The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-03-02

summer; may say, indeed, that an
the only one, of all she met, whom sht
recognizes now"
To have ptotraCted the conversation
would have excited my wife's nerves
and deprived her sleep, SO | said nc
more, but closed my eyes and courteC
slumber anew. | have no recollection
of anything after that till | woke up
next morning, and leaving Mrs. Jones
abed, as usual, went down to see thai
the fires were all right, and to do the
marketing while breakfast was being
prepared.
The invitations to the party were is
sued that week, Mrs. Mowbray gra,
ciously promising to attend.
When the important evening arrived
my wife was all nerves. At every ring
of the bell the color rose to her face
with expectation, but guest after guest
entered without Mrs. Mowbray appear
ing. Her nervousness soon began to
change to anxiety, and this, as the
hours wore on, to disappointment and
dlsmay. She delayed the supper for a
full hour, thinking the new friend might
yet arrive, but in vain.
"What can the matter be2" she SAID
to me, as soon as we were alone. 81
hope the dear babe is well. Perhaps,
however, Mrs. Mowbray IS herself sick
Dear me, | am afraid | shall not sleep
for anxiety. The first thing I'll do to-
morrow will be to call on Mrs. Now
bray and see what is the matter"
"Wouldn't that be against etiquette ?''
| ventured to ask. at seems to me
that Mrs. Mowbray should send you a
note or message, or something of that
sort, to apologize for her absence"
Mrs. Jones did not reply In words,
but she gave me look. And such a
look 1t expressed all the indignation
which her outraged bosom felt at hav-
ing the slightest suspicion cast upon
her friend.
When came home to dinner that
day | saw at glance that something
had occurred to ruffle nv wife's nerves.
She had nothing whatever to say to
me, but she scolded the servants and
children necessarily, | was too wise
to inquire what was wrong. | knew
that Mrs. Jones, II she thought proper,
would tell and if not, that idle ques-
tions would only aggravate her secret
troubles.
But the next day having heard some
thing that cast light on Mrs. Mowbray' s
absence from our party, l could not
contain myself when l came home.
"Did you ever hear, my love-" said !
as l began to carve the turkey at din
ner, that the Misses Howell had a
married sister?'
Mrs. Jones looked sharply up, as il
she suspected l meant more than ]
said, and then answered laconically:
81 heard it casually, but never asked
further"
at SEEMS" | continued, "that Mrs
Mowbray is that sister,
GIVE heard SO sinCe," SAID Mrs
Jones, sharply; and turning to oul
second child, who was asking for the
wingbone, raped him over the head
exclaiming, "Haven't | told you tc
wait till you're helped? Take that
now, and learn manners"
| allowed a minute or more to elapse
IN order that my wIfe's ebullition might
subside, when | remarked:
"Mrs. Mowbray, it seems, expected
to meet her sisters here"
81 shouldn't wonder If she did,
snappishly said Mrs. Jones, looking
down into her plate, and apparent.
absorbed in parting wing joint.
"When she found" | continued
"that her sisters were not asked, sht
grew Indignant. She heard the reason
it seems. Your friend Mrs. Wharton
whom you have made a confidante
told some lady, who told her, ant
hence her anger"
"Im sure | don't care if | never Sc,
proud thing again" said my wife, red
dening very much, but still wlthou
looking up ''One would never have
supposed that she was sister to tn,
Misses Howell"
After another pause passed | said
"Did you call on Mrs. Mowbray, a
you intended?"
Mrs. Jones was silent for full min
ute, and seemed half disposed to de
cline answering altogether; but finall
she blurted out her reply as follows:
eyes, | did, since you must know
She was not at home-so at least tn
footman said, but if | didn't Sc. her a
the drawing-room window" and her
she burst into tears of modification AM
rage, "may never eat another mouth
full"
| saw that it would not do to con
tinue the conversation SO | quietly att
my dinner, kissed the children, ant
went my way.
OF course the intimacy of my wifi
with Mrs. Mowbray ceased from tha
fatal party and l am sorry to say tha
the Misses Howell have, as the phras
goes, "cut our acquaintance.
FORGOT ITS NAME.