Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-09
THE ENGAGED GIRL.

Let me come in and catcm my breath, gasped Isobel as Beth dragged forward the biggest chair and began to unfasten her callers tippet. No, can't stay long, but I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your visits, even if l am never at home"
 i've been in several times this week. and found you out every tiDle," began Beth.
 'sYes, I know. But it's such a short time till Easter Monday now that if don't go every minute I'll not be half ready for my wedding. I've found a new thing to worry over now
 You poor old dear," cooed Beth, comfortingly. Don't you think you had better stop discovering new. things till you've got some of the old ones straightened out? Have you yet found 1 your fat?"
 "No," groaned the engaged girl Nor are my hats ready. And there's been an awful botch of the brown ca1l- vas cloth-the one I meant to travel ill., you know-and mammals oldest sister, down east, has written me q scorching letter because didn't give her more warning, so that she'd have time to get ready to come to the wedding. But how cauld I when I wasn't en- gagged until Christmas eve?''
 "GO on, dear, if it relieves you" en- couraged Beth.
 Then, too, I can't decide about the style of the invitations and about BY name.'
 And pray what is the matter with your name? TO the marriage of their daughter, Isobel Winifred,' sounds quite grand. It's lots better than 'Effye Mae or 'Lillie Mayme' or
 It isn't my present name which worries me-" put in the Dride-to be. Its my new name-Mrs Thomas J. Jenkins''
 Oh said Beth, trife breatlIlessly. Have you got as far as that? Can't you postpone worrying over that till after the bishop has made you really Mrs Tom?'
 II think it is well to look these mat ters in the face,'' sighed Isopel, resign edly. "A girl has to be cautious, you know, before it is too late.'
 '"Too 1ate?' echoed Beth in a fright ened tone.
 Well, not exactly that, perhaps.'' replied the girl. whirling her solitaire thoughtfully. T suppose I would not throw Tom over even if his parents had been less considerate of his wife than they were.''
 T don't quite see the connection" said Beth
 There. I'll have to explain it all over again" sighed Tsobel. s'No one seems to appreciate my woes. Tom says he won't even let me have my cards with the John on them. but just like he has always had lis-plain Mrs Thomas J. Jenkins. It sounds like business card. I've been collect ing the cards the girls have left since they were married. and I'm going to have the worst of the lot"
 Whereupon Isobel drew a packet from her purse and read the tiny pasteboards before her.
 Heres Mrs Burlington Watterson Barnes that's Jennie Smith, you know, whom Hurley Barnes married last fall. And here's Mrs Bennington Frederick Tupper-F'red Tupper's wife. No, his name wasn't Bennington.' but Nell just said she wouldn't have Fred erick Tupper.9so she hunted uD the Bennington and dropped the K from Frederick. Sounds well q oesn't it? And here's Mrs W. J. Caxton Watson. Yes, that's Billy Matsons wife. The w J. stands for William Jacob and she didn't like them, so she fixed it this way. But here's the finest of the lot: Mrs Jay Thomson Prettyman. Tbe .J used to be an initial, but she didn't like it, so she had it spelled out. and left the p out of Thompson and add ed the 'Jr,' although his fathers name is Henry, and it's awfully distinguish ed now.
 Just think how it will sound to he announced at reception Mrs Thon- as J. Jenkins, right after Mrs Turling- ton Watterson Barnes and Mrs Jay Thomson Prettyman. Jr'! To make matters worse Tom says that if the name has been good enough for him for thirty years it's good enough for his wife. But then. man can never appreciate these distinctions, which mean so much to a woman''
 sBut I, myself,'' ventnred Beth. weakly "have been puzzled sometimes when 1 find cards left by old friends, to guess who they are.''
 'So have l." replied Isobel promptly, ''but that only makes it all the more exciting. Take my advice, dear, and when the next man proposes don't ac- cept till you've thought how your cards are going to Chicago Daily Times.