Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-08-08

ana she was nOU pledSeO WIN IL. L
know Vene would have enjoyed a ride
in it.
'sMr. Silver,'' she remarked again,
''this is the last party am going to
this winter"
ssWell, why?'' said I. "Aren'5 you
going to take in the German club ball
and the others?"
''No,n said she. s'Mamma hasn't
the money; she can't afford it. Be
sides, Mr.. Silver" she continued,
''can you really afford to spend so
much money on society?''
I looked at her. There was honesty
fairly shining out of her pretty black
eyes, even if she wasn't very polite,
/ so answered her honestly:
ssNo, Miss Beaufort, I cannot! [
haven't saved a penny this winter,
and I get Dig salary. It seems
idiotic.'
[ have met you SO frequently feel
quite well acquainted with you,
though 1 expect I have been little
impolite."
ssNo." said l. II am glad that you
take that much interest in me-"
Then we changed the subject. l
had a splendid time at the party and
enjoyed Miss Beaufort's company
very much. I found her level headed
and bright, if she was too frank.
The next day told mother about
it. She said she admired Miss Beau
fort for her common sense, though
she had never seen her. Then she re-
ferred again to my getting married.
"Suppose, said she, "that you pre-
tend for week or SO that you are
married and see how it goes?'
can imitation wife," said |.
ssWhy not?" she said. I will write
the name of a young lady on card,
seal it in an envelope and you can
lock it in your desk. Then let us sup
pose you are married to her for say
two weeks. During that time l want
you to act just as if the lady were
here in person and your lawfully
welded wife,
ssWhose name are you going to
write on the card?" said I.
nNever mind,'' said she. [ will
write my preference and neither OF
us will breathe a word about this to
living soul.''
We agreed on this. Mother wrote
the name on the card and sealed it in
the envelope. I knew it was Vene
Wright's name, so decided to i'm
agine that Vene was there in person,
and so we commenced the week.
Monday night came. That was the
night of the German club ball; but l
staid at home and talked to mother.
Then I played drafts with her for
awhile, and we managed to have a
very enjoyable evening.
Next morning mother met me at |
the table with smiles and about the !
best breakfast had eaten for a long
while.
esYou 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
Beaufort. I bowed to her gracefully, |
passed her fare to the conductor, and
was about to sit down by her side
when happened to think of my imi-
tation wife at home, and kept my seat
by the door.
s'Married men have no business
talking to the young ladies'" said T
to myself.
WI n0Jynd OF o1
queerly, but said nothing, and I
thought the bus would never get to
the city.
Thursday was the evening | was to
call on Vene, and forgot to send her
an excuse. On Friday note came
from her which mother took the lib
erty of opening as she thought I
would not care, and she felt like rep
resenting my wife in the desk. 1t
was tender missive and somewhat
surprised me when [ saw it. But
what could I do? Married men have
no business getting tender notes from
young ladies. Inasmuch as I had
contracted to carry out mothers plan
for two weeks, I 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 I was at
business, 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.
I laughed a good deal at mother.
and Nene did not find Us ont but Mrs