The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-09-11
MYSTERIOUS MRS. MUM.

It was while driving through Central
park that delightful spring Sunday
afternoon with my friends, the Van
Dams, that got my first glimpse of the
lady; that is, my first glimpse since we
had bade each other formal farewell,
three years before, in the picturesque
little western town where she lived and
! fingered for three months in the hope
of realizing fortune on small real
estate investment. We passed each
other rapidly, and my attention was SO
drawn to the Inagniticence OF her equip
age and it's accoutrements that almost
failed to see who was the occupant OF
the vehicle; and 1 had such brief in
spection of the features that was by
no means sure that was not mistaken
as to her identity.
l in turn was evidently not observed.
She was reclining in the luxurious cush-
ions of the carriage, and, with true
aristocratic Indifference, saw nothing
but the impassive backs of her driver
and footman. There was snowy fur
boa about her shoulders, and that is all
can remember of her dress.
What a beautiful woman!" ex-
claimed Mrs Van Dam, without MOTTO
ing my low ejaculation of surprise.
THAT is the finest team of horses l
ever saw in Central park" declared her
husband, who sat with his back to the
front and had not seen the lady's face.
do you know who she is?" said Mrs.
Van Dam to me.
IL had such short view," I replied,
with some hesitation, 81 cannot be posi-
tive. But l think her name is Num-
Mrs. Beverly Mum. knew her in the
west. She was not very rich then. I
did not know that she was in New
York. She seems comfortable now"
"To say the least!" laughed Mrs. Van
Dam. "That is, of course, a private car
riage. 1 wonder I have not heard of her
before. She cannot have been here long.
A woman like that should be talked
about good deal, one way or another,
husband living?"
II believe not" answered, "unless
she has married within the last three
years."
"Um," said Mrs. Van Dam, which
might have meant several things. "Any'
way" she went on, "she seems to get
along very comfortably alone. Did
you know her very well, Felix? Is she
neutrality-suspicious." ?"
'She comes of very excellent family,
was told," 1 hastened to say. 81 knew
her pretty well. She is a very good
talker, and very careful of her conduct" :"
Mrs. Van Dam was not exactly salts
fed with my answers to her questions;
/ was conscious that she gave me a
sharp glance out of the corner of her
eye, as much as to say: "You are very
vague; you don't tell all you know"
Just at this point of the conversation
our carriage rolled out into Fifth av-
enue, and the subject was changed
But during the remainder of the drive
i continued to think of Mrs. Mum, and
to wonder how she came to be in New
York, and where she got the money to
make such an appearance. Surely
she didn't get her wealth from the Sc
acres of sand and rocks!" l laughed
under my breath. "She must have mar
ried again." 1 concluded-'married
some millionaire. Certainly she was
clever enough. She was the cleverest
woman / ever saw, and I'll wager she
has not lost good point in these three
years."
One night, some two weeks after my
drive in the park with the Van Dams
was having bit of supper at Del
monco's when Bennie Slatterly, fresh
from the theater, strolled in and Joined
me. Bennie comes from genuine old
stock, and is worth 100000 If a dol
Lar.
"Just the man want to see!" he ex'
claimed, as he dropped into seat oppo-
site. do you know Mrs. Munn-e
Mrs. Beverly Munn?"
The question was SO abrupt that an
sure my eyes answered him before
spoke.
.I know her slightly" confessed.
"Gadl I thought so," he said, with
satisfaction. "Met her in the west
somewhere, didn't you? Let me see
who was it told me? Oh, yes, Lulu
Kittredge. Said she got it from Mrs
Van Dam, and said you knew all about
Mrs. Mum. Now, Felix, open your
heart. Who is sheP All the fellow:
that have seen her have tumbled head
over heels in love with her, and I'm one
and not a soul knows anything abou
her, or where she came from. She's
a mystery if there ever was one, ano
there's not a man of us has the cour
age to question her. Hang it, she's the
cleverest woman ever met. She make:
you think you have known her always
IL nrlr l,aAr. n rnnirafad nIIaokil1I