The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-04-08
THE PERFECT WIFE.

So impenetrable a mask is the hu- man countenance, when the human brain wills it to be so, that not one of the guests at the castle could have de cIared decisively whether Cosmo was highly gratified by the joyful proceed ings or unutterably bored, He be- haved, from his mothers point of view, in the most exemplary fashion. If the weather happened to be fine he rode with the lovely Lady Ermyntrude in the morning, motored with the wealthy Miss Dinorben in the afternoon, and danced all the evening with the witty Rachel Burney. If, as was more often the case, the weather was wet or low ering, he sang duets with Lady Ermyn- trude in the morning, played billiards with Phemie in the afternoon, and again danced with Rachel throughout the evening. .... ...
 Well, Cosmo," would the gratified mother whisper, when he bade her good night before taking his ease in the smoking room, which is it to be-
 They are all so nice mother" lie would reply, that up to now I have really not been able to make up my mind. I am awaiting events"
 My dear boy!" cried Lady Strath- spey. My dear cautious, sensible boy! Be quite sure of your own heart, by all means, before you take the plunge; but do not wait too long. De lays are dangerous, NaxyartTaJocc Co5S,1f3 Xt,o;toa ,s,,fil last evening, and stiH no decision had, apparently been arrived at. Lady Strathspey lost all patience. The cas tie party was to come to brilliant conclusion with heperformance by the Naughty Little Grille" company from the Frivolity theatre, including Miss Esmee Challoner and Mir. Handel Browne in their original parts.
 (Which ever of the girls you elect to make your wife," said Lady Strath- spey to her son, you must escort tC the seats I have reserved for you and your future bride. I am tired of this long suspense, and am anxious to well come with open arms the woman of your choice. Pray let there be an end of this dilly- -dallying"
 Cosmos nodded with an attempt at cheerful assurance, But when he was left alone, he remained moodily staring into the dancing flames of the wood fire. He supposed he had better allow himself to fall in with his mother g views. He would be bound to marry some time or other. and there was no good in putting off the fatal day. But which was it to be? He could not for the life of him decide. The beauty Beauty without brains was said to pail very quickly. The money? He real | ly had enough of his own, and the | daughter of a parvenu millionaire was sure to have her dollars tied up very tightly. The wit?. H'm! Suppose il were to be used at his expense, and be- come sharper with age, like q we'll ground blade!
 1 By love! he might toss up. He with drew a coin from his pocket Then he | reflected that, with three candidates | this would be a complicated business Two of them might tie. or, possibly. he might find himself pledged to marry all three. This solution of the problem was far too terrible to bear contempla- l ton. A brilliant idea seized him. IT offering his escort to the theatre he would take the ladies alphabetically | Miss Burney first; in case of refusal Miss Dinorben second; and Lady Er myntrude Fitzroy last. ,.,.,...
 He strolled into the great hall at tht hour devoted to afternoon tea, ant there, scattered about in small groups he found the greater part of his guests Under a pretense of fetching her an other cup of tea. he managed to wfis per to Miss Burney. May l have tn pleasure of taking you to see tn
 Naughty Little Grille this evening""
 "Oh. thank you immensely, Lor' Strathspey. I would have been tre mendous]y glad, only I have promise' MT. Kiliby to go with him. We are go ing to collaborate in writing play you know; and while the Naughty Cir lie' is going on we shall have splen did chance for talking over our plot
 What an extraordinary coinci dence!" observed Cosmo. "I was goin to talk to you about title.'
 | Isedlly! I1UW e&crucldtIlSlS funny But the title can wait till we have fin ished our play, can't it?"
 T don't know" returned Cosmc Well see about that, later on."
 And he deftly intercepted Miss Dinol
 ben who, with yellow novel under he arm, was making her way up the gran staircase.
 Say, Miss Dinorben,' he drawled.
 She turned slowly on the fourth ste and looked down at him.
 will you do me the honor of accept ing my escort to the theatre tonight? /? he asked. .:@-' ',.'''''' ~''' '-..- .ss-
 ''