The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-07
A STORY OF A WIG.

J
a hearty greeting, joined her.
At first 1 felt vexed, but soon forgot
that while watching the fair intruder.
She was but medium-sized, but the
majesty of her step gave an impress
/ sion of superior height at the same
time that it allowed perfect elastic
grace. Besides she was well dressed
and one forgives a good deal in a wo-
man who is gracefully and we'll dress
e1.
Presently they stopped at a stately
doorway and the lady, taking leave,
] turned a face that l knew.
Miss Summers had been a belle at
! Washington the winter before and l
/ had met her few times there.
1t had been several months since my
/ last meeting with her, and stood walt
/ ing to see if she would recognize me.
! Miss Summers, interrupting herself, in
the middle of a sentence, extended a
white hand. from which she had just
Withdrawn the glove, and gave me
/ cordial greeting.
And you are done with the patent
/ Officer" she said.
Yes; the object for which 1 stayed
J there is accomplished. 1 shall now sit
down under my own vine and fig
tree"
L passed your place last week. she
+ said. 1T is just perfect nest. 1 want
ed to go in"
You would have set all the birds
singing with delight if you had. Can
1 hope that you will some time do me
the honor?"
We'll make a party out there" said
/ Fred, eagerly.
/ We'll, come up soon, and We'll talk
it over. Bring Mr.. Morgan in some
time with you, Fred and Miss Sum-
mers gave US a smile and disappear
ed
The next evening 1 went up to Mrs.
/ Ferguson's with Fred and was passa-
bly, received by madam. who graciously
remembered having met me- several
times in society at Washington, ig
noring the fact that 1 was at that
time merely a salaried clerk in the
patent office. She also complimented
me on my writings.
Il have just finished reading from
'Gleanings,' and find it charming, of
course" she said, patronizingly, smil-
ing as she arranged the canoes on her
still fair arm. You should write US
book every month" And she turned
to greet a newcomer, a commonplace
looking man whom she received with
marked cordiahty.
Well, gold does gid. and Mr.. Selwyn
could count his thousands by thous-
ands. Besides, the man was not Cd
ious, he was simply inferior Had ne
been poor he would have made Mrs.
Ferguson a very good groom, but 1
doubt if she would have made him her
coachman, her horses being of tenn
per that required a firm hand and
some self-possession in a driver
The gentleman approached Rose, who
stood near me, and presented superb
boquet all of pink flowers, a, fragrant
floral blush.
''oh, thank you" she said, with per-
feet GOODNESS. They are very beau
tiful. See, mamma, Mr.. Selwyn has
brought me some flowers
Mr.. Selwyn became the color of his
offering, and Immediately made sue
cession of protesting bows. Mrs. Fer
guson pretended not to hear, but gave
her stepdaughter a flashing glance
Here Rose introduced Mr.. Selwyn to
me and Fred and Eva joined us, and
we had a merry time for half an hour.
l don't know whose fault 1t was-per-
haps mine, for 1 always liked absurd
ities-but after a while we found our
selves playing Muggings, tanning our
selves with laughter. unscared by the
superb frescoes that scared over our
heads. Well, we scared etiquette out
Of those parlcrs for once, and when
Fred and I went out, blessed by an
invitation from Mrs. Ferguson to come
soon again, the girls followed US to
the door.
There stood my poor horse wet with
dew, champing the bit and paving i'm
patiently
Il wish we were all going out into
fha country with Won Said OOca I,a~
beautiful face shining in the moonlight.
1.-THE night is so fine
IF not tonight, will you not go some
other time, Miss Summers?" I asked
eagerly.
Il should like it. Wouldn't it be
pleasant, Eva?'
Let us, we four, no more ride out
there next moon," proposed Fred. 1T
would be capital to go out in the af-
ternoon, have tea with Morgan, and
come back by moonlight. Only don't
let anybody else know, for any addi-
ton would spoil the fun
1t was so decided by reclamation just
as Mrs. Ferguson's sharp call came
from the door: Girls, you will take
cold
One Wednesday morning, some weeks
after, we all went to see 'Icebergs,''
then just opened for exhibition. The
next afternoon was appointed for our
ride, which we had tacitly agreed
should appear 20 be impromptu.
was in the best of spirits and was pay
ing all possible attention to madam
when Fred said to me in a loud whis-
per:
"All right about the horses, Morgan.
We will start al o'clock
Clumsy Fred, not to see the lady at
his elbow.
What are you plotting now, Fred?''
asked Mrs. Ferguson, giving him a tap
with her fan.
He started guilty.
Fred and the young ladies are go
ing to ride out to my place tomorrow"
l said TRANQUILITY, but full of rage.
They have promised to take tea with
me-
saw her eyes flash. She knew in
stantly that we had not intended for
her to know. but she controlled herself
to say with smiling reproach:
Are you not going to invite me?"
not speak, 1 gained time by bowling pro-
foundry.
!. Pardon me, madam I replied eau
tiously any time after tomorrow | shall
be most happy to have you make up a
party to visit me, but ii is now too late
to make any change in my arrange
ments,"
She gave a smiling nod and turned
away.
Never mind whispered Eva to me as
/ left them: Il will try to administer a
sugTeptitious dose of SIENNA to Mrs.
Ferguson before tomorrow afternoon, or
to upset the teapot on her head, or in
some way TO disable her.
For me. | went to Fred's Office shut
myself into his sanctun, TO the exclusion
OF the proper owner, and proceeded to
beat my brains. The idea came like a
FASH and as ii came / saw Fanny, Mrs
L,caa.rr1 u 1-.ait .=<..<l