Middletown transcript., 1898-03-12

watching her mother with suppressed
merriment in her pretty features.
"What do you say. Sallie-to 60 or
not to go?''
"I don't care a button about going.
It will be perfect crush
"And you'll be tired out standing, /"
said Storer.
"Yes, and my back has just forgotten
the reception last week.
"Oh, have no patience with such
coupled What is the use of having
everything and being SO Indifferent to
society"
"Hang societyl' said storer. picking
up his child, a boy in skirts, and tossing
him toward the ceiling. "We did our
duty to it. We have something better to
think about now"
"There are lots Of people to crowd
about Miss Evans, mother. She'll never
miss Jack and me, and / need all the
vitality possess for my own use"
"You- can represent the whole fam
ily," said Storer, with a side glance at
his wife that made her eyes twinkle.
"Oh, I'm dreadfully disappointed I
wanted Sallie to wear yellow and put
on all her diamonds. +"
Mother, my things wouldn't be no.
ticed in that gathering. I'm sorry to re-
fuse you, but you know people only go
into society so as to get comfortably out
of it, and when Jack and I were mar
ried we agreed that we had no more
time to waste upon it,"
"We'll enjoy your account Of the
affair."" said Storer as he followed Mrs.
Jnstis and put her in her carriage.
Mrs. Justis was very particular con-
cerning the f1t of her gowns, and new
dressmaker suggested fresh triumphs
in that direction. A talent for devising
striking effects was one Of her gifts.
Her chief difficulty lay in getting her
dressmaker to accept her designs and
develop them without changing or mod
flying them.
AS her daughter had decided to de-
cline the opportunity for displaying her
beauty and belongings Mrs. Justis de-
terrnined to make her own costume a
thing to be remembered. She haunted
the dressmaker's habitation, and one
morning was obliged to wait her turn
in the front room on the second story.
There was nothing in the apartment
that could interest her. The scattered
fashion plates irritated her. Her own
conception of dress held her imagina-
tion satisfied.
She sat by the window and glanced
at the opposite houses. In one Of them
something unusual was taking place.
An express wagon was receiving new
trunk. and in the window fronting hers
a pretty girl in tan colored suit was
watching its departure.
She was very unusual looking girl,
Mrs. Justis thought; like a picture,
with the sunlight striking golden
shades in her hair, which crowned
pair of wonderful eyes Presently a
carriage drove up and stopped. A man
alighted, ran up the stoop. pulled the
bell, and turning glanced up and down
the street. Then the door was opened,
and he entered.
Mrs. Justis grasped the curtain. Her
blood ran cold; she grew numb, horror
stricken. Surely that was John Storer.
1mpossiblel She must be dreaming. It
is wonderful what nkenesses exist in
this world. Had she screamed or done
anything silly? No, nobody came. She
must recover herself. But the door op-
posite was opening, and out came the
man leading the pretty girl. He had his
hat of, speaking to an elderly woman
in the doorway.
Mrs. Justis felt the cold perspiration
on her forehead. She watched the cou-
pie enter the carriage and driYe of.
It was John Storer. What did 1t all
mean?
She sat motionless, her brain in
capable of thought, her pulse audible.
Nine. Tilson came in all smiles and
volubility.
$50 sorry, but it was quite unavoid-
ablel Quite little excitement in the
street, We've been wondering If it's
wedding. We can't find out thing
about the girl, for the people in that
house have no servant. But we have
been watching the gentleman for days
He is so attentive-there at all hours,
and his name is Storerl Some bundles
with his card attached were left here in
mistake. He's so nice lookingl Dear
me, Mrs. Justis, are you feeling ill?'
Eyes. My head troubles me. / think
I'll have to come another day. am not
able to stand this morning. Do nothing
until you hear from me.
Mrs. Justis reached the street and
turned homeward, dragging herself
along in condition bordering on dis
traction. One idea was fixing itself in
her brain. Having reached the house,
she ordered the carriage and drove to
her daughter's residence. snowy dwell
ing on Seventy fifth street. Mrs. Etorer
was on the stoop, waving her hand to
little Jack as he turned the corner with
his nurse. She gave her mother a bril-
liant smile that suddenly faded as she
caught the expression Of the elder wom-
ans features.
why, what is the matter?"
"Come up stairs. Sallis.
Mrs Justis shut and locked the door
Of her daughters room and turned ex-
citedly on the startled girl
Your husband u . yillainl Get