MRS EPPS' EXPERIMENT.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8541, 22 July 1893, Page 3

MRS EPPS' EXPERIMENT.

By D. U. -Cnough.

When pretty Anna Smith married Charlie Epps, it was quite a fashionable wedding, and the prospects of the happy pair were very promising, for Charlie had his profession, a little to back it, and they both possessed youth and sound health.

Twelve year* later things were on a different footing. Charlie was not a brilliant man, being rather of the sort to " be judged by his works," and these were few, owing to the general depression, so the small "backing" which in the beginning had be*n almost despised by the pair, was now their sole standing. Anna bad been very pretty, but since the two sets of twiu daughters had been followed by the four single sons, and screw and scraps had become household words in her mouth, she bad altered greatly, and looked, not only her age—which was little over thirty—-but her circumstances.

The moneyed portion of their little town had dropped them long ago, and now the small fry were following suit. It did nottrouble them much from a social point of view, for they were of the foolish old fashioned type, who had no notion of "popularity jackism," but it was palpable to the densest understanding that only those who keep before the public notice will receive public support.

But how to do it? Mrs Epps's sound sense had by no means followed in the wake of her girlish beauty, yet she had to cogitate long and deeply ere the idea, at first but shadowy, assumed the definite shape of a possibly successful experiment.

At that time Melbourne was making preparations for the reception of a new governor, and on the morning before the day of his expected arrival Mrs Epps astounded her husband by announcing at breakfast time that either he or she must run up to Melbourne that morning. She thought he'd better go, as the children might be rather a handful if she left them to his sole care (the general servant had even been " reduced " lately). A long talk followed, during which Mr Epps's countenance changed many times, settling finally into a mixture of many emotions, amusement, doubt, anticipation, and a good deal of admiration whenever he happened to look at his wife. .

The next evening's train brought Charlie Epps home, and with him a small square parcel which the husband and wife, with happier laughter than they had heard from each other for years, opened gingerly, revealing, in a delicate frame of silver fretwork, the cabinet photograph of a nicelooking middle aged man.

" Twenty-five shillings, frame and all,' cried Charlie. "Is ib worth it on the chance ?"

"I'd willingly treble the risk. We mus'nt stick at trifles, it's sink or not swxm ; but run them all down and sail over them, it only we can once get well afloat again," responded Anna, looking positively pretty again, with that sparkle in her eyes.

Two days later the talk of the town was of Mrs Epps, and the "really sweet" cards, upon which she had notified to all the people that she would be at home upon a certain Wednesday evening.

Of course they would all go, just to try and find out what was the meaning of this new departure, and to see if " the poor little woman" knew anything about entertaining, they needn't keep it up you know, it would be easy to drop it again, for it certainly couldn't go on, in Mr Epps's present position; how could it ?

8o they all went, and found that Mrs Epps did know something about what she had undertaken. The rooms were large and not overcrowded, everyone seemed to get near the person they most wished to sea; the music was excellent, the Supper too delicious, and there was not even one sound of a baby's cry. Such an unheard of thing in that household. It was towards the end, when most of the elderly ladies hadheen twice to supper, and were feel, ing for once at peace with the world, tne flesh and . . . their hostess, that the latter stood leaning against the mantelpiece, carelessly fingering a very artistic silver frame which held a gentleman* photograph.

Charlie stood near, watching her witb quite too eager a face.

Raising her eyebrows ever so little she glanced from him to the door, and as she said to the nearest "Lady Golden": " Isn't this an excellent design ?" Charlie edged his way round to the door, and then bolted, with a perfectly scared look behind him.

So much depended on Anna just at that particular moment, and though he believed in her implicitly, yet -——•

" It certainly is beautiful," replied Lady Golden. " You never bought it here ?"

"Oh, no, it came from Melbourne."

" I didn't know you'd been up lately," as the others crowded nearer to admire the silver fretwork.

" No; I didn't go," said Anna, raising her clear tones ever so slightly; "he's not my relative, I'm colonial-born, as you know, and though I'm as loyal as possible, my own dear little babs ia worth more to mc than any amount of Queen s represen—— Oh, yes! the sweet little dearest had a touch of croup that morning; strange this time of year, as you say, but there's no accounting for children's whims."

"Then Mr Epps went up alone?"

"Yes; you see it would never have done for him to be the last on the scene, would It?" with a pretty little appealing gesture to the now animated and interested listeners.

"But wasn't it awfully sweet of him?" Anna continued, after a due pause to allow her words to germinate. "He let mc have this to make up for my disappointment in not going to town. Of course he must have altered a good deal; it's fourteen years since Charlie left home, but I not having known him before, ana quite content," replacing the frame upon the mantelpiece.

"Who?"

" Good gracious 1 You don't mean to say.you don't know; the governor, of course.'

" Yes. I see now," put in a quiet-looking girl *, " I saw a photo' like that in a some, what similar frame in Dean and Johnston's window. Is that where yours came from ? "

" My dear Miss Brady, how can you expect mc to tell; I didn't ask him where he'd bought it. How could I?"

" Couldn't yon see by tha wrapper. I make a point of examining a parcel before I open it, to prevent mistakes," remarked a shrewd old person, with a very searching look at Mrs Epps.

" Well," laughed Anna, " when the poor man brought it down himself, and said such pretty and, really—very complimentary things about mc, and hoped I'd always be his friend (as, indeed, I mean to, he's been the best friend Charlie, ever had), I couldn't ask where that photo was taken ; it must have been at Home, for there wouldn't have been time to get it printed in Melbourne."

"Why! When did you get it?" asked someone.

" The very day he arrived."

"And he came down to yon that very dayf*

" Charlie had to come back that night, and, of course, old acquaintance counts for something; but," with a seared expression, " for goodness sake don't say a word about it to a soul; Stats secrets, yon know Upon my word," with a weary smile, " I am more sorry than I can tell you for Lady Newcomer; what ie must be to have a Governor for a husband. I assure you I can realise, little as I have had to do with such people, so far"

Amid the hush which followed her words, someone asked— " Is he an old man f"

" I've no idea; appearances can't be relied upon. Charlie, how?—Oh f he's not thsre.**

"No, he went out of the, room a few, minutes ago, looking a little upset, I thought," said the quiet-looking girl.

"Poor old Charlie," sighed Mrs Epps, " Its just like him, he's the most modest retiring creature in the world, and because of that people think he's got no brains; but—ah well, you'll know someday soon that he's only been waiting till success was assured to send tbe whole world of mechanism into ecstatic revolt by laying before it his scheme for—— What am I thinking of? "Charlie." Oh yes, he's a perfect man in every way, and I ought to know, except that he's too depreciative of self. Now I'm certain the reason of his sudden decampment just 'now was a dread lest someone should ask who this is," indicating the silver frame. ''Wouldn't he be furious if he knew I'd told you all that he*s first cousin to the——," with an arch smile and knowing glance, " but you can swear I didn't say it. and if people are so preternaturally sharp that tbey will put two and two together, and make a truth out of a parcel of hints it's not my fault, is it? Which will you take, Lady Golden, white soup or brown?" as the maids entered.

When the last guest had departed, and daylight began to dim the waxlights, Mr Epps and his wife solemnly walked through the house and "doused the glims."

"Anna," said he, "is it a success? and how many lies did you tell ?"

"Charlie," said she, "it's guaranteed, and I didn't tell one ; every word was true, and if they believe it their own way I'm not responsible for them."

" No, but I am for the show; it will leave us with nothing in pocket, and the next six months' interest on my fixed deposit in pawn."

"Just like a man," she taunted back, "to spoil a triumph by 'trying back' to trivialities."

"Just like a woman to think one success makes a certainty;" but he did not look very despondent, and Anna had gone back, in appearance, to the days when first they met.

Nothing succeeds like success. Ancient, 1 know, but even the modern slang, expressive though it be, cannot better state the fact. The Epps's were at last somebody. Before the Wednesday week every, one who was anyone had called upon Mrs Epps. invitations showered upon them jobs by the dozen were offered to him, and presently a permanent appointment bringing in twelve hundred a year, with tbe right to private practice as well, set them above the necessity to know—all women; and they could choose their friends. "And to think that we laughed at them because they sounded like cocoa people; who'd have ever thought from his looks that he'd got such relations" was pretty much the general comment in the little town. Some of them had even spoken of her formerly as " Anner Repps." What it is to be a governor's cousin one can scarcely imagine, though to be even the supposed cousin of the same is apparently not devoid of merit. MMIIIII ii i i —™_MMM--__-_B_fr Business Notices.