The Washington critic., 1889-01-22
THAT WILD WESTERN GIRL.

Mrs Cavendish was in terrible state
of mind. Her son Gerald had written
home that he had married California
girl and was coming East with her in a
few deys.
"Its too bad" groaued the mother.
"He has Just ruined himself. ! don't
believe he can afford TO allow anything
for board so shall teach this wild
creature to do the sewing for the house" ="
With much grumbling she arranged
the third-h rooms with some old furni-
ture from the cellar, thinking II would
be good enough for q young person
brought up on the plains
Her daughters, Ida and Cleora, who
moved in fashionable set, assured their
mother in very plain language that they
might tolerate Gerald's wife, but they
could not think of introducing her to their
friends.
At last the fateful day rolled around
when Mrs. Gerald Cavendish was ex.
pected to arrive In New York
"Well, | suppose some one must go
and meet this person. yawned Ida.
"Shall send to the stable for coupe2''
mo-" said Mrs Cavcndish, shortly,
''the horse cars will do well enough for
that class OF people"
Miss Cavendish went Off grumbling.
For herself she would much have pre-
ferred tho luxury of coupe. The
patched.up hird.story back room was
ready, and decided mosaic II was,
of all sorts of colors, epochs and mate
rials; but anything would do" they de-
cided, "for Gerald's wife, There was
no fire and no place to make one Goals
were dear, and IL was not best to COM
mence by making fine lady of Gerald $
wife. Cleora herself, when first 81 g was
introduced to the cheerless apartment,
lifted both her hands with cry of
dismay.
eff you had set yourself deliberately
| at work to make the woman homesick,'
she said, "you couldn't have fitted up
any better room for the purpose
mamma"
"Don't be fool, Cleora," said that
lady.
Ida Cavendish grew tired and cross
with waiting before the train steamed in
with its living freight. No one could
she see who corresponded at all with
her preconceived ideal of Mrs. Gerald
Cavandish, and she was just hesitatinl
between tall, awkward, school -girly
sort of person and fat, middle.aged
woman with q parrot and wicker
basket when slight, elegant young lady
in sealsllin ulster and toque-iitting Pa
risan kid gloves approached her,
II beg your pardon" said she, ''bu
perhaps you were looking for me. an
Mrs. Gerald Cavendish."
| Mrs. Gerald Cavendishl Ida felt her
self old.looking and dowdy In the pres
ence of this perfectly young pa
trician.
"You Mrs. Cavendish" she exclaimed
"I-am-I am sorry | did not think t.
order the carriage. But II you don
mind the horse CARS
"I don't mind anything" said Mrs
Gerald, 80 long as we get home"
Homel Lida's-heart sunk within he
as she thought of that third.story bacl
room. "What will her mamma sayf" sh
asked herself.
Mrs. Cavendish the elder was in fer
ment when at last the two ladies reache'
the house, but she was evidently pre-
pared for the occasion.
"My dearest Muriel," she cried, 81 an
so delighted to greet you at last! AM
how did you leave dear Gerald2 An,
| why you ilCNOi SoihO w uo pSiOiS'
Because" said Mrs. Gerald, calmly
''your invitations were so very COO
Pray let them show me to my ROOM"
, To the great amazement Of Cleort
Mrs. Gerald was ushered into the bet
guest chamber, where the curtains wer
of crimson satin, the carpet OF pearl-gra
moquette and the bedroom set of ebor
, lied wood.
Mamma" she cried, "what does thi
mean? Why isn't she put in the thir
. story back, as you intended?"
"Cleora, don tspeak so loud" said Mrs
Cavendish, sharply. Judge Holliste
, was just here. He says that Muriel'
/, father is one Of the richest men in Cal
fornia. declare / never can be sufl
, ciently thankful that l learned all thi
before we had shown her into the thir
, story back ROOM
, And when Major Cavandish himse
! came his mother eargerly demanded wi
he had not told them that Muriel was
!. beauty and an heiress.
"You might have taken 1t for granite
: that my wife would be beauty" i
said, somewhat scornfully. "And as I
=, her being an heiress, why, her none
was the last thing that | thought Of"
And thereafter "Gerald's wife" WI
installed as the family idol and darling
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