The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-04-04

CdruS were OuU IOF a very SolSCG party W
which the Falconers were invited, and Isabel
and Mrs. Dwight were out shopping. "If
were you 1 should much prefer the un.
dressed kid" said Mrs. Dwight, ''it is more
stylish"
"Then of course I must submit to it, even
though do not like 1t as WE'LL" replied Isa-
bel, laughing.
"Out of fashion, out of the world" smiled
Mrs. Dwight.
Given in so small a matter as gloves, ]
think sometimes woman is q perfect
martyr to fashion" A rustic of silks al
her side caused Isabel to look up from the
kids she was examining
Mrs. Hervey, q lady whom she had met
and liked p rticularly, stood beside her
and cordially held out her hand. Another
lady stood by her side, whose face 1sabe
did not notice as she took Mrs. Hervey's
hand.
"My dear Mrs. Falconer; so happy te
meet you," cooed Mrs Hervey. "Allow me
to present to you my friend, Mrs. Montelth
of New York, Mrs. Falconer."
Mrs. Monteiths eyes had been fixed on
Tsabels face in Il cold stare of recognition,
md. as Mrs. Hcrvey pronounced the name,
he looked for the first tune into the cold
zee, and caught the unwnEing stare in its
perfection.
Every trace of color left her face in her
Indignation as she met the look. and was
reminded Dy it of the insults this woman
had delighted to heap upon her In the past,
but she controlled herself enough to ac-
knowledge the introduction by coldly civil
bow but Mrs. Monteith tossed her head
scornfully, and gave no token of having
heard it.
Il have met this Mrs. Falconer BEFORE"
she said in an aside to puzzled, mortified
Mrs. Hervey
Isabers face was study, and Mrs.
Dwight, too indignant to finish her shop
ping, drew heraway as soon as possible.
"For PHYS sake, Mrs. Faconer, do tell
me why that lll-bred woman should treat
YOU in that shameful way" she said, as
soon as the carriage was in motion.
SIT is very short story" said Isabel,
bitterly. ''Mr. Faconcr first met me behind
amlllinerv counter in New York where this
woman was frequent customer, and
where she delighted in heaping insults upon
me as a shop-gir He fancied me, and
brought me here as his wife.
"Perhaps, Mrs Dwight, now that the
murder is out, your sympathies will be with
Mrs Mcnteth, and she looked sadly in her
friends face.
''You do me injustice, Mrs. Falconer," re-
piled Mrs. Dwight, warmly, laying her hand
on Isabers, which was trembling with ex-
element. 81 trust fashionable life has
not ossified my heart completely, and you
may rely upon my friendship and support"
"Belicve me, your friendship is appreci-
ated,' said Isabel, gratefully, returning
the pressure of the friendly hand, land 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
| Of l,or fa tn ho
'Why, it's re i romance" cried Mrs.
Dwight, when she had finished; Il always
liked Mr.. Falconer, but am sure that he is
a perfectly grand man now"
$50 am l." said Isabel, with a sigh. eff
I could only love him as he so richly de-
serves.''
"You will! Love can not help coming to
reward such n kind, unselfish character"
Mrs. Hervey and Mrs. Montelth, In the
meantime, had left the store.
"Pray tell me what you can have against
| Mrs. Falconer," said Mrs. Hervey, coldly.
Il think you owe me an apology for treat
q friend of mine so rude.y." She was
not at all afraid or Mrs. Monteltns elegant
apparel or snobbish manners; within her
own recollection she had been forced to live
plainly, having only been so pros porous for
a few years. She had always visited Mr..
Hervey's family, and his young wife had
never inquired upon what ground the ac-
quaintance originated.
81 am not accustomed to treating shop
girls as equals" replied Mrs. Monteith,
with disagreeable haughtiness; 'your
| friend, Mrs. Falconer, was nothing but 2
common shop-girl when Mr.. Falconer took
her up and married her, and made up my
mind when l heard the disgraceful story
from Nine Arnot her employer, that if
ever l came to Philadelphia would expose
her."
"What disgraceful story?" demanded Mrs.
| Hervey; she was still too indignant with
Mrs. Monteith to take in the fact of Isabers
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 Falconer isn't a 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"
II pity Mrs. Stanford said Mrs. Mon
teith. SIT must be terrible blow to have
such mesa lance IN the family"
Eyes, poor Mrs. Stanford!' cried Mrs.
Hervey, ironically. "She came here and
made them visit, appeared with Mrs Fal-
cOuer III puUllC, anu went nome pcrlcCIIy
charmed with her sister-in-law, as know
on undoubted authority" IN triumphant
tone, "and l 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 low position to higher
one with such grace as Mrs. Falconer has
DONE" she added, significantly,
Something in the latter allusien 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. Faleoper at
Cady's this morning, and Mrs. Montelth
gave her the cut direct in such an insolent
manner: | 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 rudeness? asked Aunt Katy, an
elderly woman with white hair and sweet
pale face, sanctitied 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
ha hrOu upht his youpor hri1o .hora op1 ba