Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-09


Aiss ysns an she sab5set Of ustrimonys
''Thoaaas, eld son. aid 70 nyssif.
"vene - the one
Bat Nete sonshow or other dad not
exactly suit the case, and my mind re-
vertcd 90 Miss Beaufort. who wac smart.
pretty. stylish and suited better. bat
knew nothing about her financial stand
ing. THIS was an important matter TO
me In those days
MexEwhils the carriage approached
Miss Besufort's. had never been there
before. and % my surprise found IL %
b . very unpretentioos HOUSE.. con
fsss was disappointed. expected 30
drive up ~ an elegant mansion. be ush-
cred into . flne reception room by .
servant IN livery and there await the
coming u Miss Beaufort Then ex-
pected to make bold dash for her heart
propose. and possibly be accepted o.
declined BY the time the party was over
But noe 50. A little lady with gray
hair opened the door. and she was intro
duced 10 NE by Miss Beaufort rs mann
ma Miss Beaufort WAS ready and
waiting. % we walked out 70 tho car
rage.
Mr. Silver" said she after we had
seated ourselves, .dont you think there
b . great amount of snobbery in society
and lots Of downright foolishness?"
"wen. yes" said /.
-For instance" said she, there Is an
elegant carriage that you have brought
for NE. and yet the party is not half a
mile away"
This certainly was very refreshing.
had actually squandered one pound to
have this carriage for the evening, and
she was not pleased with it. i know
vene would have enjoyed ride in it.
Mr.. SILVER" she remarked again,
this Is the last party ] am going to this
winter"
We'll, whyY' said l. Aren't you go.
ing 70 take in the German club ball and
the others"
No." said she. Mamma hasn't the
money: she can't afford it. Besides, Mr.
Silver" she continued, ''can you really
afford to spend so much money on So
ciety?"
Hooked at her. There was honesty
fairly shining out Of her pretty black
eyes, even If she wasn't very polite. so
answered her honestly: e
mo, Miss Beaufort, cannot!
haven't saved penny this winter. and
get big salary too. 1t seems idiotic.
II have met You so frequently / fee
quite well acquainted with you, though
I expect have been little impolite"
NO. said l. II an glad that yor
take that much interest In me-"
Then we changed the subject had
q splendid time at the party and enjoyed
Miss Beaufort's company very much.
found her level headed and bright, il
she was too frank.
The next day told mother about it
She said she admired Miss Beaufort fol
her common sense. though she had never
sean her. Then she referred again t.
my getting married.
"Suppose, said she, ''that You pretend
for week or 50 that you are marrieC
md 30 how it goes?'
An imitation wife" said /.
why notY' she said. Il will writ,
Tie name Of q young lady on card, sea
IL in an envelope and you can lock it il
your desk. Then let US suppose you arr
married TO her for say two weeks. Dur
ing that time / want you act Just as i
the LADY were here in person and you
lawfully welded wife,"
Whose name are You going to writ
On the cardY' said l.
"Never mind" said she. II will writ
NY Wefnence and neither of US vii
hscsshe . word about this to living
SOUL"
We agreed on this. Mother wros.
the name on the card and sealed 1t Il
the envelope. / knew it was Ven
Wrght's name. so / decided to imagin
that vene was there in person, and q
We commenced the week.
Monday night came. That was tn
night Of the German club ball: but
staid ut home and talked 10 mother
Then l played drafts with her TO
awhile. and we managed to have . yer,
enjoyable evening.
l
table with smiles and about the bes
breakfast had eaten for o long while
lyon must imagine that your wifi
| INV TO this breakfast" she Whispered.
9oing 10 the city this morning VIII
| should get into the bus but Miss Beau
fort. bowed to her gracefully. passes
her fare TO the conductor, and was abou
10 sit down by her side when I ha7
pened 10 think of my imitation VIII
st home and kept my seat by the door.
Married men have no business talk
ing to the young ladies'" said l to my
self.
Miss Beaufort looked at me rathe
quecrly, but said nothing. and though
the bus would never get To the city.
| Thursday was the evening / was {
call on vene, and I forgot to send he
IN excuse. On Friday q note cam
from her. which mother took the libert
Of opening. "a she thought would ne
care, and she felt like representing IN
wife In the desk. It Wa tender mis-
sive. and somewhat surprised me whe
ssw IL. But what could dos Mar
NED men have no business getting ter
der notes from young ladies. Inasmue
as had contracted to carry on
mothers plan for two weeks. left I'll
note fos mother 30 answer. She Is
very truthful woman. bet in snswerin
the note she prevaricsted.
She said that l was very sick. and as
natural consequence vene called tia
afternoon to - me. bat I was st bus!
ness. and mother had % invent aaothe
! story. Then she had 10 come all tn
way 10 the ofsce 50 ~ 70 keep me fros
coming home my usual way for fea