The Washington critic., 1886-07-12

at home, aud walked to the rear o.
the car.
Married men have no business
talking 10 young ladies'" said / to
myself.
Miss Beaufort looked at me rather
queerly, but said nothing, aud |
thought the car would never get up
town
Thursday was my evening TO call on
Nene, and forgot to send her an ex-
cuse. Friday, came note from her,
which mother took the liberty of open
ting, as she thought would not care,
and she felt like representing my wife
at the desk. 1t was tender missive
and somewhat surprised me when |
read 1t. But what could ] do? Mar.
ried men have no business getting ten.
der notes from young ladies. Inas.
much as | had contracted to carry out
mothers plan for two weeks, left the
note for mother to answer. She is q
very truthful woman, but in answering
the note she prevaricated
She said / was very sick, and as q
natural cause Vene called that after.
noon TO see me, but | was up town and
mother had TO invent another story.
| Then mother had to come all the way
up town to prevent me from coming
down my usual way for fear Vene
might catch us.
l laughed good deal at mother,
and Vene did not find us out, but the
society reporter of the paper met her
she told him | was sick, and the
next day all my society friends
came around. among them Miss Beau
| fort.
Mother met her rather coldly, but
invited her to stay awhile.
81 suppose Mr.. Silver is almost worn
out with so much going out?" said the
| young lady.
Gle is much better" said mother,
"but / don't think he will go out for
several weeks, / think | shall keep
him at home.
81 am so glad" said Miss Beaufort
"not that you are going to keep him at
home, but that he is not going out Sc
much. | am getting so fairly detes,
society"
Here was woman who had my mo.
ther's views, and they both there upon
had confidential talk, and pleased
each other nightly.
Then she asked mother to call on hcI
mother, which mother did.
Meanwhile was staying at home
every evening, and was getting pretty
| tired of IL as the two weeks were draw.
ing to close.
| Don't you think man ought tc
| take his wife out once in while p
said / to mother.
why not % said she.
'"Then III take her to the theatre to
night" So l bought couple of seats
in the parquet for Saturday night, ant
mother, who represented my wife
went with me.
We had hardly taken our seats be
fore / noticed that they were adjoining
those of Miss Beaufort and her mother
My mother was highly pleased and w
| changed seats so that | sat by Mis-
Beaufort and my mother sat by her.
We went home together that nigh
and laughed and talked good deal.
think mother told Mrs. Beaufor
what we had been doing, but l did no
hear it. l know that several day
later, after my two weeks of married
life were over, went to call on Mis-
Beaufort. We had pleasant time to
gether, and just as was about to leav,
the old lady came in.
IL forgot to ask you, Mr.. Silver, ,wha
you thought of married lifeY" said she
Miss Beaufort looked horrifed but
laughed.
Mother has been telling on me, ha
she?" said l.
"She has," said she.
"Well," said |, "during the twt
weeks | was married / read three gooC
books, gained four pounds in weight
and saved $3.50, besides paying mothe
my wife's board and ticket to th,
theatre"
"And who were you married to 2
asked Mrs. Beaufort.
II forgot to look" said |. ] hur
ried home to see who my wife haC
been. The envelope was just as
placed it in my desk drawer.
tore it open, and there was tn
name of Miss Beaufort.
"Well," said |, "mother made he
an imitation wife; now l will try ant
make her real one"
And so l did.-[Thomas II. Stark II
the Current