Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-10

His wife draws back from him. She slowlyrs
her hands.
His tone alters to one of forced gayety.
Eyes, we are married fast aud true; my wife
there has the certificate in her pocket. My
love, produce it."
The young girl, with her face turned aside.
ana IN an agony OF tears, rapidly obeys, and
Curtis picks ii up, and, after unfolding It,
exhibits 1t with grave face to the uncle, who
reads It, meanwhile leaning pom the table for
"Msrried!" he cries, in loud whisper; "then
what have done?'
He fixes his eyes upon his ward.
'tDonel" echoes Randidge, lizhtly-"done?
Why, you have done great deal of mischief;
you have made an irreparable breach between
husband and wifei You see she has stopped
embracing me. She thinks me ugly. L am
afraid cannot keep her love. That causes me
much SORROW"
Randidge assumes an easy position, and rubs
his lips with his hnger-tiPs. He is master of the
situation. He looks from Curtis to Mr.. Tyrwitt.
and then from Mr.. Tyrwitt to the sorrowful
one, and then back again.
The clock ticks upon the mantel, the Cupid
swings to and fro, and fro, and "Duplicite"
beams across at "Simplicite."
MIR. Tyrwitt Is plunged in gloom, the wife
sobs, and Curtis handles his stick secretly ana
frets.
"Come," says Rsnddge, tive all see the posi-
ton. Let US make the best of 1t. We can i'm
prove upon it as 1t now stands. am, at the
pAcScht uiOIucLIs very QeSlrOuS TO 90 abroad.
for my creditors are becoming tro3hIesoms
Mr.. Tyrwttt, there is your secretary; in 1t ia
your check book; write me an order for-for this
amount.
All eyes turn upon the speaker. He rapidlv
makes some figures upon bit of paper with a
pencil.
ain case that should comply what will be
done?" demands the other, quickly.
"Then will permit you to obtain a decree of
divorce for my wife. 1t need be only matter
OF two or three lawyers and good Judge in
".Oh, no, no, mol" sobs the wife, in a low
voice.
MI, Tyrwitt at once seats himself at his desk
miss Praed, he says, while trying his pen
"I shall draw this sum as attorney. 1t will he
debited to your account"
He receives no answer, but sounds Of weep
"will you not make it this amount?u saws
Randidge, presenting a fresh scrap OF paper,
upon which is written larger sum.
ssh, ," retorts the other, 81 shall now reduce
the original sum by one tenth. Another word
from you and will reduce it another tentn!'
silent.
Mr.. Tyrwitt stops in his work, and turns his
head, and looks over his shoulder at his ward.
She is pallid, and her head DROPS. Her lips
are compressed. She glances twice or thrice at
Randidge's face. After each glance she signs
deeply.
In a moment Randidge receives the draft. He
hurriediy points to the date. 1t is q month ad
vanced.
vent you from drawing the money until choose
that you shall have it, which will not be before
the present relations between my niece and
yourself are destroyed. You will see that [
have Endorsed the paper with a legend, which
Will prevent you from selling it to any person
Ignorant of the conditions upon which it was is
sued. L wish to stipulate that, for the next
three days, you visit my niece here in this room
in my presence, and converse with her for two
hours, II she be disposed to grant so much time
to the purpose. AT the end of the three days,
should she declare herself willing to continue
to be your wife, then shall cause that check to
be nulhhed, and will recognize you as her hus-
band. must inform you, however, that her
property Is settled upon herself and that no es-
peclal advantage will accrue to You should YOU
succeed in making yourself charming. On the
other hand, should she feel that life with you
cannot be made all that she thinks married life
should be, why, then L will cause the check to
be paid Immediately after the separation has
been legally perfected. Madam Randdge,
your husband is about to go out of the room.
1t is my desire that you bid him adieu until to-
morrow morning. You will then meet him at
10 O'Clock precisely"
Randidge folded his check in his fingers, and
crossed over to where his wife stood. She
laughed. She was about 10 put up her face,
but she gave him both her hands instead. He
said nothing. She also remained silent. She
looked at him, and then slowly dropped her
her.
Randidge cuts short the scene by dropping
her hands, and walking coolly to the door.
Returns around, and mods lightly to all pre-
sent, and kisses his hand to his wife, and de-
parts with triumphant smile.
Inc niece bursts into tears, and files to her
apartment.
Mr.. Tyrwitt crosses over to Curtis, and
solemnly shakes his hand, and they then sit to
smoke and reflect.
On the fourth day after this MIR. TyrRitt
writes this letter TO his brother in the West:
my DEAR FREDERICK: L have already told
you or the comedy that commenced in this
apartment on Tuesday last.
son each of the three past DAYS an act has
been played as indicated there would be.
son the first, Mrs. Randidge cana in hastily,
and kissed her husband warmly. They sat to-
gether upon fauteuil beside the window. The
instant he began to speak the dot and the ras-
Cal appeared. His contemplate visage chilled
her. She grew dull, and minute did not
elapse before she recoiled from him. His
wretched mouth shocked her in spite of herself.
Still, she chiruped and twittered with a bravery
that moved even me.
81 think you must have seen that toy the
mouth of which, on moving, causes a pair of
donkey's ears to project and gesticulate iii |
may use the world. If you have, you would be
reminded Of 1t on seeing Randidge. He has but
to part his lips TO prove himself an ass.
MAIDS displeasure with him increased to an
tipathy, and in ten minutes L felt safe.
"But, If you III believe it, the courageous child
kissed him when he went away! And all for
pride. All to show me that she was not to be
Influenced so easily. 1t was a sad little device,
for it deceived no one. She went quietly to her
own room, and did not stir thence for the whole
day.
"The next interview was only a tax upon
MAIDS ingenuity and fortitude. Randidge was
simply unbearsble. He sat at one end of a fau-
teuil and she at the other. She snapped at him
once or twice, and then the bruin appeared
and, of course, in the lines of his mouth.
she went away after an hour, and shs ONLY
gave him q tardy hand.
son the third day they did not sit down at
all, but stood looking beyond each other for ten
minutes, hardly exchanging a word. Mad
sighed, and Randidge frowned. 1t was all over.
Finally he disappeared.
"Mad came and went for an hour, and pro-
fessed coDtrition and shame. She AYERS that
she now believes in me. L am glad OF it. She
has founded herself on a rock
"My experiment has succeeded. My theory
has been put 10 practice, and has been found to
be correct Take warning, my dear Fred
erick, and do not permit your Clarence TO hide
his face as Randidge hid his. Keep your eve
upon his lips. II he tends to ungentleness, or
egotsm, or to profigacy, the sign will hang
about his mouth. Demand that he clear his
face of all distractions to your gaze at least once
In six months. You will then be able to read
the secrets of his heart. IL this particular line
or that particular comprehension does not suit
IN wi inn ir,h