Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-08-03
9ai11R eagle
NY IMITATION WIFE.

"Tom, l wish you would get married" she
said, with troubled face l believe you
would stay at home soma"
well, l am awful tired, mother, and
completely worn out"
Then why don't you quit it!"
BEST reason in the world, mother. am
neither engaged nor in love, but I'm willing
to be-"
It was getting late, so I started after this
but the look ON mothers ia @ set me tc
thinking.
My mother is the best woman in the
world, even if do say it myself, and felt
worried about Der.
She was right / was out nearly every
evening. This evening at reception, next
time ball, then.a theatre party, and so on.
VI course could afford it, for my salary as
cashier at Harris was liberal one
But
! WASH t saving q cent and my own home
folks never saw me except at the table. Even
poor, old, patient mother was complaining
But was having lots of fun There was
that Beaufort girl She was tine one
Could dance any kind, talk about anything
you wanted, and make you have the finest
time in tie world Then there was Vene
Wright She would take in the base ball
with fellow, go rowing, skating, anything
for fun
Then Vene had money. That was an i'm
portant item
Why shouldn't tackle Miss Vene on the
subject OF matrimony.
Thomas, old son." said / to myself,
"Vene is the one"
But Nene, somehow or other, did not
exactly suit the case, and my mind reverted
- ,,rf
pretty, sly fish and suited better, but knew
nothing about her financial standing This
was an important matter to me in those
days
Meanwhile the coupe had neared Miss
BeaufortS l had never been there before
and to my surprise found it to be very
unpretentlous house.
confess was disappointed I expected
to drive up to an elegant mansion, be
ushered into a fine reception room with
servants in livery, and there await the
coming of Miss Beaufort
Then expected to make bold dash for
Miss Beaufort's heart-propose, and possibly
be accepted or declined by the time the
party was over. But not So
A little lady with gray hair opened the
door. and she was introduced to me by Miss
Beaufort mamma Miss Beaufort was
ready and waiting, SO we walked out to the
coupe
"ME Silver" said she, "don't you think
there is great amount of snobbery in So
ciety, and lots OF downright foolishness.n
"Well yes, said !.
"For Instance" said She here is an ele-
CANT coupe that you have brought for me-
and yet the party is only two blocks away
This certainly was very refreshing. |
had actually squandered five dollars to
have this coupe for the evening, and Sue
did not even so much notice IT. | know
Vene would have enjoyed ride in it.
"Mr. Silver, said she to Inc again, "this
is the last party / am going to this winter"
"Well, whys7 said l. Aren't you going
to take in the German club bail and the
Others"
"Ao," said she. Mamma hasn't the
money; she can't afford it,"
"Mr. Silver she continued "can YOU af-
ford to spend SO much money on society."
l looked at her. There was honesty
fairly shining out of her pretty black eyes,
even il she wasn't very polite. so | ans
wered her honestly.
mo, Miss Beaufort | cannot | haven't
saved cent this winter, and | get a big
salary, too
Well said she, Il have met you out so
frequently, | feel quite well acquainted
with yon, and L expect l have been little
tmpolite
NO" said I. Il am glad that you take
that mucn interest in me-
Then We changed the subjec / had a
:piendii time at the party, and enjoyed
sS1iss Beaatorts company very muc b 1
found her Ieyel-headed and bright if she
was too frank.
Next day told mother about it. She
said that she admired Miss Beaufort for her
common-sense, if she hadn't seen her.
Then she referred to my getting married
again.
Suppose" said she, you pretend for
week or so that you are married, and see
how it goes
"An imitation wife" said L.
"Why not" said she IL will write tho
name of young lady on a card, seal it in
an envelope, and you can lock it in your
desk. Then let US suppose that you are
married to her say for two weeks During
that time want you to act just as if the
lady were here in person, and your law
fully welded wife.
"Whose name are you going to write Oh
the carr" said l.
preference, and neither of us will breath a
word about this to a living SOUL
We agreed on this Mother wrote the |
name OH the card and sealed it in the envel- |
opa knew it was Nene Wright's name,
so decided to imagine that Vene was there
In person, and so We started out the week
Monday night came That was the |
night OF the bachelors german but |
staid at home and talked to mother. |
Theu l played euchre with her for .
while, and We managed to have a very en-
joyable evening.
Next morning mother met me at the table |
nth smiles, and about the best breakfast |
bad eaten in a long while.
You must imagine that your wife saw to |
this breakfast, she whispered.
Going up on the street car that morning,
who should get on but Miss beaufort |
bowed to her gracefully, deposited her fare /
In the nickel box. and was about to sit down
by her when l happened to think of my
imitation wife at home, and walked to the
rear Of the car.
Married men have no business talking to |
The young ladies" said to myself
Miss Beaufort looked at me rather uueerly,
but said nothing, and l thought the car
never would get up town
Thursday was my evening to call on Vene.
md forgot to send her an excuse Friday.
(nme . note from her, which mother took
me liberty of opening, as she thought |
would not care, and she felt like represent +
Ing my wife in the desk 1t was a tender
missive, and somewhat surprised me
when was it But what could |
40 Married men have no bust
49, getting tender notes from young
lnaaiea Inasmuch as l had contracted TO
parry out mothers plan for two weeks,
~ tn i.o.e foe mother to answer She is
vury tFuthful woman, but in answering
- no9s she prevaricated
6hs aid that l was very sick, and as
latural conseluence Nene called that after
,ooa TO eee me- but was up town and
laoSa>nP had To invent another story Then