The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-02-23
MY WIFE'S NEW FRIEND.

ME boarder's me fortune, SIR" she said.
Edna Sheldrdke
MY WIFE'S NEW FRIEND.
| Mrs. Jones has quite habit of cultivating
| new friendships, which have every appearance
| of blooming eternity, but which soon wither
in the worlds cold blasts. Illsed to think this
| characteristic to school girls, who swear i'm
mortal fidelity in letters crossed and recrossed,
| but forget each other as soon as they have
caught a lover.
My wifes last acquisition in the way of a
| bosom friend is Mrs. Mortimer Mowbray, with
| whom she became acquainted last summer,
| while were boarding out of town. Mrs.
| Mortimer Mowbray had her carriage with her,
and created quite a sensation-in fact, every
| lady in the house was eager to become her con-
| fidante; but the amiable department of Mrs.
| Jones combined, doubt not with her intellec-
| tual accompis hments rendered her the favor
| ite. and she, it was, who daily occupied the
| spare seat in the coach, and had the honor of
advising Mrs. Mortimer Mowbray in those
thousand grave perplexities under which wo--
| men suffer
We returned to the city after the Mowbrays,
but my wife, though usually very firm on
questions of etiquette, waived her privileges on
this occasion and made the first call. She was
graciously received, and came home in high
spirits. All that evening she could do nothing
but talk of Mrs Mortimer Mowbray 'Such
man, with the manners of prince, waited at
the door, The drawing-room was the perfec-
ton of luxury and taste. Mrs. MOwbray had
on such sweet cap and altogether looked so
ladyhke.. Her manners were, indeed, most aris-
tOcratic, Just what those of countess are sup
posed to be-
In few days Mrs. Mortimer Mowbray
turned my wife's call, coming i'll q shining
new carriage, and with new span of horses.
Her equipage created quite sensation in our
street.
Mrs Jones' soon after this, began to act as if
brooding over some vast design, which not be-
ing matured she deemed it wisest to be silent
respecting. At last the mighty secret was
broached.
~ was thinking, JONES'" she said one night,
just as was composing myself to sleep on my
pillow, that we ought to give party. Not
regular ball. indeed, but select entertainment,
where few cOngenial minds may be brought
together. | should like to introduce my dear
Mrs. MOwbray to some of the choicest of our
SET"
Now, detest parties, small or large; but, as
the delicacy of my wife's nerves does not allow
of her being thwarted, l made no objection to
the proposal, though | sighed to myself.
"Of course, my dear, / said. "You know
best.''
'Wel about thirty" continued my wife,
warming with the subject. There's Mrs.
Wharton and Mrs. Horace Shinn, and Mrs.
Price and the Misses Trelawney," and thus
the dear creature ran on until she had men,
toned about forty names and saw that her
select party of congenial souls was going to
be, after all, crowded rout.
You have forgotten thetwO Misses Howell"
! said at last, when my wife stopped for want
of breath.
The two Misses Howell were amiable, intel
lectual and pretty girls, in whom | took partic-
ular interest, because their father had once
been an extensive shipping merchant but,
having become reduced and died bankrupt, the
sisters were Obliged to earn a living by stand
ing in a store They had numerous rich rela-
tions on whom they might have billeted them
selves, but with spirit of proper independ-
ence they preferred to work for their mainte-
nance, instead ofeating the charity. / had long
nourished romantic idea of seeing them mar
ried well, and had consequently made it
point always to invite them to our parties
to praise them highly to the young gen
tlemen there, and in every other indirect way
to assist in realizing my pet scheme.
My wife, heretofore had seconded me in my
benevolent plan, but on the present occasion
she hesitated to reply, and knew at once there
was something the matter.
"Ahemr she said at last, clearing her
throat.
"Ahem! The Misses Howell are very nice
girls, to be sure-that is in their place-but as
this is to be select party, and as | have al
ready mentioned rather too many, and as Mrs
MoWbray may not want to meet all sorts of
people, and as
''Stop, my dear" said l. with sigh, for l
saw that my favorites were not to be invited,
''you have given reasons enough. 1t is a great
pity though" And | sighed again-a sigh
eloquent Of passive resignation.
My wife heard my sighs, and her tender
heart was touched. She paused moment in
embarrassment, and, perhaps, even revolved
the idea of yielding to my wishes but in
the end she raised herself on her elbow and
said:
''Mr. Jones, do listen to reason You don't
know how foolish you make yourself about
those Howell girls. They've been unfortunate
to be sure, and they're very passable, indeed;
but there's a prejudice, you are aware, against
girls who stand in stores; and who knows but
Mrs. Mowbray would take offence at my in
yiting such persons to meet her. | shouldn't
like to do it, indeed, without first asking her,
and | can't this time. She is very particular,
and so excessively high Bred
"Then | don't think she'd regard you the
less, my DEAR" ventured to say, "for being
acquainted with two such excellent girls
Patty and Lizzie Howell"
'Mr. JONES' don't be a child" replied my
wife, flinging herself to the other side of the
bed. "At your age you should know some
thing of the world. Exclusive people, like
Mrs Mowbray, don't care to meet nobodies.-
She was very choice as you saw, whom she
admitted to her acquaintance this summer;
may say, indeed, that am the only one, of all
she met, whom she recognizes now.
To have protracted the conversation would
have excited my wife's nerves, and deprived
her of sleep, so said no more, but closed my
eyes and courted 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 that the fires were
all right and to do the marketing while break
fast was being prepared
The invitations to the party were issued that
week, Mrs. MOwbray graciously 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. Now
bray appearing. Her nervousness soon began
to change to anxiety, and this, as the hours
wore on, to disappointment and dismay. She
delayed the supper for a full hour, thinking
the new friend might yet arrive, but in vain.
"What can the matter be ~ she said to me,
as soon as we were alone. 81 hope the dear
babe is we'll Perhaps, however, Mrs. Now
bray is herself sick. Dear me, am afraid
shall not sleep for anxiety. The first thing I'll
do tomorrow will be to call on Mrs Mowbray
and see what is the matter"
Wouldn't that be against etiquette? ~ ]
ventured to ask "lt seems to me that Mrs.
Mowbray should send you note of 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 look 1t texpress-
ed all the Indignation which her outraged
bosom felt at having the slightest suspicion
cast upon her friend.
When came home to dinner that day saw
at glance that something had occurred to ruff
fe my wifes nerves. She had nothing what
ever to say to me- but she scolded the servants
and children necessarily. / was too wise to
inquire what was wrong. | knew that Mrs:
Jones, if she thought proper, would tell and
if not, that idle questions would only aggravate
her secret troubles.
But the next day having heard something
that cast light on Mrs: Mowbray's absence
from our party, could not contain myself
when came home.
"Did you ever hear. my love" said as be-
gan to carve the turkey at dinner, that the
Misses Howell had married sister ~
Mrs Jones looked sharply up, as If she sus-
pected meant more than said and then an
swered laconically:
~ Lonrd Il casnallu hut never asked fur