Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-11
Uncle Archie's Wife.
CHAPTER III.-(CoNTINUEp.)

CHAPTER III.-(CoNTINUED.)
''Dear Mrs. Gerard, it is such a
pleasure to see you out again." said
Mrs. Marshall fussily. "Even Irene
and the Coctor could hardly persuade
us you were not really i'll when you
shut yourself up this lovely weather."
land even refused to SEQ your
friends put in Clarissa Greene, with
a girlish laugh shaking her flaxen
curls.
Mrs. knyvett, conscious that her
last speech had been cruelty audible,
was for the moment reduced to silence;
but she could always trust the carry
ing on of any contest she was engaged
in TO this her bosom friend.
Mother smiled, paid great attention
to the measurement of her sugar and
cream, then turned with polite inter-
est to Miss Greene.
Il beg your pardon! You were say
ing-Oh, yes-it is quite delightful
to get out 20 see my friends again!
But am afraid | should hardly have
found courage to venture so far to-day
but for the fact that | must go much
further tomorrow.
"You mean to the Hall?" queried
Mrs. Marshall, fixing her good-natur-
eyes with vivid interest upon my
mothers face.
| think Mrs. Marshall was one of
the few people in Ludleigh who did
not hope for an exciting feud between
the Dover House and the Hall.
40 tho Ha1 cartaipl,- I chn,11
have preferred going to the station as
compliment TO my young sister-in-
law; but. with my cold and the uncer-
tainty of trains, Irene thinks it better
to wait at the Hall"
Irene, amazed at hearing her
opinion glibly quoted on a subject she
had never discussed, wisely smiled
acquiesence. | calmly left the matter
from that moment in my mothers
hands; since she had begun to fight
the battle in such spirited fashion,
there was no need for me TO interfere.
.sOh, much better-much better!'
agreed all the company present in
chorus, and Mrs. Marshall put in as
solo
1--WE are so anxious to hear about
the new Mrs. Gerrard She ought to
BE perfection, you know, being bride
of a man who has been a bachelor for
so long. You are not offended Mrs
Gerard? | am sure no one wishes
the dear Squire all happiness more
sincerely than /; but one must have
ones little joke-he-he!-and sixty
five is little late to marry, is it not?"
Better late than never!" Mrs.
Knyvett chimed in and Clarissa
Greene looked full approval of a senti-
ment she did not choose TO echo with
her lips. II am quite convinced Mrs.
Archibald will be great addition to
Ludleigh society. The Squire has in
all things such excellent taste!"
LAS he showed in his first choice, "
observed Clarissa, with a tittering
smile; she could not restrain the nat
ural impulse that prompted her to say
spiteful thing about the man who,
having been free to choose and ex-
posed to the full power of her fascina-
tions for more years than she cared TO
count, had yet gone far afield to find a
wife.
But, IL Clarissa Greene was spiteful,
mother for once was more spiteful
still. She put down her cup. turned
her eyes innocently on the old maid s
face, and murmured in her most dull
Get tones
..Oh. that sad old story! But even
there l believe his taste was unim-
peaehablc. OF course. never saw
Miss Maxwell; but nv husband al
ways spoke of her az singularly
beautiful girl. Do you remember her,
Miss Greenep"
Even / felt the cruelty of this.
Clarissa Greene owned 10 thirty at the
very most, and PROBABLY was not quite
ten years more; whereas uncle Archie's
jilting had occurred fully forty years
ago. Miss Greene's face grew scarlet,
her eyes filled with angry tears, and
she tossed her head IA she answered.
with most hysterical and unmirthful
laugh -
'.Really, Mrs. Gerard. you must be
dreaming! How can / possibly re-
member things that took place ages
before was born?"
Mother could only murmur n slight
apology, which did nothing to heal
the smarting wound; and soon after
she and / rose to go, leaving as
rather ruefully felt, our characters
behind us.
"Well," mother asked with mali
cious twinkle in her eyes. ibid rise
to the occasion and assert myself suffi-
GENTLY to-day. IreneP"
could hardly help laughing &C her