Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1891-11-18
The Beauty's Boudoir.

OuO Hou tOlu ulluj however, GQaC II any
one called" and the boy in buttons
looked inquisitively at the elderly
lady, dressed with Quaker-like sim
plicity, whose knock hard brought him
to the door, Miss Weston had said
that if any one called she was to watt
Eyes, OF course we shall wait" cried
Herbert TOrrens, who had stayed be-
hind to give some directions to the
driver of the brOugham, and ran up
the steps just in time to hear the last
word. You will not object, will you,
mother? l should be sorry for you to
miss seeing Linda this morning"
Mrs. Torrens readily assented to
this. Not that she was at all eager
to make the acquaintance of the beau.
tiful girl with whom her son had fallen
desperately in love.
But Herbert had entreated it as a
favor although convinced in his own
mind that he had found the onlv
woman in existence who could make
him happy, he wanted his mothers
sanction to their union, and could not
resolve to ask Linda Weston TO be his
till he had gained it.
Mrs. TOrrens had so often said she
should like to see him we'll married
that he was surprised and disap.
pointed when she demurred at bis
choice.
Yet, when asked why, she could not
give an answer that sounded satisfac.
tory. She had no doubt, she said, that
Miss Weston was as fair and charming
as he described her. Others had sung
the beauty's praises in her ears as en-,
Enthusiastically as her son.
And as good? Well, Herbert mus
have patience with her if she declined
to express an opinion on that point
until she knew the young lady.
The only and mOtherless daughter
of rich man, who was reported t.
have allowed her her owl Wav il
every within and fancy, her natur,
must be fine, one, indeed, if it wa
injured to some extent by such exces
sive indulgence.
Granted that Linda has been .
spoiled child" argued her lover, "may
not her faults be merely such as shI
will easily conquer as soon as thew ar,
pointed out? When she has such 1
wise, kind friend at her elbow as vol
will be, my dear mother, she will
prove herself as that you or 1 coulC
wish"
If Mrs. Torrens sighed, and mar
veled that in three short weeks the
smiles of beauty should have cas-
such glamour over her ordinary sen
sible son, she was too prudent to tel
him her thoughts.
He had begged her to come up t.
town from her pleasant house on Cliff
ford Downs that he might INTRODUCED
her to Linda, fand she had complied
with his request so promptly that sh,
arrived on the preceding evening and
was ready for the ordeal some hour
before Miss Weston dreamed of he
coming.
The page was ushering the visitors
to the drawing room, but as they pas
sed the half-Open door of Miss Yves
toms bOudOir, Herbert Torrens halteC
there.
Now, he secretly detested Mr.. Yves
toms large, over-furnished salon, gaud,
with gliding and satin damask, anC
dreaded the effect it would have or
the more refined taste of his mother
Surely she and Linda would NEE
with more ease in the cosier apartment
where the young lady spent bel
mornings, and had on one or two Oc
casiOns received him.
"There is a fire here" he said, has
tily, land you are apt to be chilly
mother. Miss Weston will not lool
upon it as an intrusion"
Mrs. TOrrens submitted to be led t,
a chair by the fire-side, and her glanc
slowly travelled around the beauty
boudOir. The inspection was not
satisfactory one. Dusty corners and
general air of untidiness proved tina
Miss Weston was not a good house
keeper. In no we'll ordered househol,
would such disorder been permitted t.
reign.
LINDA reads a good DEAL" sal
Herbert, land not novels only I rec
commended Montaign's essays to hel
and she tells me she is delighted wit
them"
The book certainly lay on the tabl
but when Mrs. TOrrens picked it u
she saw that the leaves were sti
uncut. However, she refrained frou
pointing this out to her son, who wa
calling her attention to a piece of yer,
delicate embroidery stretched in
frame.
"You see," he smilingly observed, a
he held it up for his mothers inspeC
ton "yOu see Linda shares your Low
of womanly occupations. She tells m
she is just completing q collar an
cuffs of HOnitau lace which she pro
poses offering to you you will not re
fuse her gift, will your"
Mrs. TOrrens was mute, for he
keener observation had detected tha
the needle in the embroidery her so
expected her to praise had rusted int
1t. Vexed at her silence the lover r,
sented IL.
"If you have come here prejudice
against Miss Weston it is useless a
tempting to win your approval of any
thing she says or does"
"Not prejudioed my boy, but unabI
to help seeing that you are actin
hastily. You met this young lady fc
the first time only three weeks age
/ EtAn ~ W HOooA1AO Nnub III 81 6AAUEI
time you know her well enough
spend your life with her?"
But her hearers impatience cause
Mrs. forensic pause. Not for worlI
would she give him reason to think b.
unjust, or Indifferent to his happiness
and laying her hand gently on his arr
she gentlychanged her to tone.
suppose we resolve to say no mo
on the subject till have made Mi
Weston's acquaintance / shall
very glad If am able to reindorse Vol
favorable opinion of her. Remembe
nothing would grieve me more tbs
not to be able to feel a mothers affe
ton for your wife.
But Herbert was not to be appease
many little circumstances We're CO
spring to irritate him. Linda had !
fused visit from him on the pFevio
evening, on the plea that she shou
be busy finishing the collar and gu
o she intended presenting to his mOth'
Yet on her table, with a fan and fad
bouquet, lay programme of one
the theatres. Who could have left
: there but herself2
Again He was not as blind to /
slatternly appearance Of the you
ladvis sanctum as he chose to see