Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-03-17
BERENICE.

BERENICE.
Suppose we give it up, Berry, and
stay at home," suggested the young
husband, laying aside the dainty invi-
tation cards as he spoke. You wouldn't
care a great deal, would you"
Bereuice put up her cherry lips in q
childish pout. "Of course 1 care,
Bruce. she said reproachfully; "every-
body else is going I; why cannot we go
Why, the ball at Belvidere Place is all
the talk. Carrie Dubant's going, and
she's got the loveliest dress that human
eyes ever beheld. And such lace-real
point-and brand-new turquoise set,
and her husbands not half as well off
as you are"
"WeIl, well, don't fret, Berry," said
her husband, with sigh; If you've
set your heart on it you shall go. But
I thought" he added, hesitatingly. 81
mean-well, the plain truth is, Berry,
| that I'm little cramped for cash now.
That heavy note comes due on Friday,
and my affairs are not quite so steady
as like. And this ball"
"Oh, nonsense" interposed the
young wife, giving her red gold ringlets
toss '-you men always talk that way.
/ Papa always did, 1 remember, when
mamma went to him for money. But
you can't impose on me, Bruce; I'm
too well posted. You've money enough
there's no mistake about that. And l
sha'n't need fortune so the matters
settled we shall go to the ball at
Belvidere."
every we'll you shall have it your
own way" he replied and, rising up
from his bright little breakfast table,
Bruce Dunbar kissed his wife, and went
down town to his place of business.
They had not been married quite
year, and the young husband could not
find it is his heart to deny his pretty
child wife single qualification but
he looked moody enough as he walked
down the cheerful, sunlight street. He
told the truth when he said he was
cramped for cash there was not spare
dollar in his till.
A few years back this same hand
some Bruce Dunbar had been what is
termed in fashionable parlance EAST"
He drove blooded horse, indulged in
cards and champagne suppers, and
sowed his wild oats pretty plentifully.
But in the midst of all this he fell in
love with pretty Berenice Holbrook,
and the whole manner of his life was
changed.
Since the hour of his marriage he
had given mp all his bachelor in
dulgences, and walked unswervingly in
the narrow path of rectitude and virtHe.
He was doing his best to redeem the
past and retrieve his fallen fortunes.
And here came the invitation to the
Belvidere ball in the most inopportune
time
He reached his Office with a heavy
heart, and set about his work, counting
over the long list of unpaid bills. "If
Berry would only give up the ball J"
he thought every time he raised his
eyes from the dreary ledger.
But pretty Berenice, with her peach
bloom cheeks and red-gold tressess,
/ had no such thought as that. Just be-
| fore the hour of closing she came fiirt-
/ ing into her young husbands Office,
such a radiant creature, in her silks and
( Jewels, that he forgot his cares, and
looked up with a smiling welcome.
"Tve been out shopping love" she
said, touching her ripe lips to his brow
''getting our things for the Belvidere.
/ I've goS you an exquisite vest and tie,
etc and wish, do wish, you could
see my dress / bought it already
made Paris affair, you know, silk
tissue and rose-buds, and knots of
Paris green. Oh, it is too lovely !
Carrie Dubant's won't compare with it
| at all And Madame R said that l
must-l positively must-have an emer-
aid set to match it; a light emerald.
you know, to suit my complexion. And,
darling" touching her lips to his brow
again, 81 was sure you wouldn't mind,
and / got these"-unclasping a casket
and flashing a blaze of sea-green
splendor before the young husbands s
eyes-''at a real bargain, too. Amt
they exquisite? And the whole bill,
for dress and everything, is only five
hundred dollars Now, haven't L been
an economical little wife ?"
Bruce Dunbar almost reeled where
he stood. Five hundred dollars, and
he with scarcely five hundred pennies
at his command But he muttered no
word of reproach. He kissed the pretty
face looking up to him, and then called
cab and drove home, with his happy
wife chatting beside him.
They went TO the ball at Belvidere
place, and Berenice Dunbar took the
palm for beauty, in her shimmering
robes. with her fresh cheeks and red
gold cnrls and childish manners. Her
husband followed her lead, forgetful
of everything but the Joy OF the mo-
nent.
The Beautiful Blue Danube" had
ended, and they were In the refreshment
room.
Come, Bruce, let's have a glass to
your beautiful brides health and hap
piness," said an old friend, meeting
him for the first time since his mar
riage.
The young man shook his head, and
WAS on the point of uttering a polite
refusal, but his wife pinched his arm.
so. Bruce. don't" she whispered; 1T
SO old fashioned and saintish. Why
don't you drink like other men 2
Bruce Dunbsr's cheeks flushed. 1t
had cost him great struggle to give
up his social glass, but he had con-
duersd for his wife's sake. And TINS
was his reward He seized the glass
and drained it at draught. The
, glowing liquor ran like fire through his
veins, arousing all his old thirst, all his
, old craving for strong drink. Before
, the great ball at Belvidere was over his
cheeks glowed and his eyes flashed, and
his step was tribe unsteady but
: Berenice did not mind-all the gentle
, man in her set drank champagne.
) Two weeks after the ball Rerenict
! waited impatiently for her husbands
> return.-DInner was spelling, the sal
, mon steaks would he utterly ruined II
: ten minutes more, and the young wife
was dreadfully impatient. She had
new dress and tickets for Nilsson. Wb!
did not Bruce come? But the dinner