door with dignity.
1t opened wide before she reached it,
and Harvey entered, his face suffused
genial, blssful 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
Whatp
Mr.. Sccly gazed at the apparition
with staring eyes; Mrs. Seely dropped
the hand she had started to hold out,
with her face growing ashy, and Kitty
and Margery gasped.
For what they saw was woman of
apparently forty years, with face
powdered and painted in the most I'M
blushing manner, with thin gray hair
crimped over wrinklcd forehead in a
sickening affcctation of youthfulness,
and with a diminutive, galy-trimmcd
bonnet perched thereon; with an
affected, mincing gait and simpering
smile.
This is my wife," Harvey repeated;
shave you no welcome for herp"
The bride Uttered.
"Mebby they think / amt good
enough for 'em, dear" she observed
tartly.
Impossible, my pet" Harvey re-
spondcd, and pattcd her falsely bloom
ing cheek sffectionatcly; "besides, il
a
of your beautiful self-they would not
have been surprised. They were
prepared for the worst"
He looked at his Mortified relatives
meaningly.
The truth of his words flashed over
them.
Yes, they all had said repeatedly
that lit could not be worse" But
this wretched, wrinkled, bedizened
creature-had they dreamed OF thisp
Harvey watched them with an I'M
disturbed smile-his father. turning
away at last, and rubbing his fore
head with his handkerchief weakly;
Mrs Sccly, gazing at her daughtcr-in-
law with dreadful fascination, and
the girls. sinking into chairs in dis
mayed silence.
"Well, mother" said Harvey, lightly,
"of course new addition to the fam
lily is an object of interest; but don't
forget that l have an appetite, and get
ting married has rather improved it.
Take of your bonnet, my own. Here,
Kittyr'
Kitty came forward with n set face
and tightly claspcd lips to receive the
marvellous combination of beads and
silk flowers held out to her with dis
gushing air of sprightliness. She was
afraid to trust herself to speak.
Poor Mrs. Sccly, sick at heart, had
made hcr way to the bell and rang it,
and dinner being ready they came down
presently.
Turtle soupr' the bride observed,
looking round the table with a girlish
smile; "ain't nothing admire sol
just pass that celery, father-is law.
Delicious! ANTI IL, darlingP"
Extremely, my dear" said the
bridegroom, complaccntly.
Ignorant and vulgar! What dread
full thing would they discover ncxtP
1t was an evening they never forgot.
Tho unfortunate parents sat with pale
faces and unsteady hands staring Into
thor plates, or looking at each other