The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1905-11-04
MR.. JOHNsON's LAST APPEARANCE IN
EVENING DRESS.

| The nose of healthy dog always 1s cold
-New York Times.
MR.. JOHNsONs LAST APPEARANCE IN
EVENING DRESS.
When Mr.. Johnson came home to
dinner the other evening he saw from
the mingled expression of fear and
hope on his wife's face that some
thing more than usual was agitating
her. 1t could not be sudden notice
of fortune left to them, for there
was the telephone which would have
enlightened him immediately ; nor
could it be an extra large tooth that
the baby had cut nor brilliantly
clever speech of Henry johnson, Jr.,
because then his wife would have
been at the parlor window and at
first sight of him would have rushed
to the door to give forth the glorious
intelligence.
All no; here she was in the di-
ningroom, and her manner was digni-
fed as we'll as eager. Ss ;ss=sa
my dear, what kind of soup have
we this evening 7" for Mr.. Johnson
decided to ask no important question,
knowing full we'll that the truth would
soon out.
Mrs. Johnson replied briefly that
she believed tomato soup was part OF
the menu but as she could no long,
er keep the secret in her possession
passed across the table a note. 1T
is come" she murmured mysteri-
ously, to avoid the waitress noticing
any too Joyous key in her voice, "the
invitation for the Browns ball"
"Well," said he, Every nice in
them to remember us, l am sure OF
course, you have declined?"
Declined indeed no We must
go, there is no excuse" declared
Mrs. Johnson, with emphasis.
mo excuse" he suggested, save
that neither of US have any togs for
such an occasion, as we have been
nowhere since we were married. ("
ssThe more shame, then. Remem-
Der, we must been seen with our
friends, or before Polly is debutante
we will have no one."
"But Polly" objected Mr.. johnson,
weakly, ''is only six months old
won't it be time enough to start in
some seventeen years hence, and, be-
sides, we have no clothes, as / said
before"
"Nonsense, answered his wife,
quite Grossly. "I have my wedding
gown, and it can be easily fixed over
train shortened, ,tulle and orange BIOS
SONS taken off, an old lace added, and
| it will be handsome enough for any
thing. And you have your dress
suit.
"But, my dear, you forget, when
/ married weighed one hundred and
thirty-fve pound, and now tip the
scales at two hundred. 1t don't tit.
and really cannot afford new one
this winter, so please be reasonable
and give it up, or else go with your
brother"
"Never," said she, "like Mrs.
Micawber, of Dickens fame, l will
never desert Mr.. Micawber,' and it
is absurd about your suit. Nothing
to do but to slit the waistcoat up the
back and you will be perfectly COM
Portable. CA woman's idea, truly,
about altering a mans suit.
Mr.. Johnson persisted that such
course would not help matters with
the trousers, but nothing he told her
made any impression, so, finally he
Welded to circumstances with as good
a grace as possible, and promised to
go and risk for one evening tight
suit with a waistcoat split up the
back.
The night came and the Johnsons
appeared in their old glory in the
beautiful ball room of the Browns,
Mrs. Johnson was radiant her gown
was all that it should be, and even
Mr.. Johnson, though rather stutfy
lookiny about the waistband and the
sleeves of his coat, managed to exist
and planned to eat rather light sup
per and thus avoid risk of bursting
some mysterious button. Mrs. John
son old admirers hocked back. How
happy she was what belle Sup
per was announced, and Mrs. Johnson
was sailing grandly in with Mr.. Lay
ton, an old devotee, when her hus-
band approached her and whispered,
"My dear, we must go right home"
mercy p she exclaimed, "are
you i'll? You look so frightened" "
"It has happened just as feared"
he murmured, "my clothes are split
ting"
"Where 7" she groaned.
Down the side of the left trous-
ers. The rent has begun at the
pocket and soon the whole leg will be
OPEN"
She gasped, "But stop minute. /
can easily fix it. We will slip in the
ladies' dressing room on this floor,
| YOU know, and I will find needle
and thread and stitch it up, and it
| will never show.
He demurred, but the case was SO
desperate he finally agreed.
In the meantime, her cavalier for
supper stood aside and did not hear
the sad story, as someone else had
engaged his attention for few min
utes, so, when she brightly turned to
him and asked him if he would mind
waiting little while she had to get
something out of the dressing room,
he told her she would find him just
here when she came back. Then
Mr.. and Mrs. Johnson hied them to
the ladies' dressing room where she
at once discovered, without having to
summon a maid, needle and thread.
Somehow it was not a success.
"Stop," said she, brightly, "it is awk-
4 4. fnl