The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-07-04
CHAPTER VI.
NIIhF En- i.
OF all the notable things on earth.

On ITlenuly. anu even Intimate, Terms WIFI
Mrs. Colo..el DE Long, who had discovered
that which Mr.. Falconer had hoped she
would in his wife, qualities of more value
than mere external graces.
Mrs. Harry Dwight, who lived near, had
also become an informal visitor, and was
enthusiastic in her praises OF Mrs. Falconer.
Cards were out for q very select party to
which the Falconers were invited. and Isabel
and Mrs. Dwight were out shopping. III !
were You | should much prefer the un-
dressed kidd said Mrs. Dwight. lit is more
stylish
..Then of course / must submit 10 ii. even
though do not like 1t as well,' replied lisa
bel. laughing.
..Out OF fashion, out Of the world" smiled
Mrs. Dwight.
Even in so small a matter as gloves, /
think sometimes woman is perfect
martyr to fashion, A rustic OF silks ut
her side caused Isabel to look up from the
kids she WAS examining
Mrs. Hervey, . lady whom she had met
and liked particularly. stood beside her,
and cordially held out her hand. Another
lady stood by her side. whose face Isabel
did not notice rs she took Mrs. Hervey's
hand.
My dear Mrs. Falconer: so happy to
meet you,n cooed Mrs Hcrvey. "Allow me
to present to You my friend, Mrs Monteith,
of New York, Mrs. Falconer''
Mrs. Monteith's eyes had been liked on
Isabcrs face in cold stare OF recognition,
and. as Mrs. Hervey pronounced the name,
she looked for the first time into the cold
face, and caught the unwinking stare in its
perfection.
Every trace Of color left her face in her
indignation as she met the look. and yas
reminded by it Of the insults this woman
had delighted to heap upon her in the past,
but she controlled herself enough to &C.
knowledge the introduction by q coldly civil
bow, but Mrs. Montcifh tossed her head
scornfully, and gave no token Of having
heard il.
Il have met this Mrs. Falconcr BEFORE.
she said in an aside TO puzzled, mortified
Mrs Hervey.
Isabers face was a study. and Mrs.
Dwight, too indignant to finish her shop
ping, drew her away AS soon as possible
..For PHYS sake, Mrs. Falconcr, do tell
me why that ill-bred woman should treat
you in that shameful way" she said, as
soon as the carriage was in motion.
ut is very short story said Isabel,
bitterly. ssMr. Falconer first met me behind
amlllinery counter in New York where this
woman was frequent customer. and
where she delighted in heaping insults upon
me as y shop girl. He fancied me, and
brought me here as his wife.
Perhaps. Mrs. Dwight. now that the
murder is out, your svmpathics will be with
Mrs. Monteith,'' and she looked sadly in her
friends face.
..You do me injustice. Mrs. Falconer,' re-
piled Mrs. Dwight, warmly, laying her hand
on Isabel's. which was trembling with ex-
element. Il trust fashionable life has
not 0ssified my heart completely. and you
may rely upon nv friendship and support. y
.Beleve me, your friendship is apprcci-
ated,' said Isabel, gratefully, returning
the pressure of the friendly hand, land now
that you have heard so much of my history,
perhaps you would like to hear more.n and
she gave brief sketch Of the principal
events of her life up to the present.
.1Why. it's rel romance cried Mrs.
Dwight. when she had finished: Il always
liked Mr.. Falconer, but am sure that he is
= perfectly grand man now
$50 am L. said Isabel. with sigh. I'll
| could only love him as he 50 richly de
serves"
You wili Love can not help coming to
reward such u kind, unseliish character"
Mrs. Heryey and Mrs. Monicith, IN the
meantime. had left the store.
sPray tell'me what you can have against
Mrs. Falconer,n said Mrs. Hervey, coldly.
Il think you owe me an apology for treat
ing friend of mine so rudclv.n She was
not at ali afraid Of Mrs. Montcith's elegant
apparel or snobbish manners; within her
own recollection she had been forced to live
plainly, having only been SO prosperous for
q few years She had always visited Mr..
Hcrvey's family, and his young wife had
never inquired upon what ground the &C
Quaintance originated.
Il am not accustomed to treating shop
girls as equals" replied Mrs. Monteith,
with disagrecable haughtiness: s.yo,tr
FREUD. Mrs Falconer, was nothing but a
common shop girl when Mr.. Falconer took
hcrup and married her, and made up my
mind when ] heard the disgraceful story
from Nine. Arnot, her employer, that if
ever came 10 Philadelphia would. expose
her
Hervey: she was still too indignant with
Mrs. Montei'h to take in the fact Of Isabcl's
low estate in oil its terrible significance.
why, u course, she must have inveigled
him into the marriage" replied Mrs. Mon
~
shop girl unless unduly influenced
Harvey Faiconer isn't man to be IN
veigled,' asserted Mrs. Heryey, cmphat.
ically. 1.-THE fact of her being Il shop-grl
wouldn't influence him against her mo-
Inent il he fancied her otherwise
Il pity Mrs. Stanford, said Mrs. Mon.
| tei'h. 1T must be terrible blow to have
| such mesa lance III the family"
t.Naa moor Nrc Stanfarlst ..c;o.1 Mrc
| Hervey, ironically. '.Shc came here and
made them visit, appeared with Mrs Fal
coner in public, and went home perfectly
charmed with her law, rs know
on undoubted authority IN q triumphant
! tone, land ! would advise you, Mrs. Mon
teith. 10 keep your knowledge of Mrs. Fal
coner to yourself, il you have no better
grounds to found your antagonism upon
Mr.. Falconer isn't the first man in oul
I American arstocracy who has married 3
poor girl, though it isn't every poor CIR
that can rise from low position to higher
one with such grace as Mrs. Falconer ha.
DONE" she added, significantly.
| Something in the latter allusion seemed (.
| touch Mrs. Monteith in tender spot, fol
| she tossed her head and said something
sharply about arrogance" and s'upstarts,
! which Mrs. Hervey did not catch.
What do you think, Aunt Katy sait
Mrs. Heryey, an hour later, as she wa
seated in pleasant room at home, where
an invalid's chair was drawn up to sunni,
window
I've met that elegant Mrs Falconer a
Cady's this morning, and Mrs. Montcitl
gave her the cut direct III such an insolen
manner. / was So mortified | thought
should sink; Mrs. Harry Dwight was with
Mrs. Falconcr, and her eyes fairly fashet
tire ut Mrs Monteith."
What grounds does she claim to hav,
for such rudeness!" asked Aunt Katy, al
elderly woman with white hair and swee
pale face, sanctitied and made lovely by lon(
years Of suffering.
She had been left a childless widow unde
circumstances OF peculiar sadness, and Hor
ace Hcrvey had taken her to his home whcl
he brought his young bride there, and sh'
had been the family saint ever since.
why, she SAYS Mrs. Falconer was
shop girl in New York when Mr. Falcone
married her. and she doesn't associate witt
shop-girs.' initiating Mrs. Monteiths AFRO
nnyp