Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-07-25

ASS~Ao " AZ hiShOS, eliio NiSl W StDJCCl
me to your caprices."
81 assure you that am not at all dis
posed to accept the part of victim"
"And / certainly shall not consent to
be yours"
Edouard and Louise looked at Zach,
other for moment, then, with an air Of
uuIuaT uefance, Iney seated themselves,
Louise at her piano, and Edouard on
sofa. He took book and began to read
with imperturbable calmness. The fin
gers of Louise remained immovable upon
the keys, but the agitation of her little
feet beating tattoo upon the floor showed
that her nerves were more irritable than
those of her husband.
Edouard at length made a movement
of impatience.
"This reading interests me, madame /
should like to pursue it uninterrupted.
This music"
"Does it disturb you? I am exceed
ingly sorry, but it is necessary to continue
my musical studies"
"Without touching the keys. A singu-
lar method"
81 am in despair that it does not please
you"
The tattoo became more animated.
'Imust Withdraw my study" said Ed
Guard at length.
Il would not have the presumption to
place any obstacle in your way"
Edouard rose Louise, as he was about
to quit the room, said
off however, you should decide"
"To accompany you to the boulevard !?
impossible, madame"
As he was crossing the threshold of the
door, he turned:
IF, on reflection, you should con-
clude-'
"To follow you to the country? New
er, SIR Edouard marched out with all
the gravity of an aspirant to the magis-
truOy
1T is a declaration of war;" said Louise,
Indignantly. Il accept it."
From this time, matters became worse
and worse every day. Edouard and
Louise, more and more irritated against
each other, had no other care or occupa-
tion to invent means of annoyance. In
their rare conversation, irony and cpl
gram were ever on their lips. Happiness
and peace seemed forever banished from
the household fofever.
Louise went one day to visit friend
it was raining, and while the ladies were
talking of the fashions and the theatre,
the master of the house entered followed
by Newfoundland dog, who was both
wet and muddy. Happy to find himself
under shelter, the animal gave shake
which distributed around him a dew of q
very doubtful purity, then began to lear
upon the silk dresses of his mistress and
Louise, leaving the prints of his paws al
every bound at last he stretched himself
out on divan of sky-blue velvet, between
two cushions whose embroidery he gnaw.
ed by way of amusement. On her re
turn, Louise was imprudent enough tt
describe this scene in no approving term!
in the presence of her husband. He1
comments were not lost upon Edouard
who returned the same evening with
magnificent Newfoundland dog answerin,
the name of Tom.
At breakfast which Edouard gave t.
: some ofhis friends, the conversation turne,
upon the instincts and habits of animals
each of the guests spoke of his repug
nances or predictions Edouard ex
pressed the greatest antipathy to the cal
at is selfish, thieving, cruel" he said
: sits caresses are not marks of affection
but expressions of its wants. When
gets mouse in its claws, it will restore
5 to dreadful liberty, twenty times, for tn
pleasure of ofseizing it again. There neve
was more horrible torture for pleasur,
: nor more refined cruelty in an execu
toner.
] After this violent sortie of the felin
race, Louise could not live without cal
e she chose superb Angora, which ST
I christened with the name of Ration.
e 1t may be imagined that there was n,
n an entente cordial Tom and Ration. Lol
IS ise, always ready to come to the asst
; tance of her fayorite, was lavish of co
rection to Tom, while Ration received 3
e equal share from Edouard, all which d
o not increase the harmony of the hous
hold.
Among the visitors whom the ties