Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-06-28
BEHIND THE DOOR.
Mrs. Wards Discovery, and the
Lesson 1t Taught.

"AAo' w dTu OlSCOV0TN duQ Uil6
Lesson 1t Taught.
Mrs. Ward and Mrs. Birdseye were
friends--were, and are still despite a
little circumstance which threatened
a rupture between them. 1t hap
pened in this wise:
The two ladies boarded in the same
house, and occupied apartments on
the same foor-Mrs. Ward 'front.' Mrs.
Birdseye back. They We're as init
mate as sisters; ran into one another's s
rooms every hour in the day during
the absence of their husbands, and
went out constantly together; in short,
were so inseparable as to be jestingly
styled "The Siamese Twins " by
themselves and others. Mrs. Ward
didn't know how she could exist with
out her DEAR charming, lively Mrs.
Birdseye; and Mrs. Birdseye enthusi-
astically declared that there never was
such dear, good creature as her lit
tie, sweet, lovely, darling Mrs. Ward.
One morning Mrs Ward had occa-
sion to step into one of her closets
which had originally been designed as
a passage between the two rooms.
OF course, the disused door was tight
ly closed, and garments were hanging
over it; yet sounds were not yet quite
excluded, and, rs her neighbors on
the other side chanced to be speaking
in unusually incautious tones, it was
impossible for her to avoid hearing
something OF what was said. She had
her hand upon drawer to open it
when her attention was arrested, and
involuntarily, almost unconsciously,
she paused to listen.
Il can't imagine what you two can
have in common" Mr.. Brdseye was
saying. "Such a plain, quiet, almost
stupid little woman. You must have
gotten up your friendship on the old
principle-'the love of opposites.
"Oh, no, not stupid. Robert; you
would not say that il you knew her as
well as | do. But she is frightfully
shy by nature; and then, brought up
so in the country, what can you ex-
pectr'
Mrs. Ward fairly held her breath,
OF whom could they be talkingp
IL do wish she had a little more
taste in dress" came next "or that
she would wear her hair differently.
However,
Here few sentences were lost, as
the speaker seemed to be moving to
another part of the room; then, in the
masculine voice this time:
Yet you pretend to be so fond OF
her. my dear.h
80 | am really. But of course, ]
can see that she is not a beauty, and
has none of that air or manner which
you admire so much. One must be born
to that"
''As you were, NellieP"
"Of course, or l should never have
been your wife. "
Ward is making money like every
thing. they say" came again from MIR.
Birdseyc.
'What pity that his wife doesn't
know how to make n better use OF
itl"-with the little laugh which Mrs.
Ward had always thought so musical
before. ut ought to have fallen to
my lot instead of hers, do Think"
You ought to be thankful that you
have the art of making so much show
on so little"
80 | am. l would rather have my
gift rs cousin Alice calls it, than all
my poor little friends money, if l can
not have but one."
Mrs. Ward at length recollected that
she was doing a very dishonorable
thing in listening to conversation moi
intended for her ears. She stepped
back into her room and closed the door
noiselcssly. Her cheek was burning,
and her first feeling was one of extreme
modification and resentment.
80 that was what Mrs. Birdsey,
thought of her in her secret heart, wa.
itp and that was the way she talked O
her behind her back She guessed sh,
should just let Mrs Birdseye know
Here Mrs. Ward stopped and begal
TO reflect more calmly. After all ha,
her friend said any thing more thar
the truth She was not handsom,
woman, and she knew it; her glas
told her so every day. She was no
elegant, and nothing would ever max
her say so; she knew that too. Sh'
was shy. and her manners in the pres
ence of strangers were often con
strained and awkward. She had fel
hitters bitter modification many time
that it was so. but why should she fee
hurt that her friend had spoken o
what must be so apparent 1t was
little trying. but she ought not to in
dulge any hardness. and she would no
if she could help it