Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-19

| MIS-. Dwight
"Even in so small matter as gloves,
think sometimes a woman is a perfect
martyr to fashion" 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,
lady stood by her side, whose face Isabel
did not notice as she took Mrs. Hervey's
hand.
"My dear Mrs. Falconer; so happy to
meet you," cooed Mrs. Hervey. "Allow me
to present to you my friend, Mrs. MonteIth,
of New York, Mrs. Falconer."
Mrs. Monteith's eyes had been fixed on
Isabel's face in a 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 was
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 coldly civil
bow, but Mrs. Monteith tossed her head
scornfully, and gave no token of having
heard it
81 have met this Mrs. Falconer BEFORE"
she said in an aside to puzzled, mortified
Mrs. Hervey.
Isabel's 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. Falconer, 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.
SIT is a very short story" said Isabel,
bitterly. ''Mr. Falconer first met me behind
millinery counter in New York where this
woman was a frequent customer, and
where she delighted in heaping insults upon
me as a shop-girl. He fancied me, and
brought me here as his wife.
"Pcrhaps, Mrs. Dwight, now that the
murder is out, your sympathies 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. 81 trust fashionable life has
not ossiied my heart completely. and you
may rely upon my friendship and support"
"Believe me, your friendship is appreci-
ated," said Isabel, gratefully, returning
the pressure of the friendly hand, "and now
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
events of her life up to the present.
''Why, it's a re1l romance" cried Mrs.
Dwight, when she had finished; 81 always
liked Mr.. Falconer, but am sure that he is
perfectly grand man now"
$50 am l." said Isabel, with a sigh. '1f
1 could only love him as he so richly de-
serves"
"You will Love can not help coming to
reward such kind, unselfish character"
Mrs Hervey and Mrs. Monteith, IN the
meantime, had left the store.
"Pray tell me what you can have against
Mrs. Falconer," said Mrs. Heryey, coldly.
81 think you owe me an apology for treat
ing friend of mine so 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 Mr..
Hervey's family, and his young wife had
never inquired upon what ground the &C
quaintance originated.
''I am not accustomed to treating shcp-
girls as equals" replied Mrs. Monteith,
with disagreeable haughtiness; ''Uour
friend, Mrs. Falconer, was nothing but
common shop-girl when Mr.. Falconer took
her up and married her, and made up my
mind when l heard the disgraceful story
from Mime. Arnot, her employer, that if
ever l came to Philadelphia l would expose
her."
"What disgraceful story?" demanded Mrs.
Hervey; she was still too indignant with
Mrs. Monteith to take in the fact of IsabePs
low estate in all it's terrible significance.
"Why, of course, she must have inveigled
him into the marriage" replied Mrs. Mon
teith; ''no man Of his wealth would marry
shop-girl unless unduly Influenced"
Harvey FaIconer isn't man to be in
veigled," asserted Mrs. Hervey, emphat-
ically. ''The fact of her being a shop-girl
wouldn't influence him against her mo-
ment if he fancied her otherwise"
''I pity Mrs. Stanford" said Mrs. Mon
teith. sit must be terrible blow to have
such a mesd,iidnce IN the family"
eyes, poor Mrs. Stanfordi' cried Mrs.
Hervey, ironically. ''She came here and
coner in public, and went home perfectly
charmed with her sister-in-law, as know
on undoubted authority IN triumphant
tone, 'and 1 would advise you, Mrs. Mon
teith, to keep your knowledge of Mrs. Fal-
coner to yourself, if you have no better
grounds to found your antagonism upon.
Mr.. Falconer isn't the first man in our
American aristocracy who has married a
poor girl, though it isn't every poor girl
that can rise from a low position to a higher
one with such grace as Mrs Falconer has
DONE" she added, significantly.
Something IN the latter allusion seemed to
touch Mrs. Monteith in tender spot, for
she tossed her head and said something
sharply about arrogance" and ''upstarts,"
which Mrs. Hervey did not catch.
"What do you think, Aunt Katy" said
Mrs. Hervey, an hour later, as she was
seated in pleasant room at home, where
an invalid's chair was drawn up to a sunny
window.
We met that elegant Mrs. Falconer at
Cady's this morning, and Mrs. Monteith
gave her the cut direct in such an insolent
manner. l was so mortified 1 thought
should sink; Mrs. Harry Dwight was with
Mrs. Falconer, and her eyes fairly flashed
fire at Mrs. Monteith''
"What grounds does she claim to have
for such rudenessFr asked Aunt Katy, an
elderly woman with white hair and sweet
pale face, sanctifed and made lovely by long
years of suffering.
She had been left childless widow under
circumstances of peculiar sadness, and Hor
ace Hervey had taken her to his home when
he brought his young bride there, and she
had been the family saint ever since.
"Why, she says Mrs. Falconer was
shop girl in New York when Mr.. Falconer
marrieo her, and she doesn't associate with
shOp-girls," initiating Mrs. Monteith's AFRO
CANT manner.