The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-05
Gtp Grtslissrre4
once, Nos, rs and ~ Eourteenth street..
MY IMITATION WIFE.

4Vn
ayes, ma'am. We're hurrying to &c
through. Coin to take Miss Beaufort to
night, and then I'm done with the Joll,
Clubs parties"
Mother, somehow or other, did potsesu
TO thiAk very much OF what l said.
"TOm, I wish You would get married,
she said, with a troubled face. ~ be
lieye you would stay at home some"
"Wsll, l am awful tired, mother, AM
completely worn out"
"Then why don't you quit itP"
BEST reasons in the world, mother.
am neither engaged or in love, but In
willing to be-"
1t was getting late, so I started after this
but the look on mothers face set me II
thinking,
My mother is the best women in thu
world, even il l do say 1t myself, and
felt worried about her.
She was right. l was out nearly every
evening, This evening at q reception, mex
time at q ball, then q theateF party and &C
on, OF course l could afford 1t, for my
salary as cashier at Harris was a liberia
ons,
But
l wasn't saving q cent, and my owr
home folks never saw me except at the
table. Even poor, old, patient mother wa
complaining,
But | was having lots O. fun. There
was that Beaufort girl. She was a fine ono,
Gould dance any kind, talk about any,
thing you wanted, and make you bave The
finest time in the world. Then there wa
Vene Wright, She would take In the base
ball with q fellow, go rowing, skating, any,
thing for fun.
Then vens had money. That was an
important item.
Why shouldn't l tackle Miss Vene on
the subject OF matrimony.
"Thomas, old son" said I to myself,
"Vene is the one."
But Vene, somehow or other, did not
exactly suit the case, and my mind re.
verted to Miss Beaufort. Miss Beaufort
was smart, pretty, stylish and suited bet.
ter, but l knew nothing about her fnan.
Cial standing. This was an important
matter to me in those days.
Meanwhile the coupe had reached Miss
Beaufort's. l had never been there be.
fore, and to my surprise found II to be q
very unpretentlous house.
1confess | was disappointed. Iexpect.
ed 10 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 l expected to make a bold dash
for Miss Beaufort's heart-propose, and
possibly be accepted or declined by the
time the party was over. But not 80.
A little lady with gray hair opened the
door, and she was introduced to me by
Miss Beaufort as mamma. Miss Beaufort
was ready and waiting, 30 we walked out
to the coupe.
"Mr. Silver" said she, don't you think
there Is q great amount OF Enobbery in
society, and lotsofdownrlght foolishness ~
swell, yes" said L,
"For instance" said she, "here Is an
elegant coupe that you have brought for
me, and yet the party Is only two blocks
away"
This certainly. was very refreshing. l
had actually squandered fvo dollars to
have this coupe for the evening, and she
did not ever so muchFas notice 1t. / know
Vene would have enjoyed q ride In 1t.
"Mr. Silver" said she 10 me again "this
is the last party am going to this win.
ter"
"Well, whyP /" said /. AREN'T you 90.
ing to take me In the German Club ball
and the othersP"
mo" she said. mamma hasn't the
money she can't afford It,"
"Mr. Silver" she continued, "can
you afford to spead 30 much money on
society2"
/ looked at her. There was honesty
fairly shining out Of her pretty black
eyes, even II she wasn't very polite. So !
answered her honestly. e,
mo, Miss Beaufort, | can mott / haven't
saved q cent this winter, and l get q big
salary, too"
"Well," said she, II have met you oul
80 frequently, l feel quite we'll acquainted
impoiite."
mo" said l. II am glad that you take
that much interest in me-"
Then we changed the subject. Ihad 4
splendid time at the party and enjoyed
Miss Beaufort's company very much. ]
found her level.headed and bright, II she
was too frank.
Next day l told mother about It. She
said that she admired Miss Beaufort for
her common sense, II she hadn't seen her.
Then she referred to my getting married
again.
Suppose" said she, "you pretend for q
week or 30 that you are married, and see
how II goes"
Dan Imitation WIFE" said 1.
"Why not2" said she. II will write
the name Of q young lady on o card, seal
1t in an envelope, and you can lock II II
your desk. Then let US suppose that you
are married TO her say for two weeks
During that time | want you To act Just a
II the lady were here Ia person, and your
lawfully welded wife,"
"Whose name are you going To write OF
the Card2" said l.
"Nevsr mind" said she. II will write
my preference, and neither OF Us will
breathe word aboutthis to q living SOUL
We agreed on this. Mother wrote the
name on a card and sealed 1t in the en-
velope. 1knewit was Vene Wfightsname
90 1 decided to imagine that vene wa
there in person, and 80 we started out tht
week.
Monday night came. That was th,
night OF the Bachelors German, but
Btald at home and talked 10 mother. Tibet
l played euChrs with her for q while ant
we managed 10 have q very enjoyable
evening.
Next morning mother met me at III
table with smiles, and about the bes
breakfast l had eaten in q long while.
"You must imagine that your wife SAY
10 this breakfast she whispered.
Going up on the street car that morn
ing, who should get on but Miss Beaufort
| bowed 10 her gracefully, deposited he
fare In the nickel box, and was about Il
cit down by her when | happened 10 thinl
Of my imitation wife al home, and walket
10 the rear Of the car.
married men have no business tAlkinI
10 the young ladies', said 1 TO myself.
Miss Beaufort LOOKED at me rattle
queerly, but said nothing, and l though
/ ,ba nas rnuld nhvhf eat mn fnWn,