Daily Republican., 1886-07-12

never mluQ, Sdlu buc' Will
write my preference, and neither Of US
will breathe a word about this to liv-
ing SOUL"
We agreed on this. Mother wrote
the name on card and sealed it in an
envelope. / knew it was Vene Wrights
name, so | decided to imagine that
Vene was there in person, and 80 wei
started out the week.
Monday night came. That was the
night of the Bachelors German, but |
staid at home and talked to mother.
Then | played euchre with her Tor a.
while, and we managed to have very
enjoyable evening.
Next morning mother met me at the
table with smiles, and about thu best
breakfast had eaten in long while.
"You must imagine that your wife
saw to this breakfast" she whispered.
Going up on the street car that morn
ing, who should get on but Miss Beau
fort. / bowed to her gracefully, de-
posted her fare in the nickel box, and
was abou! to sit down by her when l
happened to think of my imitation wife
at home, and walked to the rear of the
car.
"Married men have no business
talking TO the young ladies'" said | to
myself.
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 / would not care,
and she felt like representing my wife
in the desk. 1t was tender missive,
and somewhat surprised me when |
saw it. But what could l do9 Married
men have no business getting tender
notes from young ladies Inasmuch as
/ h ad contracted to carry out mother
plan for two weeks, l left the note FOL
mother to answer. She is very
. truthful woman, but in answering the
note she prevarcated.
I She said that / was very sick, ant
as natural consequence Vene callec
that afternoon to see me, but | was W
town and mother had to invent anothe
story. Then mother had to come al
the way up town so as to keep mi
from coming down town my usua
way for fear Vene might catch me.
l laughed good deal at mother, ant
Vene did not find us out, but the SO
ciety reporter of the paper met her; sh
told him | was sick and the next da,
all of my society friends came around
among them Miss Beaufort.
4 Mother met her rather coldly, bu
invited her to stay awhile.
4 II suppose Mr. Silver is almost wor
out with so much going out" said tn
young lady.
= ''He is much better" said mother
shut do not think he will go out fo
several weeks. ] think l shall kee
him at home"
4 81 am so glad" said Miss Beaufort
mot that you are going to keep hill
!. at home, but that he is not going OF
so much. am getting so / fairly d.
, test society,""
Here was a woman who had m
: mothers views, and they both, Their
upon, sat down and had a contider
) tial talk, and pleased each otht
nightly.
e Then she asked mother to call G
her mother, and this mother did.
:, Meanwhile / was staying hon
every evening, and getting pref
] tired of it as the two weeks we
! drawing to close
= "Don't you think man ought
/ take his wife out once in while
2 said / 10 mother.
S "Why not?" said she.
C "Then I'll take her to the theat
tonight" So l bought couple
4 reserved seats in the parquet tor 81
n urday night, and mother, who repr
d scented my wife, went with me.
We had hardly taken our seats b
: fore noticed that they were adjoi
= lug those of Miss Beaufort and h
= mother. My mother was high
d pleased when we changed seats so tn
l. | sat by Miss Beaufort, and my moth
sat by hers.
h We went home together that mig
d and laughed and talked good deal.
ell think mother told Mrs Besufo
what we had been doing, but | d
d not hear it. | know that sever
o days later, after my two weeks
IS married lite were over, | went to CT
c on Miss Beaufort. We had pleasa
time together, and just as was abo
u to leave, the old lady came in,
}, II forgot to ask you, Mr.. Silv'
IT what you thought of married lite2" 50
she.
Miss Beaufort looked Mortified, L
is l laughed.
1t "Mother has been telling on me, L
o she?" said |.
"She has," said she.
=. "Well," said |, "during the t.
IS weeks | was married, | read TIL
d good books, gained four pounds
t. weight, and saved eighteen dollars a
a forty cents, besides paying my mott
my wife's board and a ticket to t
], theatre
10 And who were you married to
asked Mrs. Beaufort.
u II forgot to look, "said |. l hurri
II home to see who my wife had bee
The envelope was just as placed it
It my desk drawer.
l tore it open ard there was
n name of Miss Beaufort.
n "Well," said |, ''mother made b
an imitation wife, now l will try
y make her real one
k And SO did.