The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-07-05

"This is my wife," he said, proudly.
"My mother, Dora; my father; my
sisters Kitty and Margery!'
And, with caressing touch, he took
by the hand and led her 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 face pow
dered and painted in the most unblush-
ing manner, with thin gray hair
crimped over a wrinkled forehead in a
sickening aff'ectation of youthfulness,
and with diminutive, gaily-trimmed
bonnet perched thereon; with an
affected, mincing gait and simpering
smile.
"This is my wife," Harvey repeated.
"Have you no welcome for herr"
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 bloom
ing cheek affectionately. Besides, if
you were but a shadow caricature
Of your beautiful self, they would not
have been surprised. They were pre-
pared for the worst"
He looked at his horritied relatives
meaningly.
The truth of his words flashed over
them.
Yes, they had all said, repeatedly,
that "it could not be worse" But this
wretched, wrinkled, bedizened crea-
ture-had they dreamed of this?
Harvey watched them with an un-
disturbed smile-his father, turning
away at last and rubbing his forhead
with his handkerchief weakly; Mrs.
Seely, gazing at her daughter-in-law
with dreadful fascination, and the
girls sinking into chairs in dismayed
silence.
"Well, MOTHER" said Harry, light
ly, "of course new addition to the
family is an object of interest but
forget that have an appetite, and
getting married has rather improved
it. Take off your bonnet, my own.
Here, Kittyw
Kitty came forward with set face
and tightly-closed lips, to receive the
marvellous combination of beads and
silk flowers held out to her with a
disgusting air of sprightleness. She
was afraid to trust herself to speak.
Poor Mrs. Seely, sick at heart, had
made her way to the bell and rang it,
and dinner came down presently.
"Turtle soup" the bride observed.
looking round the table with a girlish
smile; "ain't nothing l admire so Just
pass that celery, father-in-law. Deli
cious! amt it, darling 7"
Extremely, my dear,' said the
bride groom, complacently.
Ignorant and vulgar! What dread
fnl things would they discover next?
: 1t Was an evening they never forgot.
The unfortunate parents sat with pale
faces and unsteady hands, staring into
their empty plates, or looking at each
other with fresh horror at each simper-
ing, senseless, ungrammatical remark
of their terrible daughter-in-law.
Kitty and Margery excused them
selves during the second course, and
to their rooms to cry themselves to
sleep, in an agony of dismay and NOR
tification.
~ shan't think of setting up" said
the bride, rising from the table with
an apologetic giggle, and with the last
of her dessert held aloft. I'm too
worn out. If anybody calls-o' course
everybody'll call-just tell 'em I'll see
EN- tomorrow. Come on, dear!"
And she tripped up stairs, with
juvenile nod over her shoulder, and
with her beaming young husband
following.
Mrs. Seely wrung her hands des-
pairingly.
ave said it could not be worse"
she said, family. "But this! How
shall we endure it ?"
II shall not endure it said her hus-
band; his face had grown almost care
worn during the last two hours. 81
shall send them packing tomorrow,
and if ever he enters my house
again"
He brought his hand down on the
table threateningly.
"But that will not help Matters"
said his wife, miserably. "He is ruined;
we are disgraced; and everybody will
know it.
There was silence.
81 had pictured her to myself" said
Mrs. Seely, beginning to sob, "as
young girl-a person Of suitable age
for my poor, misguided boy, decently
educated. and at least lady. And
even then, when did not doubt that
it was such a one he had chosen, l
thought myself the most unhappy