Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-25
IS AB E IA:
From Shop to Mansion.

also become :ti. .i.st:'!:'i.. T..it3f, ana was enthusiastic in her praises of Mrs. Falconer. Cards were out for {. very select party to which the Falconers were invited, s,nd Isabel and Mrs. Dwight were out shopping. ''If were you l should much prefer the un- dressed kid," said Mrs. Dwight, ''it is moro stylish" though do not like it az well," replied Isa- bel, laughing.
 "Out of fashion, out of the world," smiled Mrs. Dwight
 "Even in so small matter as gloves, | think sometimes woman Is a perfect martyr to fashion" A rustic of silks at her side caused Isabel to look up from the | kids she was examining. | Mrs. Hervey, a 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 as she took Mrs. Hcrveys hand.
 "My dear Mrs. Falconer; so happy to meet you," cooed Mrs. Hervey. "Allow me to present to you my friend, Mrs Montelth, | If New York, Mrs. Fa1coner." Mrs Monteith's eyes had been fixed on Isabel's face in a cold stare of recognition, 1 and, as Mrs. Hervey pronounced the name, | she looked for the first tlme 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 was reminded by it Of tho insults this woman | had delighted to heap upon her Tn the past, | but she controlled herself enough to ac- | knowledge the introduction by coldly civil 1 bow, but Mrs. Monteith tossed her head scornfully, and gave no token of having heard it.
 "I have met this Mrs. Falconer before," | she said in an aside to puzzled, mortified | Mrs. Hervey.
 | IsabePs face was 6 study, and Hrs. Dwight, too indignant to finish her shop ping, drew her away as soon as possible. l "For pity's sake, Mrs. Falconer, do tell me why that illbred woman should treat | you in that shameful way,n sho said, as | soon as the carriage was in motion. | "It is very short story,'' said Isabel, | bitterly. sMr. Falconer first met me behind | millinery counter in New York where this woman was frequent customer, and where she delighted in heaping insults upon me as shop-g girl. He fancied me, and 1 brought me here as his wife. "Perhaps, Mrs. Dwight, now that the murder is out, your sympathies will be with Mrs. Monteith,' and she looked sadly in her | friends face.
 | s'You do me injustice, Mrs. Falconer," re- piled Mrs. Dwight, warmly, laying her hand on IsabeIs, which was trem bling with ex- citement. 'I trust fashionable life has not ossified my heart completely. and you may rely upon my friendship and support" :"
 "Belieye mo, your friendship is appreci- ated," said Isabel, gratefully, returning | the pressure of the friendly hand, "and now l that you have heard SO much of my history, perhaps you would like to hear more," and | she gave a brief sketch of the principal 1 events of her life up to the present. 1 .'Why, it's @ real romance" cried Mrs. Dwight, when she had finished; Il always liked MT. Falconer, but am sure that he is perfectly grand man now"
 ''So am I.' said Isabel, with Q sigh. ''If I could only love him as he so richly de- serves"
 "You wilt Love can not help coming to | reward such kind, unselHsh character U
 Mrs. Hervey and Mrs. Monteith, in the meantime. had left the store.
 "Pray tell me what you can have against Mrs. Falconer," said Mrs. Hervey, coldly. q think you owe me an apology for treat ing friend of mine rudely.' She was not at all afraid of Mrs. Monteith's elegant apparel or snobbish manners; within her own recollection she had been forced to live plainly, having only been so prosperous for few years. She had always visited MT. Hervey's family, and his young wife had never inquired upon what ground tho ac- quaintance originated.
 "I am not accustomed to treating shop
 girls as equals," replied Mrs. Monteith, ] with disagreeable haughtiness; "you' friend, Mrs. Falconer, was nothing but g
 common shop-girl when MT. Falconer took
 her up and married her, and I made up my
 mind when ] heard the disgraceful story from Mme Arnot, her employer, that i ever came to Philadelphia would expost
 her."
 "What disgraceful storya" demanded Mrs . Hervey; she was still too indignant with
 Mrs. Monteith to take in the fact of Isabel!
 low estate in all it's terrible significance.
 "Why, of course, she must have inveigleG
 him into the marriage" replied Mrs. Mon . teith; "no man of his wealth would marr, shop-girl unless unduly influenced"
 "Harvey FaIconer isn't man to be in
 veigled," asserted Mrs. Hervey, omphat
 ically. "The fact of her being shop-gir wouldn't influence him against her @ nc
 ment if he fancied her otherwise"
 "I pity Mrs. Stanford" said Mrs. Mon
 teith. ''1t must be a terrible blow to hay
 such 6 mesalltance ID the family"
 "Yes, poor Mrs. Stanfordl" cried Mrs
 Hervey, Ironically. "She came here an , made them visit, appeared with Mrs. Fla \ coner in public, and went home perfectl ;. charmed with her sister-in-law, as kno1 l; on undoubted authority" m triumphan el tone, "and l would advise you, frs. Nor e teith, to keep your knowledge of Mrs. Fla
 coner to yourself, if you have no bette
 grounds to found your aItagonism upor
 MT. Falconer isn't the first man In ou
 American aristocracy who has married
 poor girl, though 1t isn't every poor gil !. that can rise from low position to highe
 one with such grace as Mrs. Falconer ha
 done," she added, significantly. r. Something in the latter allusion seemed t "a touch Mrs. Monteith in a tender spot, fo she tossed her head and said somethin te # sharply about ''arrogance" and ''upstarts, -. which Mrs. Hervey did not catch.
 "What do you think, Aunt Katy," sai
 Mrs. Hervey, an hour later, as che wa
 seated in pleasant room at home, wher
 an invalid's chair was drawn up to a sum
 window.
 R "We met that elegant Mrs Falconer
 Cady's this morning, and Mrs. Monteit
 gave her the cut direct in such an insole1 : manner. was SO mortified I thought