The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-10
MY IMITATION WIFE.
a Story, With a Moral, for Soci-
ETY. Young Men.

in.
Going out, are you, Tom?" said she.
Eyes, ma am"
"Where, to another party?"
ayes, ma am"
THAT makes three this week, doesn't
it, Tom?"
Eyes, ma am. We're hurrying to
get through. Coin to take Miss Beau.
fort tonight, and then I'm done with
The Jolly Clubs parties"
Mother, somehow or other, did not
seem to think very much of what said.
Tom, l wish you would get mar
ried," she said, with a troubled face
al believe you would stay at home
some
well, 1 am awful tired, mother,
and completely worn out
''Then why don YOU quit it?''
BEST reason in the world, mother
] am neither engaged nor in love, but
I'm willing to lie.
1t was getting late, so / started after
this, but the look on mothers face set
me to thinking. My mother is the best
woman in the world, even if | do say
it myself, and | felt worried about her.
She was right. / was out nearly every
evening. This evening at a reception,
next time a ball, then thcater party
and so on. OF course | could afford it.
for my salary rs cashier at Hart was
Il liberal one. But wasn't saving
a cent, and any own home folks never
If l,, Al
old, patient mother was complaining.
But | was having lots of fun. There
was that Beaufort girl. She was a fine
one. Could dance any kind. talk about
amy thing you wanted and make you
have the finest time in the world. Then
there was Ncne Wright. She would
take in the baseball with Il fellow. 90
rowing, skating, any thing for fun.
Then Ncne had money. That was an
important item.
Why shouldn't [ tackle Miss Vene
on the subject of matrimony.
Thomas, old son" said to myself.
''Nene is the one
But Nene. somehow or other, did not
exactly suit the case. and my mind re-
yerted To Miss Beaufort. Miss Beau
fort was smart. pretty, stylish 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
Beaufort 5. had never been there be-
fore. and to my surprise found it to be
Il very unpretentiOus house. | confess
l was disappointed. | expected to
drive up to an elegant mansion. be
ushcred into fine receptiOn-rOOm with
servants in livery, and there await the
coming of Miss Beaufort. Then | ex-
pected to make a bold dash for Miss
Beaufort heart-prOposc, and posi-
bly, 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 as mamma. Miss |
Beaufort was ready and waiting, so we /
walked out to the coupe.
"Mr. Silver" said she, don't YOU |
think there is a great amount of snob-
berry in society, and lots of downright !
foolishness?'
We'll, yes" said |.
For instance" said she, "here is an |
elegant coupe thatyou have brought for
me, and yet the party is only two blocks
AWAY"
This certainly was very refreshing. !
l had actually squandered five dollars
to have this coupe for the evening. and !
she did not even so much as notice it.
/ know Vene would have enjoyed ride i
in it.
MIR. Silver" said she to me again. !
''this is the last party | am going TO
this winter
well. why?" said I. Aren't you
going to take in the German Club ball
and the others?''
No" said she. Mamma hasn't
the money; she can't afford it
MIR Silver" she continued. ''can
you afford to spend so much money on
society?"
l looked at her. There was honesty
fairly shining out of her pretty black
eyes. even if she wasn't very polite.
SO / answered her honestly.
No. Miss Beaufort. l can not. l
haven't saved cent this winter, and I
get big salary, too"
''Well, said she, Il have met YOU
out so frequently. feel quite well ac-
quainted with you. and l expect have
been little impolite.
No said |. Il am glad that you
take that much interest in me-
Then we changed the subject. Ihad
a splendid time at the party and en-
joyed Miss Beaufort'S company very
much. | found her level-headed and
bright if she was too frank. Next day
l told mother about it. She said that
she admired Miss Beaufort for her
common-senSe, if she hadn' seen her.
Then she referred to my getting mar
ried again. |;
Suppose. said she, 'you pretend
for a week or so that you are married,
and see how it goes. -
IAN imitation wife" said |.
.'Why not?" said She Il will write
the name of Il 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 l want you
to act just as if the lady were here in
person and your lawfully-wedded
wife
Whose name are you going to write
on the card?" said l.
Never mind" said she. 81 will
write my preference, and neither of us
will breathe a word about this to a
living SOUL. u