Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-02-03

feather fan. All! he had nsver seen it be.
fore She had evidently thought that as
he refused to bay her new dress, she
1vonld invest in q fan. All, Mslyina rev T
woul economic. Well, ne would not
ousrrel about the fan. He would never
a oarrel any more, in fact
Twelve O'Clock a big cock, with q
solemn cathedral chime, which had been
nlaced in a conspicuous position By Mrs.
Da Sniesby in order to warn her guests O.
the important hour, struck slowly. In Q
moment there was q rustling, silky sound,
and every lady held her masque suspended
by its lace string in her land. Bockaoy
glanced with e smile at biz black AID gold
cad neighbor. The smils faded ffcm his
lips. his eyes opened in utter bewilterment.
He recoiled inyoiuntarily.
"Lstitia Ruggsmith, re gasped.
Mrs. Rugssnith INDUCED in a sugared
smile. Aud whom did you think WASP
she asked, jauntily. =.
ssHe mistook you for me, l presume, "
interposed the little lady III apple green
silk. coming hastily forward.
'Malyina" exclaimed the luckless
Archibald, so supremely surprised that ne
realized nothing
Now, if Mrs. Bockaby had bsen equsl
to tie occasion, sho would have maTchf d
her husband away from Mrs. Rugssmith
bsf,re further harm wss done. Bat her
femirinity got the better OF her diplomacy.
She had heard Archibsld's honeyed Ian
gusge, and Latitia's outrageous accept
snce of it, AID she could not leaye the
hated Mrs. Ruggsmith go SOON. She made
q great mistake.
Mrs. Ruggsmitb," stammaFed Archi-
bald, with a neIvously imbeciie smile,
''you -yo1-muat r-really excuse me. l
i thought you were my wife. I c-could
have sworn that w-was her dress"
sit was an agful moment Letitis
Ruggsmith, praciiced as she was in the
art Of deception, could not avoid The tell
tale blush that came to her cheek Not a
word could she utter; she was tongue ti5d
Malvina Bockaby, Of all women in the
world, now knew that she bought super
hUous" clothes.
Mrs. Bockaby's arguish was no less Bit
ter than that Of her rival. II expressed
itsslf by marble pallor which robbed
even btr lpl of every vestige of color
Letitia Rupgsmith, Of al women in the
world, now knew that she cold 'supei flu
Gus" clothes.
Yes, man Ike, ]. Archibald Bccksby
had put his foot in it,"
Mrs. Bockaby was the first to recover
herself. "You are a foolish boy, ATchi-
bali" she said, with a carelessnts5 she
did not feel 'Mrs. Ruggsmith's dress
is not in the least like mine, but to
men, l supp-se, ladies' costumes are all
alike"
Thea she led Archibald away before he
hal time to make any other ridiculous re-
mark, snd requested thst be call her car
riage. Five minutes later taey were on
their way home.
Malvins could bear rearly all the ills
that fall to the lot of women, and bear them
with part c. equanimity, too. But tbs
events of tonight wers too much fIr her,
and soon she was sohbing i'll the arms of her
husband, who was himsolf again.
Never mind, dear, ~ he said, soothingly.
"What does it all matter? You sold your
dress; Mrs. RUgysmith bought it. l said
pleasant things to her becIuse l thought
she vas my little Malvina, and wanted to
make my peace with her"
Yves, know t.-thst," fobbed Nal
vina, convulsively. "I-I-d-don' m-mind
that. butch, Archibald she Hook
de so Llovely in that b-black and g-gOld
dress. 1t w-was tie finest iu-in the
room. And l s-sold it. Ga. Oh Oh
m-must have been m-mad. Yoa w-were
the b-bes. Judge, after all"