The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-09-05

A Dummy Wife


marry and settle down. ! wa
wasting my money in society an,
doing nothing.
VERY we'll" | said TO myself
"I'll choose wife. Who shall il
be? Why not Ncne Wright? Sh'
has money, and that is an important
item"
But Nenc somehow or other die
not exactly suit the case and III,
mind reverted to Miss Beaufort
who was smart, pretty, stylish and
suited better, but | knew nothing
about her financial standing. This
was an important matter 10 me in
those days.
Meanwhile the carriage ap-
preached Miss Bcaufort's. had
never been there before, and to my
surprise found it TO be a very un-
pretentious house. | confess | was
disappointed | expected to drive
up to an elegant mansion, be ush-
cred into fine reception room by
a servant in livery and there await
the coming Of Miss Beaufort. Then
/ expected to make a bold dash for
her heart, propose and possibly
be accepted or declined bv the time
the party was over.
But not so. A little lady with
gray hair opened the door. and she
was introduced TO me by Miss Beau
fort as mamma" Miss Beaufort
was ready and waiting, so we walked
out to the carriage.
''Mr. Silver" said she after we
had seated ourselves, don't you
think there is a great amount Of
snobbcry in society and lots Of
downright foolishness 2
"Well. YES" said |.
"For instance" said she, shere is
an elegant carriage that You have
brought for me, and vet tie party
is not half mile away"
This certainly was very refresh
ing. | had actually squandered Gl
to have this carriage for the evening
and she was not pleased with it. /
know Vcne would have enjoyed a
ride in it.
"Mr. Silver" she remarked again.
this is the last party ! am going
10 this winter"
"Wcll. why" said |. "Aren't
you going TO take in the German
slub ball and the others:'
NO." said she. Mamma hasn't
he money; she can't afford it. Be
sides, Mr.. Silver" she continued,
can you really afford TO spend so
much money on society,""
/ looked at her. There was hon
,sty fairly shining out of her pretty
black eyes even if she wasn't very
polite, SO | answered her honestly: !
"No, Miss Beaufort, ! cannot. /
haven't saved penny this win
er, and | get a big salary too. 1t
seems idiotic."
Il have met you so frequently |
eel quite well acquainted with YOU,
hough expect | have been a little
mo-" said /. II am glad that |
'ou take that much interest in me-"
Then we changed the subject. ]
lad splendid time at the party and !
'njoycd Miss Beaufort's company
cry much. ! found her level head
d and bright if she was too frank.
The next day i told mother about |
t. She said she admired Miss Beau
ort for her common sense. though |
he had never seen her. Then she
efcrred again to my getting mar
led.
Suppose" said she, shat you
'rctcnd for week or so that you
re married and see how it goess"
"An imitation wife, said /.
"Why not?" she said. 81 will
rite the name Of young lady on
card, seal it in an envelope and
ou can lock it in your desk. Then
It us suppose you are married to
Ter for, say, two weeks. During
hat time l want you to act just as
the lady were here in person and
our lawfully welded wife,"
"Whose name are YOU going TO
rite on the card? n said |.
"Ncver mind" said she. Il will
rite my preference, and neither Of
) will breathe a word about this
. living soul"
We agreed on this. Mother wrote
he name on the card and sealed it
. the envelope. | knew it was
'ene Wright's name, so decided to
imagine that Vene was there in per-
on, and SO we commenced the
eek.
Monday nipht came That was