Middletown transcript., 1905-07-15

He fairly trod on air as he left the
house, so unexpectedly successful had
his call been and he headed directly for
the parsonage to tell his wife the good
news. On the way he met Jubal Hines,
butcher and one of the pillars of his
church, coming in from the slaughter.
house with some sides of beef. Trench
nodded briefly. 1t was something of a
hardship for him to be compelled even to
how TO an uncouth man like Hines after
the delightful and refining intercourse
which he had just had.
81 have made arrangements, Louise,
for us to call on Friday afternoon" said
lie to his wife. "You will find her per.
fectIy charming lin spite of the absurd
rumors about her snobbishness. You
will probably be the first woman in
Kingston to call, and it will have weight
with her. If we can get her interested
in the church-and it looks as if | had
got a good start already-she'll be worth
any five members we now Lave. l want
to put her little girl into your class it
will naturally please Mrs. Pennington.
Matthews may object-he's such crank
on graded classes but l shall insist and
override him if necessary
'She uU be little young for my girls.
won't she, dear-if she is only ten p
ventured Mrs. Trench.
In years, possibly. But if she's any
thing like her mother, you'll find her
more than a match, intellectually, for
any of your girls.
Mrs. Trench, pretty, domestic little
woman who had always stood somewhat
in awe of her husbands mental accom-
plishments, had listened to the account
of the visit with glowing face. Enoch's
success was sweet to her, and her zeal for
the church was fully as great as his.
"Didn't you feel little nervous when
YOU first went in ?" she asked, with an
admiring glance.
"Yes, | did, to be truthful l half
expected to be snubbed. 1t is not what
man feels that counts, however, but
what he docs. Many man has won a
medal for gallantry on the field whose
knees were knocking together
81 suppose she is very Stylish" said
she, curiously.
"Yes, of course, but as simple as a
child. You will be astonished at her
simplicity, and you'll like her"
"What had l better wear? Oh, dear,
l wish my new foulard was done"
.Wear that brown tailor made suit OF
yours. It's the most becoming dress you
ever had
''But it's getting so tight for me, love p
she exclaimed, ruefully.
'Well, that's my choice" said he, con-
clusively. If people will get fat, they
have to take the consequences. He
spoke playfully; nevertheless, he was
thinking of Mrs. Farmington's supple,
sylphlike figure.
Il am not getting fat, Enoch p pro-
tested his wife, half hurt. II weighed
only one hundred and fifteen when that
gown was made, and my normal weight
is one hundred and twenty"
OF course, after this, it was into the
brown dress, in spite Of its skin-tight fit,
that she buttoned and belted herself on
Friday afternoon. She was in state Of
considerable trepidation. Trench him
self tried on, though unknown to his wife,
first black tie before the glass and then
a white one, and finally decided on the
black. As they waited, after ringing,
before the carved oak doors of the May
nard mansion, as it was still always called,
Trench noted that his wife, no was hall
frightened, did not look nearly SO pretty
as when at her ease in some old gown at
home. lie would have had her look her
best, too, for he was decidedly proud Of
her personal appearance, and never
missed a chance to show her off at annual
conferences, Epworth League conventions
and other gatherings.
Il shall simply ask the maid for Mrs.
Pennington" lie observed, in low
voice. She'll remember me, and to
send in card this time would look
little stiff
"What shall | do with my card y asked
Louise, helplessly, although if she had
been calling anywhere else she would
have known well enough what to do with
her card.
'Just quietly leave it, somewhere, as
usual, as you pass out-in card-case in
the hall, if you see one, or on table.
Leave one of mine with it,"
Mrs. FarmiHgton's gown was pink this
time, but just as cinging and graceful as
the blue one; and she greeted Mrs.
Trench with that fine cordiality which
the atter's husband had led her to ex-
pect. In the beginning, Louise upheld
her end OF the conversation with skill
and courage which surprised her husband,
for the bright-red spot on each OF her
cheeks told him how fast her heart was
beating. But when local themes were
dropped, and they got OH to Cincinnati
where Louise had never been--and
literature and art and Europe, she said
less and less, until finally she sank into
silence which she broke only when ap-
peaed to directly by Mrs. Pennington.
Trench was yexed and Inundated, but
to atone for his wife's short
conlings by talking for them both. Pos
sibIy he over-played his part. He had
guilty feeling, at the close OF the visit, OF
having monopolized the conversation,
and OF having said number OF puerile
and ill-considered things. In particular
lie regretted the vehemence with which
he had scored the friyolity and lnsln-
cerity, if not downright immortality, Of
society in great cities. Considering that
Mrs. Pennington had so recently been
member Of that society, bis structures
were hardly kind, if indeed even polite,
,l,I,o,.,b clio had .aempd tn take them