Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-09-24

for having distressed you"
"She is distressed because she is
ashamed" said Mr.. Heath. ~ have
come here to insist upon both my
sisters making full acknowledgment
of the deception they have practiced
upon my family"
Deception ?"
"Winifred passing herself off as a
widow. She is not married"
mot married then Mr.. Morton"
SIS myth. The girls fancied,
believe, that living alone they would
have more freedom if one of them
were widow, and Winifred being
already in mourning for my grand
father, bought widows cap, and
called herself Mrs. Morton. The
false position once assumed was not
easily abandoned. They now wish
to explain the matter to you as their
chief friend in Longmede, and to ask
your pardon for having deceived
you"
"The deception has not affected us
much" said my mother. Your sister
would have been quite as welcome
here under her true name. How did
such plain enter your head. Wini-
fred-what suggested it to your
at was only ON our way through
London that thought of it," said
Freda. "Mabel and 1 went to jays
to buy hats, and while we were choos-
ing them. | saw little widows bon
net on the table, and tried it on.
1t suited me exactly and Mabel said |:
What a pity you are not really a
widow, you look so nice in weeds, and
if you were, we should both be far
more independent than we can be as
young ladies. The idea of pretending
to be widow came into my mind
then, and a thought it would be good
fun. Mabel did not like it but /
made her consent. We bought
widows cap and bonnet, and deter
mined to call myself Morton. We
talked SO much to each other about
Mr.. Morton that we came half to be-
lieve in him and to be rather fond of
him. / was many time longing to
tell you the truth, but l was afraid"
81 am sorry you did not, my dear"
said my mother gravely. Did you eA-
pect your brother?'
mo, not at all. His coming was
quite surprise. He walked sudden.
ly into the dining room and found me
in a widows cap"-she laughed hys-
terically.
"You must have been startled, Mr..
Heath"
81 was startled at first, he said, land
when l heard the truth / was shocked.
| did not think that either of my
sisters would have been capable of
such systematic deceit. This visit is
also to say goodbye, Mrs. Leslie" he
added, "why were you SO ready to as
sumo that | was the late Mr.. Norton"
with an expression that made him for
a moment like Freda.
1--WE saw your photograph" said
hesitatingly.
''Did she show me as Morton?" he
asked, his face darkening.
mabel did"
1t was my turn to look confused
under the amused scrutiny of Mr..
Heath's brown eyes. The Heaths
soon went away, leaving Hilda and
ma much saddened, both by their
departure and by the manner of it.
"Poor Edmund" l said, "what
pity that he was in such a hurry! l
must write and tell him the truth.
Perhaps he has not yet finally arrang-
ed to sail in the Venetia."
my DEAR" said my mother, very
energetically. l would rather a
thousand times that he sailed in the
Venetia than that he married that
deceitful girl. Her conduct shows a
want of honor and principle such as
l would be sorry to see in Edmund's
wife,"
We heard nothing of the Heaths
after they left Longmede. In the
surprise and confusion of our parting
we had forgotten to ask them to keep
us informed of their movements,
while they probably felt chary of
writing under the circumstances.
Edmund went away in day or two
on business, and about a week later
there came letter announcing his
engagement to Miss Heath. Poor
mother was in great trouble at the
news, and we had considerable difficult
ty in persuading her to look upon the
former escapade as mere childishness,
and not as sign of innate depravity.
A little before the wedding went
to stay with the Heaths at Kensing-
ton. Freda was looking pale and
thin, but very happy.
My mother did not 60 to Edmund's
but she was very kind and
affectionate TO Freda, when the young