Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-31

N
go to town in the evening train in search OF
him. And then she imagined herself driving
about in fearful haste, in a very desolate
looking cab, so infinitely wretched that the
tears came into her eyes at the very thought.
Imagine her joy, then, at the sound Of
horses feet, just as this frantic resolution was
taken and she few down to the gate to meet
Alfred just as he dismounted to open it, re-
ceiving as a reward for all her anxisties a
shower of kisses and loving epithets, with
fond chidings for her unreasonable fears for
his safety. --. =
She forgot to inquire for the headache.
"Oh, what warm, disagreeable, uncomfort-
able day it had been! If people could only
i've without eating such days" And yet
the two managed to make a very comfortable
dinner, in spite of heat and romance, with a
| plentiful dessert Of Strawberries and cream
It was later than their ordinary hour, so much
SO that 1t was nearly dark by the time Al
tred's cigar was finished. Flora thought th at
he was much longer than usual in smoking
and discovered, with some impatience, that
he had INDUCED himself in n second; rather
unusual and selfish proceeding, she thought,
considering he was SO very late, which, by
the way, was not yet accounted for. The
| angel had managed to work herself into
! silght nervous fever, with the heat and after
| moons restlessness. 1t even seemed possible,
for the instant. that the king could do
wrong However, the pouting lip was kiss
| ed into It's full rOundness again, as the uncon-
scious offender proposed an adjournment to
the dressing room, and lights
| Don't you think ii rather too warm dear
est = was the mild expostulation of the hus-
| oand, as Flora prepared to make his knee her
| easy-chair, as usual.
They would never quarrel, Oh no they
had not even disagreed as yet.
Not a word was uttered in repJy. but ono
weather wise might have dreaded the porten-
tous silsnce more than the most abrupt retort,
as the injured wife deposited herself on an OF
toman instead. After she had been worrying
about him all the afternoon, too She was
fairiy sex with anxiety; and has was all her
thanks.
"And now, what shall we do this evening.
my precious! Do you feel like singing to
your husband ~
Exerting herself to sing such an oppressive
evening 1t was just as thoughtful as men
usually were. What selfish, exacting, in
different race
" 1t was too hot 80
Well, men are only mortal, and even they
may ieei hurt or startled at an abrupt answer
70 an ordinary question. But perha apps he had
been mistaken Flora certainly could not have
used that tone to him.
me read to her ?"
Ny darling vouchsafed to hand the book,
open AT the close instead of at the comm ence-
ment Of the sixteenth chapter
we did not get quite SO far as this. Let
me see-abOut half through, L think
finished it this afternoon
oh, Flora you remember our agreement
How could you!''
You did the same thing yesterday :"
zone little paragraph, when the cook called
you, dear"
Well, can't help it. You can read up to
me-
What if don't choose to ?'' And AL
fred tone was certainly approaching the key
at which Flora maintained the duet There
may have been an added sharp.
. You can do as you please, my dear ~
1t was not so much the words as the smile
OF mock courtesy, and the flash Of her eyes as
she rose and left him. She had not intended
to speak so; she could not tell what evil spirit
possessed her, nor did she feel how much ex
preston that single sentence conveyed until
she heard
" certainly shall, my love - in a tone he
had never used before; so firm, so compressed,
1t seemed and he. too, deserted the centre
table, and went out into the night air
She threw herself on the bed, intending at
first to go back to his side in a moment and
" make it all up:' But as she heard his re
treating footsteps new thought flashed into
her mind. She would undress and pretend to
be asleep when he came that would punish
him properly for attempting to resent any
thing she might say 1t was scarcely an in
stant's work; the pile of snowy skirts, the
light lawn dress, were crushed into a needless
mass of drapery, the little slippers flung care
lessly away; and before Alfred could have
reached the gate, the white robed figure was
resting as quiet and calm as if never dis
turbed by an angry or fretful emotion. One
thought troubled her, notwithstanding this
outward cOmpOsure. Perhaps he was seriously
angry, and might stay away for a long walk;
but no, whatever his intentions, he returned
almost Immediately, and sat down beneath
the shaded light Her heart thrcbbed with
secret exultation; he evidently wished her to
come back and allow him to read. He should
try little suspense. She glanced beneath
the hand that concealed her face. He looked |
sad and troubled but he had resumed his |
book. Perhaps he thought she would return |
by the time the chapter was finished but she |
would teach him lesson; he should ask for |
giveness, for he had spoken as Grossly as her. |
self. |
All, what had become of all the loving fears
and anxieties of that little heart, the fond, |
restless yearnings of the afternoon, when she |
thought that to see him safe and well again |
would be all she could ask of earthly happi- |
ness? Where was the self-sacrifcing devo-
tiOn that had then been ready to nurse him |
through the most frightfull ILLNESS, regardless 1
Of fatigue, exposure, or cOntagion? She |
knew he was not happy; she heard him sigh |
unconsciously as he turned the pages, and |
that one word, one sign from her could make /
him cheerful again; and yet she withheld il |
She did not feel really angry; but he would |
be sure to come soon and sue for a reconcilia-
ton, and then she would tell him she was
very sorry, and it would be ten times pleas
anter than before. Still he did not come, and |
she was growing very sleepy She had prom. |
lsed herself never 10 sleep at variance with |
her husband, and never before since their |
marriage had she missed the good night kiss |
upon her forehead, or the whispered blessing,
few minutes, and then 60 to him perhaps, ste |
thought; he surely would not think Of sleep
ing so. She was very tired, and it was very |
warm and then one white round arm was
thrown over the fair linen sheet, and with |
flushed cheek, and lips slightly apart, the lit
tie lady forgot her ill-temper and vexstion
together.
She woke from an unhappy dream with
feyerish start a moment after as she fhou oht L