The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-02-13
CEOFFREY'S WIFE
Case of Where Mistaken Identity Turned
Out Well.
.HE Longworth family were
IL excited-that is, all OF them
l except Maurice, who was
novor known IN got eYcitpd

never known TO get excited
about anything.
Mrs. Longworth had just finished
reading letter aloud. She laid the
cream-tinted, perfumed sheet with its
gold and violet monogram on her table,
took off her glasses and looked at the
girls with pleased smile.
80 Geoffrey's wife is actually com
ing TO visit us at last. She will be here
In a weeks time, and we must he pre-
pared to make her visit as pleasant
as possible
IL wonder what she will be like. and
If she is really as pretty as her pho
tograph," said IIildegarde.
"You may be sure she isn't" said
Maurice disagreed bly,; "shc would have
had her pictures taken full face If she
were Depend upon it, her profile Is
the best of her"
For my part" said Evelyn, 81 don't
care what she looks like, it she is only
nice and good fun"
"Well. she won't he that. either"
persisted Maurice, who was in one Of
his contrary" moods; mo woman with
a profile like that ever had grain OF
common sense. Look at that nose
vanity; that mouth-frivolity; that chin
weakness and willfulness. No, you
won't like Geoffrcys wife, and ] shall
hate her"
You have always pretended TO dis
approve of her-just because we all
admired her, l suppose" said Evelyn,
Grossly. You do dearly love TO be
contrary. But don't 20 and make your
self obnoxious TO her on principle
You'll have to help entertain her-and
you can be perfectly charming when
you like"
Maurice bowed satrically.
Consider yourself thanked. But that
complimentary sugar-coating does not
sufficiently disguise the unpalatable
pill of your last sentence. ! was never
cut ont for "A martyr, and | shall eff
face myself as absolutely as possible
during Mrs. Godfrey Longworth's So
journ here. III be civil to her. OF
course, unless she provoke me TO be
otherwise-but that is all you need ex-
pect. ! give you fair warning"
And Maurice tossed away his cigar
and sauntered out of the room with
bored expression.
Godfrey Longworth, the older
brother, had gone to Western city
several years previously and in due
time had taken to himself n wife. Her
photograph presented n very pretty
girl in very smart gown.
The LongwOrths had never seen Mrs.
Geoffrey, but she was coming to visit
them at last. Geoffrey himself. in his
capacity as civil engineer. was going to
accompany an chronological expedition
TO some ancient ruin in Central Amer
lea, and his wife would spend the time
OF absence with her hitherto unseen
relatives.
A week later Mrs. Godfrey Long
worth arrived. tall, self-possessed
young woman, irreproachably gowned.
She had a charming smile. a llquidly
sweet voice and n perfect manner.
Mrs. Longworth and the girls greeted
her with affectionate kisses. and Maui
rice bent his dark head before her.
his languid brown eyes flashing with
reluctant admiration.
"Like-very like-not altogether She"
he quoted under his breath as he
dropped into his chair at the ! tea
table. He felt bewildered. This girl
was so unlike what he had expected.
She was glorious, with her large. dark
gray eyes that were violet in the
shadow, the ripe bloom on her oval
cheeks and the splendid lights and
shadows of her dead-back hair. Why
had he always fancied that Gcoffrcy's
wife was pallid blonde? He was
quite ready to pronounce her divine.
Mrs. Godfrey was accustomed TO
speedy conquests. She had read in his
eyes, successfully. surprise, admira-
tion, full surrender. IL was such de.
iicious fattery.
II think l am going TO like my
brother-in-law very much" she said.
when she was alone. and looking at
her charming reflection in the glass.
Then she gave a little sigh.
What a pity-and what n shame"'
she murmured. "If Geoff Just knew
But he doesn't He's buried I'm the
Central Africa ruins by this time-or is
II Central America? And ], Mrs. Geof-
frey Longworth. am here. meaning 10
have the very best time in the world.
and not to be bothered by conscience.
Conscience, indeed! left Il behind
me. And who could have imagined
that poor, plain Geoff would have such
q handsome brother?"
Mrs. Godfrey speedily won her way
into all hearts. Geoffrey's mother and
sisters adored her, his old friends ad-
mired her, and even those most merc-
less OF critics, his former sweethearts.
could find no flaw in her. She was
an emphatic success.
Maurice was devoted to her. They
discovered that they had all their
tastes in common. They were both
mdsical: they liked the same books.
the same songs, the same amusements.
Maurice wondered a dozen times
day how Geoff. plain. plodding. com
monplace Geoff, had managed to win
such n girl.
"Thc attraction OF oppositcs. sup
pose" he thought sayagely. "GeofI
was always lucky dog"
Mrs. Godfrey did not often speak OF
her husband. Neither did she write to
him.
"Hc hasn't any address," she said
frankly. when Mrs. Longworth asked