The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-07-08


common-sense, if she hadn't seen her.
Then she referred to my getting mar
ried again.
Suppose, said she, ''you pretend
for week or SO that you are married,
and see how it goes
''An imitation wife," said I.
''Why not?' said she. 81 will write
the name of young lady on 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 cardp' said I.
''Never mind" said she. II will
write my preference, and neither of us
will breathe word about this to a
living SOUL"
We agreed on this. Mother wrote
the name on the card and sealed it in
the envelope. l knew it was Vene
Wright's s name, so decided to imagine
that Vene was there in person, and so
we started on the week. Monday night
! came. That was the night of the
Bachelors German, but I staid at
/ home and talked to mother. Then
played eucher with her for a
while, and we managed to have very
enjoyable evening. Next morning
mother met me at tho table with smiles,
and about the best breakfast I had
eaten in long while.
| stYoY, x,,ucf I'M n,no fhof vo,,r uyifa
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
/ happened to think of my imitation
wife at home, and walked to the rear
of the car.
married men have no business
talking to young ladies" said to my
self.
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 a note from her,
which mother took the liberty
of opening, as she thought
l would not care, and she
felt like representing my wife in the
desk. 1t was a tender missive, and
somewhat surprised me when saw it.
But what could do Married men
have no business getting tender notes
from young ladies. Inasmuch as had
contracted to carry out mothers plan
for two weeks, l left the note for
mother to answer. She is very
truthful woman, but in answering the
nete she prevaricated. She said that
was very sick, and as natural conse-
quence Vene called that afternoon to
see me, but / 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 fer fear Vene
might catch us. 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 of my society
friends came around, among them Miss
Beaufort
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.
HE is much BETTER said mother,
"but / do not think he will go out fol
several weeks. I think shall keep him
at home"
Il am so glad" said Miss Beaufort
..not that you are going to keep him al
home, but that he is not going out sc
much. | am getting SO | fairly detest
society"
Here was q 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 hel
mother, and this mother did. Mean
while was staying home every even
ing and was getting pretty tired OF il
| as the two weeks were drawing to. .
close.
..Don't you think man ought to taxi
his wife out once in awhilep" said tx
mother.
"Why notp'' said she.
ssThen I'll take her to the theater to
night" So bought a couple of re
served seats in the parquet for Satur
day night, and mother, who repre-
sented my wife, went with me.
We had hardly taken our seats befor'
/ noticed that they were adjoining thos'
of Miss Beaufort and her mother. M,
mother was highly pleased when w
changed seats SO that sat by Miss Beau
fort and my mother sat by her. Wewen
home together that night and laughe,
and talked a good deal. I thinl
mother told Mrs. Beaufort what w
had been doing, but did not hear It.
knew that several days later, after m.
two weeks of married life were over,
went to call on Miss Beaufort We hat
pleasant time together, and just as
was about to leave, the old lady came in
II forgot to ask yen, Mr.. Silver
what you thought of married lifeP" saic
she.
Il Miss Beaufort looked Mortified. but
laughed. s.
Mother has been telling on me, ha
/ shep" said I.
ssCha hos ~ ooi1 che