Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-25
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Mr.. Rivera Uato'tuaats En- ssiencs et uls-
taking I Carriage " Hack.

Calls had accumulated upon the list
Of young Mrs. Rivers, calls Which In
common decency had to be returned.
Pretty much all Of Penitence park had
come to see her, and she had put on
returning the doubtful favor, as she
considered 1t (being newly wed and
preferring the society Of Rivers to any
other kind). until people had begun to
comment. When people began to COM
ment In Penitence park the commentee
was not usually one to be envied.
Hitherto public opinion about the
young Riverses confined itself to re-
marking that they were excessively
| devoted to each other and wondering
why Mrs. McAnan hadn't called upon
| them.
Everybody knew that Mrs. McAnan.
who was a milionairess of lofty posi-
ton and censorious mind, didn't APP
prove of frivolus characters, and 1t
| was conjectured that she might re-
gard the Rivcrses as frivolous. SO alb
horrent was any sort of vain show to
her that all her belongings, from the
outside aspect of her mansion to the
antiQuated eqnipage in which she
made her rounds. were sombre to the
extent Of actual rustiness.
That Mrs. McAnan hadn't been to
the Rivers house was all the more re-
marked because everybody else had.
Although she pretended. even to her
self, that she didn't care mite. young
Mrs. Rivers was somewhat put out
at the implied disapproval.
There are plenty of calls that I've
rot IA a ka tine 10 ~La
said to Rivers when il really could not
be put off any longer. ''Stop at Bits
& Brides on your way down, dear,
and tell them to send up a coupe at 3
o'clock"
whats the matter with the horse,
Polly?" asked her husband.
James is away" she replied, "and
anyway our rig isn't formal enough
for the kind of calls I'm going to make
Little 10-minutes ones, and a lot of
them. Oh. do hope they'll all be
out!'
For their sakes hope they'll all be
N" said Rivers with an admiring look,
which was followed by an interlude
and then his departure.
At five minutes to 3 young Mrs
Rivers stood before the mirrow carry
ing on with spring bonnet after the
manner of the gentleman who balances
q brOomstick upon the tip Of his nose,
when there was a rattle of wheels up
on the gravel of the driveway. She
stepped over to the window and
looked.
We'll! OF all things.' she calculated.
What on earth are Bits & Bride
thinking of? They must think I'm
Noarh's wife to send me such an ark
as that
In fact. it was a very unattractive
nondescript vehicle that trundled up
the well-kept driveway behind a horse
with an expression of patient sadness
and came to a stop at the front door
under Mrs. Rivers window. Peering
out she could just see, over the slop-
ing roof of the piazza. the top of the
coachman's hat, which presently dis
appeared, indicating that he had
jumped down to ring the bell.
He might have saved himself the
trouble" said Mrs. Rivers to herself
with vicious energy. Then she called:
.'Driver!"
There was no answer.
''Driveri Coachman!'
Sill there was no reply but the door
bell tinkled.
Probably they've sent a dead man
out to drive the hearse," remarked
Mrs. Rivers. Il might call him Jehu,
but l know that rattle-trap antedates
Jehus time. Driver! Can't you hear
,ne?"
''Yessu1n,'' replied voice from be-
lou OBJ l. =
with astoishment backed out into
range of the window. did you want
me, mum?''
mo; don't. nor that old cart you
brought with you! You tell Bits &
Bride that If they can't"
beg pardon, mum; that amt the
Don't interrupt me. Go back at
once. The idea of coming here with
such turnout! Is that what you call
coupe? What is the matter with
you? You look at me as though You
thought me crazy?"
''.Yessum: no, num-" stammered the
man. mo. mum; that amt the coupe,
num-
Then go back and bring one at
once" Young Mrs. Rivers leaned over
and took another look at as much Of
the equipage as she could get in range.
and in her disgust and wrath, remem-
bering the proverbial rustiness of Mrs.
McAnan's general equipment, broke out
with sad lack of policy:
why, 1 wouldn't ever call on Mrs.
McAnan in that thing! Take 1t back
at sonce!"
She left the window. Hair minute
later there was knock at the door.
The maid presented q card. It was en-
graved Mrs. Henry Henderland Nc
.Anan." Young Mrs. Rivers turned
white
"when-how did she Gomez" she
gasped.
Just now in her carriage, ma am"
said Marie.
Il can't see her. Tell her I'm ILL.,"
She said, ma am, as how she was so 1
glad to know that you was receiving,
today. for she heard you converting
with her coachman. And she smiled
awful queer. ma'am.'
There was q long pause while var-
ious projects from deliberate murder
to ignominious flight, passed through
Mrs. Rivers mind.
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