Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-09-01
UNDER. THE SURFACE
An Incident That Brought Con-
tent to a Dissatisfied Woman.

BY ROY RICHARDSON.

| ~ seSs sNsSssSNstSSSsNs
"Pm sorry we're invited" observed
Mrs. Edmonds to her husband as they
dressed to 60 out. I'VE shan't have a
good time
Why? her husband inquired. II
always liked Ned
YES" responded Mrs. Edmonds. II
like them both, but. VIII, try as hard
as may, they make me absurdly jeal-
GUS"
Mr.. Edmonds grew serious. 1.-THE
old excuse, Grace. thought you had
outgrown that bad habit We've got
SO much that they can never have.
There" he cried, pinching her cheek.
Lets put 1t aside. We have each 9TH
err. while you know they quarrel. We
soon. You can sing while juggle the
chatting dish Ned Constable never
could make decent rabbit His wife
won't let him learn how"
Mrs. Edmonds sighed even at her
husbands picture Of pleasant even
ing at home. II shall depend upon
you," she said as they rang the Con-
stable doorbell. ito keep me contented
tonight. Will"
1t was quite an affair. Mr.. and Mrs.
Constable. whatever they might be
when alone, were q charming host and
hostess
How well they do IT, exclaimed
Mrs. Edmonds to her husband as they
sat eating. Then. with a dangerous
tone In her voice. she said, II wish,
oh, so much, that you and r.
There. there" Edmonds broke in
gently. "We're not going to speak Of
that. dearie. By Jove" he calculated
suddenly. ~ do believe there's old
Tom Goodwin over there all by him
self. You remember Tom. don't you.
Grace-the fellow who was too poor
to come to our wedding and who said
he was sending forks instead of buy
ing a railroad ticket? l haven't seen
him for months. He writes things, l
believe. You must meet him, good old
chap"
do you know" Goodwin remarked
a few moments later. seating himself
beside his new found friends. II al
ways promised myself the pleasure Of
meeting Mrs Edmonds. And now"
and his genial face beamed with good
nature. II see how true it is that un-
expected pleasures are the keenest.
Funny thing. Mrs Edmonds, but
didn't want to come here at all"
At this Edmonds smiled at his wife.
Neither did we. Now we are glad
we did," he said. But. Tom, why
haven't you called? You might have
found us before this In the directory"
4 "Oh. yes," Tom rejoined, but you're
such dreadful swels l didn't dare.
You see," he explained while Mrs. Ed
monds tried to tell him how modest
they really were, I'm just beginning.
When you just begin people don't like
you. and mostly you don't take to
them. and so have thought it best to
keep away by myself until had done
something worth while"
Goodwin made himself very agree
able, and Mrs. Edmonds liked him.
Her husband got deep in debate with
a business acquaintance. and the two
men presently drifted to the other side
of the room, so when the music began
in the conservatory Goodwin took Mrs.
Edmonds upstairs.
Its awfully good Of you. you
know" he said to her as they seated
themselves next dense mass Of palms
in the ballroom, mot to insist on
dancing, but to talk to me. You're so
cheerful and seem so contented. Will
is a fortunate man, Mrs. Edmonds."
How odd! l was discontinued and
blue when l came here tonight" she
said, "all because I was-well l was
covetous."
Tom laughed.
1--WE all get that way at times, l
fancy" he remarked Look at those
De Puysters standing over there. the
richest people here. You wouldn't be-
lieve 1t, but they are ridiculously jeal-
GUS Of the Four Hundred. How the
Four Hundred fare we never know,
but the De Puysters ape them as far
as they can. while some of us are silly
enough to ape the De Puysters. am
glad you are not one Of those"
Before Mrs. Edmonds could confess
that indeed she was one Of them there
came to her ear from behind the palms
by which they sat the sound of voices.
They both recognized the tones of
their host and hostess. 1t was an
awkward position. but they could not
have escaped being seen from over
the palms.
/ Constable was evidently remonstrat-
ing with his wife. you can't mean to
| pretend" he was saying. "to be keep
ing pace with the De Puysters. One
would think you were, to see us to-
night. tell you, Anne. l can't afford
1t, and that's fat
That's what you're always saying
cant afford this; can't pay for that!
cried Mrs. Constable, with considera-