The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-07
BY oorethea Allen.


II vas the night OF Mrs. Munn's mn
slcale-a bad night. too. for a heavy
ram had begun TO fail al dusk. and
nov al o'clock the earth was de-
lused. the trees dripping and the fan
continuing without cessation.
Mrs. Mum had arranged her house
ttry pretty. IL was not a large house.
out II Was new and well furnished
ana as this Vas the fret time she had
ever entertained on a large scale.
great pains had been taken with the
Secorations and appurtAnces. In the
kitchen caterer was busy among the
eclDles getting them ready to serve.
ana IN the parlor Mrs. Mum was re-
cthlng her guests as they came down
stairs after having Invested them
selves OF their wraps.
Mrs Mum Was a small woman with
slender. girlish figure She wore a
new lace gown. and her hair. just a
httle gray. was carefully folded and
pulled and crimped. Her heels were
very high and her collar very correct.
she looked uncomfortable and wor-
ried behind her polite smile. which
never once left her lips as she stood
uttefing, over and over agin. her for.
NAL little phrase OF greeting Yet all
NE ne time her mind was running In 20
come well nodded Would the cake
cat nicely? Would Mrs Weeks think
10 Keep the cat out OF the kitchen?
How dreadfully unfortunate that this
rain had had come on II was the rain
she knew. and not sick headache that
mad made Maud Merrill send a note at
the last moment saving that she
would, after all be unable to appear.
And she had so counted on Maud's
voice, The lack OF IL was likely to
spoil " all Just that one omission
had made a big hole in her carelessly
arranged program. However. people
We're good 10 come on such bad day
True. they had not worn their good
clothes. Mrs Holt looked as N she
had made a quick change to that old
toulard and Anna Marks certainly
ana not have on her best skirt. The
hostess shuddered at the amount OF
Wet and CRIME that was being
tracked across her new rugs, for OF
course everybody couldn't come in
cabs, And the lawn would look all
cut up tomorrow, for they had driven
right across il 10 the front door. Dear,
dear But at least there was Prof
pN' ne had promised 10 play two
SOLOS besides accompanying Harry
Morse. the violinist. and Aline Car
Yer, the contralto. With these they
must do. But il was a shame that
Maud Merrill should have failed her.
Poor little Mrs. Mum was desper-
''Nrr'A ANi |lt~s AtI UTHf real so
cial venture. 10 ie a success. for upon
II depended her future In Westmore
And not only her future. hut Dicks.
winch was OF vastly more Importance
10 her She had been a poor. plain
unknown girl when she married Dick
MUM. who also had been poor and
plain and unknown.
In that first year Of their married
life she had done a great deal of seri-
Gus thinking. She saw other men with
10 more ability than Dick 20 ahead in
me business struggle because their
wives helped them socially. II seemed
10 her that she was the custodian oil
DICKS financial wellbeing: n he was
ever 10 do anything or be anybody she
must help him. She took stock Of her
assets. Certainly she should be able
10 accomplish as much socially as Mrs
lark, who had not half her wit. though
indeed, FAR more means. Yet brains
should be worth as much as money
tHev must he in her case.
FOR D years she had struggled and