The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-04-06
Their Daughter=in=L law.
EY EMMA A. OPPER.

said. but l suppose that's because
I'm fond of her. l don't think she
would be called beauty. And as for
genuis-she's very clever at accounts
but she doesn't sing, or paint, or any
thing of that sort. She's never had
the time or money for such things
poor girl"
But Marsery had turned away with
an impatient gesture.
There is nothing, then" she said
despairingly. mo; it couldn't be
worse!"
Harvey rose from his seat, with an
energy which set the bell in the castor
jingling.
This is absurd" he said Indignantly
1T is more than absurd; it is unjust
and dnarrow-minded. How wcensible-pre-
sumably sensible people," Harvey
corrected, rather bitterly, "can say, in
regard to person they have never
seen. that it could not be worse, is
past my comprehension"
1--WE will not talk of it." said Mrs.
Seely, holding up a restraining hand.
discussion will not mend matters.
And you are to be married next
| month";"
"On the NINTH" Harvey rejoined.
! "Of course you will all be there?" he
added, rather obviously.
by no means!" said his father,
shortly.
"You could hardly expect it," said
| Mrs. Seely, reproachfully.
very well; If Mohammed won't
come You've heard the observa-
tion. We shall pay you visit imme-
d!ately on our return from our we'd
ding tour. with your kind permission
You must know Dora"
When he left the house, an hour
later, he had the required permission
His mother and the girls had even
kissed him goodby, in an injured and
reproachful way; and his father had
shaken hands, coolly.
But his ears still rang with that
odious assertion, ut could not be
worse!" and he was thoughtful all t.c
way back to the city.
II.
The Seelys were in a state of sub
dued excitement.
Harvey's wedding tour was COM
pleted; and they had received a tele-
gram that afternoon to the effect that
he would be ION hand" tonight, with
his new wife.
Thn Int %O1
dinner; and Mrs. Seely wandered
from one end of it to the other, ner-
vously.
Her husband sat under the chande-
licr with his evening newspaper; but
he was not reading it. Kitty and
Margery futtered about uneasily,
watching through the window for the
carriage from the railroad station.
Il hope" said Margery. with a ner-
vogs attempt at cheerfulness, that
. l,e will be barely decent-present-
- Think of the people who will
hope she won't be worse than
prepared to see her."
She couldn't be-" said Mrs. Seely,
mally.
There was a roll OF wheels, and the
twinkle Of the carriage-lamp at the
door, and the bell rang sharply.
Kitty and Margery clasped hands in
sympathetic agitation; Mr.. Seely
dropped his newspaper and arose; and
Mrs. Seely advanced toward the hall
door with dignity.
1~o~od uy{do hofOro che rOu1d
reach it. and Harvey entered, his face
suffused with genial. blissful smiles.
This is my wife," he said. proudly.
"My mother, Dora; my father; my
sisters Kitty and Margery!"
And, with a caressing touch, he
took by the hand and led forward
among them
What?
Mr.. Seely gazed with startling eyes;
Mrs. Seely dropped the hand she had
started to hold out, with her face
growing ashy, and Kitty and Margery
gasped.
For what they saw was woman OF
apparently 40 years, with race
powdered and painted in the most un-
blushing manner, with thin gray hair
crimped over a wrinkled forehead in
a sickening affectation of youthfulness,
and with a diminutive, gaily-trimmed
bonnet perched thereon; with an al
fected, mincing gait and a simpering
smile.
This is my wife," Harvey repeated.
"Have you no welcome for her?'
The bride Uttered.
"Mebbe they think l amt good
enough for 'em. dear?" she observed,
tartly.
Impossible, my pet" Harvey re-
sponded; and patted her falsely
blooming cheek aTectionately. Be
sides. if you were but shadow
caricature of your beautiful self, they
would not have been surprised. Iney
were prepared for the worst
He looked at his horrified relatives
meaningly.
The truth of his words flashed over
them.
Yes, they had all said. repeatedly
that 1T could not be worse" But