Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-01-26

udioHs assertion, 1T could not b.
worse" and n was thoughtful all III,
way back to the city.
The Scolys were in a state of sui
duod excitement,
liarvcy's wedding tour was com
pletol: and they had received tclc
Sram that afternoon TO the effect tha
he would be "un hand tonight, Will
his new wife.
The dining.ruom table was set rol
dinner; ana Mrs, Se,ly wandcrr,
from one end Of it 10 tho other, ncr
vously.
ley husband sat under the chandc
ller with his evening newspaper: but
he was MT reading it. Kitty and
MarGeyE tutt"rcd about uncasily
watching through the window for til,
carriage from tn railroad station.
81 hone said Maj gerry. with a ncr
vcus attemDt at cheorfUlness, that
she will be barely decent--prcsent.
able Think Of the peoplo who vii!
call, hope she wont be worse than
We're prepared to sec her"
she couldn't be-" said Mrs. Seely
dismally.
There vas roll of wheels. and the
twinkle OF the carriage-lamp at the
door, aud the bell rang sharply.
Kitty and MaYgcly clasped hands in
sympathetic agitation; Mr.. Seely
dropped his newspaper and arose and
Mrs. Seely advanced toward the hall
door with dignity.
1t opened wide before she could
reach it. and Harvey entered, his face
sufused with genial. blissful smiles,
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 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 a face
powdered and painted in the most IN,
blushing manner. with thin gray hair
crimrcd over a wrinkled forehead in
4 sickening affectation Of youthfulneSs.
and with a diminutive, %aily-trimmcd
bonnet perched thereon; with an af-
fectcd mincing gait and a simpering
smile.
This is my wife" Harvey repeated
Have you no welcome for herr"
The bride Uttered
"Mebbe they think | amt good
enough for 'cm. dear?" she observed
tartly
impossible, my pet" Harvey re-
sponded; and patted her falsely
blooming check aifcctionately. BE
sides. if you were but shadow-a
caricature of your beautiful self thy
would not have been surprised, They
were prepared for the worst
He looked at his horriird retail rs
meaningly.
The truth of his words flashed over
the m.
Yes. they had all said, repeatedly,
that lit could not be worse But
this wrctched. wrinked, hcdizen"d
crcaturc-had they dreamed of this?
Harvey watched them with an UNI
disturbed smile--his father, turning
away mt last and rubbing his forehead
with his handkerchief weakly; Mrs.
Secly, gazing at her dauehtcr-in-law
with a dreadful fascination, and the
girls, sinking into chairs in dismayed
silence.
well, Mother" said Harvey, light.
ly. "Cf course Il new addition to the
family is an object of interest; but
don't forget that J have an appetite,
and getting married has rather i'm
proved it. Take off your bonnet. my
own. Here. Kitty"
Kitty came forward with a 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 sprightliness. She
was afraid to trust herself to speak.
Poor Mrs Sncly, 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 girlsh
smile; "aint nothing | admire so.
Just pass that celery, fathor-in-law.
Delicious, amt it. darling?"
Extremely, my dear" said the
bridegroom, cOmplacently.
Ignorant and vulgar. What dread
full things would they discover next?
1t was an evening they never for
got. The unfortunate parents sat with
pale faces and unsteady hands, star
ing into their empty plates, or looking
at each other with fresh horror at
each simpering, senseless. ingram
matical remark of their terrible daugh
ter-in-law.
Kitty and imagery excused them
selves during the second course and
flew to their rooms to cry themselves
to sleep, in an agony of dismay and
modification.
Il shan't think of setting up" said
the bride, rising from the table with
an apologize gigglc and with the last
of her dessert held aloft. I'm too
wore out. II anybody calls-o course
eycrybody'll call-iust tell ON I'll see
EN- tomorrow. Come ON, dear"
And she trippod IN stairs, with a
Juvenile nod over her shoulder. and
with her beaming young husband fol-
lowing.
Mrs. Secly wrung her hands despair
ingly.
I'VE said it could not be worse"
she said. family. But this. How
shall we endure it,"
Il shall not endure it," said her
husband: his face had grown almost
careworn during the last two hours.
Il shall send them packing tomorrow,
and if ever he enters my house