Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-07

staid at home and talked to mother
Then played drafts with her for
awhile, and we managed to have very
enjoyable evening.
Next morning mother met me at the
table with smiles and about the best
breakfast had eaten for a long while.
"You must imagine that your wife
saw to this breakfast, she whispered.
Going to the city this morning who
should get into the bus but Miss Beau
fort. | bowed to her gracefully, passed
her fare to the conductor, and was about
TO sit down by her side when / hap
pened to think of my imitation wife
at home and kept my seat by the door,
Married men have no business talk
ing to the young ladies" said to my
self
Miss Beaufort looked at me rather
queerly, but said nothing, and thought
the bus would never get to the city
Thursday was the evening l was to
call on Vene, and forgot to send her
an excuse. On Friday a note came
from her, which mother took the liberty
of opening, as she thought would not
care, and she felt like representing my
wife in the desk. 1t was a tender mis-
sive, and somewhat surprised me when
| saw it. But what could | do? Mar
ried men have no business getting ten
der notes from young ladies. Inasmuch
as | had contracted to carry out
mothers plan for two weeks, left the
note for mother to answer She is a
very truthful woman, but in answering
the note she prevaricated.
She said that / was very sick, and as
natural consequence Vene called that
afternoon to see me, but | was at bust
ness, and mother had TO invent another
story. Then she had to come all the
way to the Office SO as TO keep me from
coming home my usual way for fear
Vene might catch us.
l laughed good deal at mother, and
Vene did not find us out, but Mrs. Jones
AN awful gossip--met her, and Vene
told her was sick, and the next day all
my society friends came round, among
them Miss Beaufort
Mother met her rather coldly, but in
vited her to stay awhile.
81 suppose Mr.. Silver is almost worn
out with SO much going out" said the
young lady.
He is much BETTER" said mother.
''but l do not think he will go out for
several weeks. think that shall keep
him at home"
II am SO glad" said Miss Beaufort;
mot that you are going to keep him at
home, but that he is not going out SO
much. / am getting so that fairly de-
test society. Here was woman who
had my mothers views, and they both
thereupon had confidential talk and
pleased each other nightly.
Then she asked the mater to call on
her mother, which she did.
Meanwhile was staying at home ev-
cry evening and was getting pretty tired
of it, as the two weeks were drawing to
close.
"Don't you think man ought to take
his wife out once in while2" said I to
mother.
"Why not?' said she.
''Then I'll take her to the theater to-
night" So took couple of reserved
seats at Drury Lane theater for the fol-
lowing night, and mother, who repre-
sented my wife, went with me.
We had hardly taken our seats before
noticed that they were adjoining those
of Miss and Mrs. Beaufort.
We went home together that night
and laughed and talked good deal.
I think mother told Mrs. Beaufort
what we had been doing, but I did not
hear it. know that several days later,
after my two weeks of married life were
over, went to call on Miss Beaufort.
We had a pleasant time together, and
just as 1 was about to leave the old lady
came in.
81 forgot to ask you, Mr.. Silver, what
you thought of married life," said she.
Miss Beaufort looked horrifed, but
laughed.
"Mother has been telling you, has
she?" said l.
''She has, said she.
"Well," said l, "during the two weeks
l was married l read three good books,
gained four pounds in weight, saved
e5 10s., besides paying mother for my
wife's board and the tickets to Drury
Lane"
"And who were you married tor
asked Miss Beaufort.
81 forgot to look" said /. hurried
home to see who my wife had been. The
envelope was just as had placed in in
my desk drawer. tore it open, and
there was the name Of Miss Beaufort.
"Well," said T. mother made her an
imitation wife, now will try to make
her real one.
And so did.-New York Mercury.