The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-10-12


cloud over there in the corner for the
last ten minutes"
GAS we'll he killed for q sheep as a
lamb, Mrs. Delafeld," said Mr.. Bell;
$50 let's have one more turn"
More to escape Mrs. Larime than
anything else, Mrs. Delafield allowed
herself to be drawn into the waltz, and
when it was over Colonel Delafeld had
left the room.
:" He might have waited for me if he
wanted me-" she said, defiantly, to Lou
Use, who again urged her to retire. So
waltz succeeded waltz, as her old beaux
focked around her, and it was two
o'clock before the ladies left the room
for their parlor.
"I think I'll stop here, and not go on
with you, sis," said Mrs. Delaield, as
she reached her own room door, which
was in the same corridor with her sis
ter's. She tried the door as she spoke,
and found it locked,
"Let me rouse the colonel" said Mr..
Bell, who was with them. But that
instantaneous instinct" which Compte
says is the only intellect of a woman,
warned Mrs. Delafeld of the truth, and
sent shiver of cold anger over her ten
times worse than her hottest flashes of
| passion.
4" Not for the world" she said, in the
blandest tone. Poor fellow, am sure
he is tired out"
"But perhaps, after all, he may not
be in there. Let me climb up and look
through the transom; can easily do so
by standing on this table," and as he
spoke MI. Bell lifted q small stand in
front Of the door.
i" Let you look into my room when I
am sure it is in disorder No, indeed,
you can't do that, Mr.. Bell; but I'll look
myself if you will get that chair for
me-"
"Don't, sister; pray DON'T" said Lou
Use. a." Either let Mr.. Bell wake Colonel
Delafeld, or come in my room and sleep
with me TO- night. Indeed, that will be
the best plan, after all, she added, for
she knew her sister, and distrusted that
smiling face and low, set tone.
"Yes, I'll go with you, but 1 must
first be sure that Colonel Delafeld is
asleep. He may be anxious, you know,
if he comes later and finds me not
here"
&" Come along, Miss Mary, honey.
Use got nice cup of tea for you and
Miss Louise. The colonel's all right.
kin wake him while you's drinking
your tea," said Kate, who knew the
temper both husband and wife were in,
and was anxious to get rid of the gentle
men who escorted the ladies, and gel
Miss Many kinder quieted down be-
fore she came in contact with Colonel
Delafeld.
But they might as well have tried to
turn the Mississippi river, as to divert
Mrs. Delafeld from her purpose. Mount
that table and look through the transom
over the door she would; and SO, while
one gentleman held it steady, the other
assisted her, first to chair and then to
the table. Peeping through, she saw
just what she had expected to see: her
husband, with face, as Mrs. Larime
truly said, like thunder cloud, sitting
bolt upright in a chair before tn. ire.
eyes, here lie is, fast asleep; and l
wouldn't wake him for the world, be
does look SO peaceful and happy. l wish
you could see him. Now am perfectly
satisfied, and hope he will have as good
u nights rest as l SHALL" and she de-
scended from the table as she spoke,
first to the chair, then to the floor, smil-
ing so sweetly that Mr.. Bel was COM
pletely deceived, and nanny relieved,
believing that good nights rest before
they met would clear the atmosphere,
and,Miss Mary, "too tired for a tantrum,
tonight" would be in good humor by
morning. Louise knew better; but even
she was surprised when, after sweetly
bidding the gentlemen goodnight, and
standing quiet while nanny locked the
,oor, her sister, with wave of her
hand, dashed the cup of tea to the floor
which Kate presented to her, and sitting
down i'll large armchair as she spoke,
said, as she set her pretty foot ON the
broken sup:
Colonel Delafeld shall go down on
his knees and kiss my foot before 1 for
give him for this insult"
"Sakes alive, Miss Mary! What is
the kernel done to you? You didn't ex-
pect him to sit up for you, did you?"
Hush your mouth, and don't dare
to mention his name to me; he was sit
wouldn't open the door. What do you
think of thats" she asked, turning to
her sister.
81 knew it all the time, for saw his
shadow on the ceiling just as you mount
ed the table; did not know it was until
he moved. What on earth tempted you
to get up there, sister, and talk as you
did 2"
"I did it just to vex him; 1 was not
going to have it said that Colonel Della
field had locked his wife out of her room
f !, waltzing-just think how delighted
Mrs. Larime would be to get hold OF
such a story. No; ne shall go down on
his knees and kiss my foot before go
back into that room; see if he don't.
Get me another cup of tea. and don't
stand staring there; but make haste and
comb my hair, Kate
Kate obeyed without a word, for she
saw Miss Mary, as she expressed it,
GO was not to be fooled with"
Too loftily indignant to shed tear,
Mrs. Delafeld retired, meditating in
what terms she should snub her husband
next day, when he came, as she meant
he should, to sue for pardon. At first
she thought she would not appear at
breakfast at all, but second thought
convinced her this would be bad policy,
as she would be supposed to be peni-
tent and waiting for forgiveness her
self. Neither would she let Kate go
next morning to her room for a morn
ing dress-that would look as if she was
Inconvenience by the colonel's act
so, arraying herself in one of her sisters
prettiest wrappers, she descended, pre-
pared for conquest and full of wrath
that grew hotter the longer it was
smothered. But Colonel Delafeld, her