The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1895-06-22

not from her glance. as h ent over
him, saying softly: Poor, dear James!
Still in your morning dress? What does
this5mean? 1 am afraid you are getting
into untidy ways"
Mr.. Fenton groaned by way of reply.
Mary" he murmured, feebly, after
a moment. evil you accept al hum
bled mans apology? | never dreamed
before what a n~ever-ending round of
work a'wOman's life could be. I'm a
perfect wreck-but | speak for myself.
You will never heal another word of
criticism from me if you o like a
rag-bag."
Mary dropped a kiss on his fevered
brow. 1t was the seal of forgiveness.
A quick look about the room showed
her it's disorder. but she kept her
amusement to herself.
81 have had a busy dag, too" she
pursued, brightly, taking off her bon
net. 'FirSt. your bills. The people
were so astonished when a woman
walked in to collect that they handed
over the money without a word, and
before 11O'clock my pocketbook was
full. That was the end of my duty.
Business is rather amusing, James, L
think. and not too exciting, for it left
me a good many hours. you see, before
it was time to come home, so l went to
Cousin Lizzie's."
James gave a start. Cousin Lizzie
was a butterfly of fashion, for whom
Mary's tongue was unusually a lash
of Scoru.
Eyes, Cousin Lizzie. And I said,
Lizzie, I am not well dressed That's
no news. said Lizzie. No, but l want
~ hn' SnyS suhat'S pnn1 nnNyS '
says Lizzie. Put on your things
says I, and take me to your tailor
So she did, and I've ordered a very
smart gown. my dear, which is quite
equal to anything of any neighbours,
a new bonnet and a cape, gloves II
boots and so on. And l have had some
corSets home from Mrs. Van Dusen's
own woman. You shall lever have
occasion to complain of me again,
James. 'Well-groomed.' l thank thee,
Jim, for teaching me that word"
AS she went into the closet to put
away her wraps, she stole a glance at
her husband. 1t found him in a state
of collapse, and in the remote depths
of hat closet she broke into a little
furry of laughter only to be heard by
the moth balls among the furs.
Just her the supper bell tinkled.
Gomez called Mrs. Fenton, gayly,
pulling her husband upefrom the sofa.
They went and by tacit consent the
days doings dropped out of conversa-
ton.
James Fenton slept the sleep of a
penitent sinner that night and the
morrow restored the old regime. But
the seed sown had dropped into good
ground and the next Sunday morning
the head of the housekeeping depart
ment was mysteriously long over hel
toilet. When she emerged at length
she was a vision of gored skirt, huge
sleeves, smart cape, wide-bowed bon
net, new boots and gloves. Her hail
shone like satin, and as for her figure
it was as trim and trig as a fashion
plate. Mr.. Fenton opened his moutl
. and shut it again. He was dumb
But the children shrieked with deligh
and p%iroutted around the dazzling ap
partition and curiosity.
: L say isn't mamma a daisy" criet
Tommy, tossing his hat in the air.
; Mabel creet timidly up fingered tn
folds of the flaring skirt, and look
! ing up into her mothers vivid face
she said hesitatingly:
Are you pretty, mamma|'
: mo, dear" answered Mary Fenton
demurely, but | am well-groOmed an,
possess a very great charm"
! There was a small pile of bills o
. Mr.. Fenton's desk the first of tn
' month. He Unite up the total wit
!, a sigh. made out a check and wrote t
= the fishing club that he could not tax
: the trip with them after all. Then h
went around to the office of the Ever
= ing Comet and stopped his subscriI
u ton to that unfortunate newspaper
Z BOSTON eHra1d.