Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-12
DRIVEN TO DECEIT.
Make Love TO the Wrong Women
in order TO Keep on Bankruptcy.

I'm Order TO Keep on bankruptcy.
There was great excitement in Angel
lane. Curtains were parted in every
window within sight, and great was the
gossip over garden walls. for there was
somebody moving in at No. 3.
Did you ever," said Mrs. Harris over
b way TO her next door neighbor.
Mrs. Smith has let her four best rooms
at last; and. according to the furni-
ture that's been going in. l should say
they was dodgers as would do her
credit"
My dear. did you see the palisse of
the best bed that went in?" remarked
the next door neighbor loftily Il
wouldn't let such a rag enter my house
for all you could pay me, Mahogany
suites and grand pianos is all very well.
but give me a modest place, sweet and
clean, whatn zeal inspection-a place
what | could call homei"
Yes, you need 1t, dear said Mrs.
Harris sweetly. But, look! There's
a cab drawing up and shouldn't Won
derif-yes. 1t is. it's the new people at
No. 9. My What a swell she is!
That sealskin coat must have cost at
least 5000"
"~Sealplush, and nothing more. Now.
fancy a woman of her position dressing
up like that on a moving day. It's all
show, my dear. and won't last. Mark
my words. You'll see her coming out
TO sweep the steps of a morning. with
her hair in crackers. before many days
have passed, or my name is not Mary
Fleming"
But here pitiful cries from within
shortened Mrs. Flemings prophetic
warnings. and reminded her of the
state of her own small household. She
gave one last -contemptuous glance to-
wards the commotlon outside No. 3.
and, bidding farewell aff~eetionately to
Mrs. Harris. departed to administer
correction to the DISTURBING element OF
her unruly kitchen.
Meanwhile, the newcomers at No. 3
were enjoying the sensation their gran
deur caused as much as possible on
such an occasion. Mr.. Waters paid the
cabman without any dispute whatever
concerning the fare. and Mrs. Waters
sailed in at No. 8 as IL said Mrs. Smith.
the landlady-the whole place belonged
to her.
Such a carpet they had for the draw
ing room, too; and such hangings Tor
the best bed room. Mrs. Smith became
quite thoughtful, as she went down 10
her own rooms. How shabby they
looked! =.
Something had to be done. Would
she allow the ledger folk in her own
house to get the better OF her? Not II
she knew It. She would just show
them what style wasl
And so. for the best part oil a week,
such a %scrubbing and polishing ana
~renoyating went on that there was no
place in the house for anybody. Door
knobs shone so that you could see a
distorted portrait in them, and the OIL
cloth was polished to such an extent
that three demands for compensation
for broken limbs came in before the
week was out.
Then. when the newcomers were
quite settled, Mrs. Smith was invited In
to tea. There were flowers on the ia
Bile. and a silver-plated teapot, and cake
and lam and sardines, with fish knives
and forks to eat them with; and there
was a canary bird in a age at the win
dow and a persian kitten purring on
the ~hearthrug.
Besides all these Indications of gen
tility. there was an antimacassar on
every chair back. and ferns in hanging
pots. and pale-blue sashes to tie up the
curtains and everything bright n
new and stylish.
It quite took away Mrs. Smiths appe-
tite for tea; but otherwise she did not
exhibit any surprise. nor appear I'M
pressed in the least. She kept her eyes
omen. however, and not a single thing
escaped her.
The following week she returned the
invitation. and Mrs. Waters came
rustling down into Mrs. Smiths pest
room in a new silk gown, prepared 10
astonish her ambitious landlady.
But Mrs. Smith was ready for her.
The place was radiant with bowers n
lights. There was a silver-plated tray
as we'll as a teapot on the table, n De-
sides cake and jam and sardines there
was celery in a cut-glass bowl, and o
teacakes, and biscuit of three different
kinds. There were painted glass MIR
rors on the walls in plush frames, ana
the curtains were tied up with sashes OF
the palest pink.
Ali and Mrs. Smith outrivaled Mrs.
Waters grandeur still more, for on the
table was a handsome gilt lamp, with a
smart pink shade, from which the
guest could scarcely keep her eyes for
admiration.
A few days later Mrs. Waters also
sported a table lamp, with a still more
elaborate shade, and hit upon the
bright idea of hanging up a pair OF vel
vet curtains in her hall to keep out
the draft. -
It was surprising Mrs. Smith had
never thought of this coy arrange
ment before. She examined them care
fully one morning, and before long a
twin pair were to be seen adjoining the
landing of the lower staircase.
But there was one thing in which
Mrs. Waters reigned triumphant. That
was on the matter Of dress. Mrs. wa
ters' seaIskin coat cost Mrs. Smith a
terrible pang every time she saw that
adv wearing it. There was only one
ambition now left to her. She must
have a sealskin coat
Day after day she pleaded its cause
before Mr.. Smith, and day after a she
sulked and cried because it was denleo
her. At last. in desperation, he gave
wav. and. radiantly happy, Mrs. Smitn
donned it one bright Sabbath morn, Ior
the benefit of Angel lane, n Mrs. wa