The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-07-16

Two days ago / met my friend
Edward Beaumont on the boulevard
He is "bon vivant o." AS soon as we
exchanged the salutations of the day
/ said:
"Come, and dine with me to-mor-
row"
mo, / thank you; it is impossible. -
"Why impossible?"
Because l am going to the mas
querade ball of the Princess Wassa-
owna. 1t will be a magnificent affair;
all the best people in society will be
there, elegantly dressed, ZEN masque,
consequently mysterious intrIgues
and coquetry ad libitum, topped off
with superb opportunities and
champagne"
"Ah, you are lucky" / answered
with an envious sigh.
We'll come and 60 with me. L will
present YOU"
"Whatl without my wife?"
''Of course
"But there's my mother-in-law NV
dear fellow, you don't know the severe
principles of that austere dame. She
would be furious Mt the bare thought
OF such a thing"
"Ah, you are too guileless. can
manage all that. | will send You n
dispatch saying: THE case of Gilliard
comes up tomorrow; you are needed;
come without delay 1t is the simp-
lest thing III the world to arrange, and
your mother-in-law will never know"
But have no costume. | would
not dare to go unmasked, and have
some driveler reporting my name in
his paper"
"No trouble about that, Babine,
the great costumer, is not ten steps
rom here. Let us go there and choose
costume. You can have it sent to
my rooms. CONG there and dress,
and your 'belle-mere' will never be the
wiser"
What would you have done in my
place? | did just what you would
have done. | said; "All right. Come
on"
y
Perhaps you have never met nv
mother-in-law. | will describe her.
Between As and so years OF age.
hair slightly gray. eyes still bright and
alert, reasonably embonpoint, ALWAYS
dressed in n black serge robe, and
poke bonnet, her lips thin, her voice
sharp; IN truth, her whole appearance
harsh and forbiddng.
But | must acknowledge she has
reared her daughter perfectly. | have
put ono reproach to make--she Inns
developed in the dear little thing an
exaggerated distrust of all conjugal
probity. | have often asked myself.
how this oustere person could have
learned the deceiving ways of our sex
Her acuteness does not tally with her
rigid principles and manners. Well. she
may have gained her knowledge from
the experience of her friends. You
know many persons speak Spanish
who have never been to Spain.
do not know if | have told Won
tins severe matron passes her DAYS at
my house. 1t was at first understood
that this arrangement would be tenn
porary. 1t has lasted seven wears.
and it seems from what my wife
says that | am the one who insists
upon her remaining-ugh-
The next day after meeting my
TREND Edward, during breakfast,
Louis, my valet, entered with n fold
ell envelope upon his waiter. | fe't
hot tingings run through my whole
body buS pretended not to see the
scamp standing by my chair.
"My son-in-lawl'
looked up with n most Innocent
candid expression.
well, my dear MADAME"
"l4ouis has n dispatch for YOU"
"A dispatch. All, let me see"
/ take it, unfold it, | feel the ewes
oil my wife and mother-in-law fixed
upon me, but keep my countenance.
read 1t slowly, then shrug my shout
uers with n gest ure OF annoyance.
anxiously.
Nothing serious, my dear" hand
her the dispatch. 1t reads: "Ihe !
case of Gilliard comes up tomorrow:
the solicitor begs you will come inn.
Ny wife gave a little sigh, sigh
which signilied:
Poor fellow, obliged to travel all |
night ON the railroad; how fatiguinp,
now annoying"
My mother-in-law said nothing. only
lNed her eyes upon me. | sustained
he fire bravely
That evening at s o'clock l left these
aides, a valise on my arm, promising
% return in twenty-four hours.
My friend Edward and arrived at
he Princess Wassalowna's about 10
''clock. The orchestra was intoxica-
ing. The gorgeous scene of simmer
ng sun Jewels, flowers. lights, all a
parking, dazzling, hurly-burly, en-
hanted me. forgot my austere
n,other-in-law and her rigid principles:
hen l was disguised; nothing like
nat TO give a fellow feeling of as
had assumed the character of n
Harlequin. The costumer had advised
lie TO take this travesty-you know
exacts an irreproachable figure.
lodesty torbids my adding: the man
rs a good Judge.
danced, ilirted, drank champagne.
ltrigqed. Oh, it was delicious. From
me. 70 time my friend Edward in :
assing would touch my elbow and !
": III the madam could only see /.
ou now, referring to my mother.in- .
". How we laughed,
Just then hand was placed on my :