is voyage, they were both seen in
church on the following Thursday afternoon; and when they came out,
people addressed Katy as Mrs. Howard. But to pass on to the occasions
which she had chosen to call a birthday party, though it was not
exactly that; and as it came immediately after the church service, some
called it a levee.

There are a great many persons in the Gordon mansion, as many as two
hundred, I should think. Of course, I cannot stop to introduce all of
them, but there are a few who deserve this favor.

"Mr. Sneed, I am delighted to see you," said Mrs. Howard, as a very
tall and very slim gentleman, elegantly dressed, approached.

"You do me honor, madam. It is the superlative felicity of my sublunary
existence to congratulate you on this auspicious occasion," replied Mr.
Sneed, as he gently pressed the gloved hand of the lady.

That sounds just like Master Simon Sneed, only very much intensified.
Simon is a salesman still in a large establishment--has never risen
above that position and probably never will; for, born to be a
gentleman, he feels as much above his business as his business really
is above him.

Simon's father and mother say a pleasant word to the bride, and pass
on. And here comes a great fat woman, whose tongue flies like the
shuttle in a loom. Well, it is the captain's mother. Since her son has
been prosperous, she has had an easy time of it, and has grown very
corpulent.

"Who do you think has come, Katy?" puffed Mrs. Howard.

"I don't know. Who?"

"Mrs. Colvin, that was! Mrs. McCarty, that is."

Some of the very good-natured people laughed, and some of the very
fastidious ones turned up their noses, when they saw Mrs. McCarty so
warmly received by the bride; but she did not care who laughed or who
sneered; she was not too proud to welcome, in the hour of prosperity
and happiness, those who had been her friends in adversity.

"Mrs. Howard, I congratulate you," said a fat man, who was puffing and
blowing at the heat of the room.

It was an ex-mayor and after he had said a few pleasant words, he
passed on to make room for a hundred more who were waiting to speak to
the bride.

That was a very pleasant party; but as we are opposed to crowded rooms
and late hours, we may as well retire.

The next day the happy couple started upon a bridal tour, and on their
return, Captain Howard sailed for Liverpool, in his fine ship, with
Mrs. Howard as a passenger.

And now my young friend,