Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-06-23
quainted with you, and I expect I
have been g. little unnOIita"

take that much interest in me-"
Then we changed the subject. ] had
a splendid time at the party, and en-
loved Miss Beaufort's company very
much. / found her level-headed and
bright il she was too frank.
Next day I told mother about it.
She said that she admired Miss Beau
fort for her common sense, If she
hadn't seen her. Then she referred to
my getting married again.
Suppose" said she, "you pretend
for q week. or 50 that you are married,
and see how it goes"
can imitation wife," said I.
"Why not?" said she. l will write
the name of g. young lady on q card,
lock it In your desk. Then let us sup
pose that you are married to her, say
for two weeks. During that time l
want you to act just as if the lady
we're here in person and your lawfully
welded wife,"
"Whose name are you going to write
on the card ?" said 1.
"Never mind" said she. "I will
write my preference, and neither of us
will breathe g. word about this to q
living soul.
We agreed on this. Mother wrote
the name on q card and sealed it in
the envelope. I knew it was Vene
Wright's name, as decided to imagine
that Vene was there in person, and 80
we started out the week.
Monday night came. That was the
night of the bachelor german, but |
staid at home and talked to mother.
Then played euchre with her awhile,
and we managed to have very enjoy
able evening.
Next morning mother met me at the
table with smiles, and about the
best breakfast had eaten in long
time.
"You must imagine that your wife
saw to this breakfast" she whisper
ed.
Going up ION the street car that
morning, who should get on but Miss
Beaufort. bowed to her gracefully,
depositing her fare in the nickel box,
and was about to sit down by her
when l happened to think of my I'M
itation wife at home, and walked to
the rear of the car.
"Married men have no business
talking to the young ladies, said to
myself. E
Miss Beaufort looked at me rather
queerly, but said nothing, and /
thought the car never would get up
town.
Thursday was my evening to call on
Vene, and forgot to send her an ex-
cuse. Friday, came note from her,
which mother took the liberty of open
ing, as she thought I 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
rled men have no business getting ten
der notes from young ladies. mas
much as [ had contracted to carry
out mothers plan for two weeks, [
left the note for mother to answer.
She is a very truthful woman, but in
answering the note she prevaricated.
She said that | was very sick, and
as natural consequence Vene called
that afternoon to see me, but I was
up town and mother had to invent
another story. Then mother had to
come all the way up town so as to
keep me from coming down town my
usual way for fear Vere might catch
us.
laughed q good deal at mother, and
Vene did not find us out, but the So
ciety reporter Of the paper met her;
she told him was sick, and the next
day all Of my society friends came
around, among them Miss Beaufort.
Mother met her rather colby, but
invited her to stay awhile.
81 suppose Mr.. Silver is almost worn
out with so much going OUT" said the
young lady.
''He is much BETTER" said mother,
"but l do not think he will go out for
several weeks. | think I shall keep
him at home"
81 am so glad" said Miss Beaufort,
mot that you are going to keep him
at home, but that he is not going out
SO much. am getting so fairly de-
test society"
Here was a woman who had my
mothers views, and they both, there
upon, had a confidential talk, and
pleased each other nightly.
Then she asked mother to call on
her mother, and this mother did.
Meanwhile l was staying home every
evening, and was getting pretty tired
of it as the two weeks were drawing to
close.
Don't you think a man ought to
take his wife out once in a while?"
said to mother.
-''Why not?" said she.
"Then I'll take her to the theater
tonight" So bought couple of re-
served seats in the parquet for satur-
day night, and mother, who represent
ed my wife, went with me.
We had hardly taken our seats be-
fore I noticed that they were adjoining
those of Miss Beaufort and her moth
er. My mother was highly pleased
when we changed seats SO that sat
by Miss Beaufort, and my mother sat
by her.
We went home together that night
and laughed and talked a good deal.
l think mother told Mrs. Beaufort
what we had been doing but I did not
hear it. know that several days
4 1o+ ga 49, &. i