The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-03-02
MY WIFE'S NEW FRIEND

Mrs. Zones has quite hahit of cul
tivating new friendships, which have
every appearance OF blooming eternally
but which soon wither in the world:
cold blasts. | used to think this char
acteristic of school girls, who swea
immortal fidelity in letters crossed ant
recrossed, but forget each other as soor
as they have caught lover.
My wife's last acquisition in the way
OF bosom friend is Mrs. MortimeI
Mowbray, with whom she became &C
quainted last sumner, while we were
boarding out of town. Mrs. Mortlmel
Mowbray had her carriage with her
and created quite sensation-in fact
every lady in the house was eager tc
become her confdante but the anna.
BILE department of Mrs. Jones combined
| doubt not, with her intellectual &C.
cOmplshmentS, rendered her the favor.
tie, and she, it was, who daily occupied
the spare seat in the coach, and had
the honor of advising Mrs. Mortimer
Mowbray in those thousand grave per-
plexities under which women suffer.
We returned to the city after the
Mowbrays, but my wife, though very
1rm on questions OF etiquette, waived
her privileges on this occasion and
made the first call. She was graclously
received, and came home in high spirits
All that evening she could do nothing
but talk of Mrs. Mortimer Mowbray
"Such an elegant establishment" she
said. "a footman, with the manners
of a prince, waited at the door. The
drawing-room was the perfection Of
luxury and taste. Mrs. Mowbray had
on such sweet cap, and altogether
looked so ladylike. Her manners were,
indeed, most aristocratic, just what
those of countess are supposed TO be. u
In few days, Mrs. Mortimer Now,
bray returned my wife's call, coming in
a shining new carriage, and with rev
span of horses. Her equipage created
quite a sensation in our street.
Mrs. Jones, soon after this, began to
act as if brooding over some vast de,
sign, which not being matured, she
deemed ii wisest to be silent respecting
At last the mighty secret was broached
81 was thinking, Jones" she said one
night, Just as | was composing myself
to sleep on my pillow, THAT we ought
to give party. Not regular ball, in,
deed, bat a select entertainment, where
a few congenidl minds may be brought
together. | should like to introduce
my dear MRS. Mcwbray to some of the
choicest of our set
Now, | detest parties, small or large
but, as the dellcacy of my wife's ner-
yes does not allow of her beins
thwarted, | made no Objection to the
proposal, though l sighed TO myself.
"Of course, my dear" | said. "You
know best"
"SVell, about thirty" continued my
wife, warming with the subject. "There',
Mrs. Wharton, and Mrs. Horace Shinn
and Mrs. Price, and the Misses Ire.
lawney," and thus the dear creature
ran on until she lad me ntioned abou
forty names, and | saw that her "selec
party OF congenial souls" was going tc
be, after all, crowded rout.
"You have forgotten the two Misse,
Howell" | said at last, when my wife
stopped for want of breath.
The two Misses Howell were anna
Bile, intellectual and pretty girls, in whom
took particular interest, because theil
fatherhadoncebeenan extensive shippinE
merchant, but having become reduced
and having died in bankrupt, the sister:
were obliged to earn a living by stand
ing in store. They had numerous ricf
relations on which they might have bill
leted themselves, but with spirit of pro
perindependence they preferred to worl
for their maintenance, instead of eatlng
the bread OF charity. | rad long nour
iShed romantic idea of seeing then
married well, and had consequently
made it a point always To invite then
to our parties, to praise them highly t(
the young gentlemen there, and il
every other indirect way to assist il
realizing my pet scheme.
My wife, heretofore, had seconded
me in my benevolent plan, but on tn
present 0 casion she heoitated to reply
and | knew at once there was some
thing the matter.
"Ahem p she SAID at last, Cledriu!
her throat.
"Ahem! The Misses Howels ar
very nice girls, to be sure-that is, Ii
their p'ace-but as this is 10 be a selec
party, and as | have already mentioned
rather too many, and as Mrs. Mowbra,
may not want to meet all sorts of peo
pie, and as"
"Slop, my DEAR" said |, with sigh
for saw that my favorites were not t
be invited, "you have given reason
enough. 1t is great pity though.
| And sighed again. sigh eloquent c
passive resignation.
My vile heard my sighs, and he
tender heart was touched. she pause,
moment in embarrassment, and, per
haps, even revolved the idea of yieldln
to my wishes but in the end she raise
herself on her elbow and said: