Crawford avalanche., 1899-11-09
MRS. TROYER'S
FIRST RECEPTION.
BY EDGAR TEMPLE FIELD.
.~~~~~~N~

The woman who at 20 marries a
dreamer for love of his handsome face
seldom believes much in love at 40, If
she lives that long. Frances Arm
strong was no exception to this rule.
When she married Chester Arm
strong she was Of the opinion that
straight nose, dreamy eyes and tenor
voice outweighed in desirability ambi-
ton, energy and bank account, when
partner for life was being considered.
At the end of twenty years of poverty,
disappointment and humiliation she
had acquired the conviction that
$1,000 year and a little backbone
would glorify even the most malignant
squint.
And, strangely enough, she took ii
for granted that Margaret would share
her views. Margaret was her daughter
and had inherited her fathers nose and
her mothers decision of character.
When Armstrong finally closed his
dreamy eyes forever on this world his
widow mourned him outwardly as de-
Gently as her limited wardrobe would
permit and inwardly faced the con-
sciousness that nothing in his life had
become him half so well as the leav-
ing ii.
Poor Armstrong; He never would
have presumed to ask pretty Frances
to share his poverty If she had not so
obviously wanted him to. But, of
course, she didn't know that. She had
been a beautiful girl, and in spite of
her long, soul-wearing struggle with
misfortune was a beautiful woman
still, which was perhaps the reason
why Judge Troyer interested himself
in securing for her the small life insur-
ance which Armstrong, by crowning
act Of carelessness, had jeopardized by
lapse in payment just at the close Of
bis inefficient life.
The judge thought it was because Of
his old friendship with her father that
he showed the handsome widow this
and other kindnesses during the year
which followed her husbands death.
Wfat the widow thought no one knew.
but she accepted the benefits simply
and gratefully. Judge Troyer's income
was several times five thousand a year
and his squint was not aggressive.
When she also accepted the judges
offer of marriage some time later
Frances Armstrong told herself she
was marrying again solely with the
object Of giving Margaret the comforts
and advantages her own glrlhood had
conspicuously lacked. We are so much
less scrupulous about being honest
with ourselves than we are with other
people.
Margaret herself accepted the situa-
ton with an Indifferent acquiescence
her mother at once resented and ad-
mired. Was it possible, she asked her
self, that after eighteen years of snubs
and shabby gowns and scanty meals
the girl did not really appreciate the
home and position she was giving her?
There was no question about her own
enjoyment Of the mansion of which
the simple little marriage ceremony at
neighboring chapel made her the mis-
tress.
How she expanded and glowed In the
atmosphere of luxury with which she
found herself surrounded! After all, 1t
was her native element. Her fore
fathers had been colonial planters, and
she was well fitted to adorn her new
station. Every fiber of her being
thrilled with the consciousness that
she had come into her own at last.
Margaret, watching her curiously,
thought she received her guests with
much the air of a queen holding a
drawing room. She was very tander
with Margaret. The one real affection
which had survived the shocks and
disasters of her hard life in Frances
Troyer's heart was lavished on this
tall, pretty daughter. She would do
so much for her In the rich, new life
that was opening out so splendidly be-
fore them both. Margaret should nev-
er know of the notifications and hard
ships which had been her own portion.
Her heart sang as she planned the
girls future.
Mother and daughter were address
fng invitations to large reception
with which the judges wife was to re-
pay her already extensive social oblig-
ations, when their first difference oc-
Cured.
"Of course I shall send a card to
Roy" Margaret had said.
Nonsense" replied her mother
sharply. "He would know no one
here"
Roy Armstrong was distant cousin
Of Margaret's. a young fellow with eli