The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-10-25


and see how it goes p
'sAn imitation wife p said l.
"Why not? she said. II will write
the name of young lady on card, seal
it in an envelope and you can lock it in
your desk Then let us suppose you are
married to her for, say, two weeks. Dur
ing that time want you to act just as if
the lady were here in person and your law
fully welded wife. -
"Whose name are you going to write
on the card p said 1.
ssNever mind, said she "I will write
my preference, and neither of us will
breathe word about this to living soul
We agreed on this Mother wrote the
name on the card and sealed it in the en-
velope. knew it was Vene Wright's
name, so | decided to imagine that Vene
was there in person, and SO we commenced
the week.
Monday night came. That was the
night of the German club ball, but | stayed
at home and talked to mother. Then [
played draughts with her for awhile, and
we managed to have very enjoyable even
ing.
Next morning mother met me at the
table with smiles and about the best break
fast I had eaten for long while.
"You must imagine that your wife saw
to this breakfast, she whispered.
Going to the city that morning, who
should get into the bus but Miss Beaufort.
I bowed to her gracefully, passed her fare
to the conductor and was about to sit down
by her side when 1 happened to think of
my imitation wife at home and kept my seat
by the door.
Married men have no business talking
to the young ladies, said I to myself.
Miss Beaufort looked at me rather
queerly, but said nothing, and I thought
the bus would never get to the city.
Thursday was the evening I was to call
on Vene, and forgot to send her an excuse
On Friday note came from her which
mother took the liberty of opening, as she
thought would not care, and she felt like
representing my wife in the desk. 1t was
tender missive and somewhat surprised
me when saw it. But what could l do?
Married men have no business getting ten
der notes from young ladies. Inasmuch
as I had contracted to carry out mothers
plan for two weeks I left the note for
mother to answer. She is very truthful
woman, but in answering the note she pre-
varicated
She said that was very sick, and as a
natural consequence Vene called that after
noon to see me, but was at business, and
mother had to invent another story. Then
she had to come all the way to the office
so as to keep me from coming home my
usual way for fear Vene might catch us.
laughed good deal at mother, and
Vene did not find us out, but Mrs. Jones
an awful gossip-met her, and Vene told
her I was sick, and the next day all my
society friends came round, among them
Miss Beaufort.
Mother met her rather coldly, but in
vited her to stay awhile.
''I suppose Mr.. Silver is almost worn
out with so much going out p said the
young lady.
"He is much BETTER said mother,
"but I do not think he will 60 out for sew
eral weeks. 1 think that shall keep him
at home.''
II am so glad said Miss Beaufort,
"not that you are going to keep him at
home, but that he is not going out so much.
1 am getting SO that fairly detest socie-
ty. Here was woman who had my
mothers views, and they both thereupon
had confidential talk and pleased each
other nightly.
Then she asked the mater to call on her
mother, which she did.
Meanwhile was staying at home every
evening and was getting pretty tired of it,
as the two weeks were drawing to close.
s'Don't you think man ought to take
his wife out once in awhile p said [ to
mother.
"Why not p said She
sThen I'll take her to the theater to-
night. So l took couple of re-
served seats at Drury Lane theater for the
following night, and mother, who repre-
sented my wife, went with me.
We had hardly taken our seats before
1 noticed that they were adjoining those
of Miss and Mrs. Beaufort.
We went home together that night and
laughed and talked a great deal.
think mother told Mrs. Beaufort what
we had been doing, but did not hear it.
l know that several days later, after my
two weeks of married life were over, |
went to call on Miss Beaufort We had
pleasant time together, and just as | was
about to leave the old lady came.
"I forgot to ask you, Mr.. Silver, what
you thought of married life, she said.
Miss Beaufort looked Mortified, but
laughed.
"Mother has been telling you, has she?'
said |.
'sShe has, said She
''Well,'' said l, ''during the two weeks
| was married | read three good books,
gained four pounds in weight, saved Eos,
besides paying mother for my wife S board
and the tickets to the theater.