The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-18
VOLUME 3.

with you some evening soon; and ii /;
three weeks since they were here ] feal
. thay will think it strange"
There was not The slightest sign ot
ullenness or iIl-tsmper when he pleaded
some pressing engagement for not going
"he would go some other time, though
perhaps it would he better not TO wait
for him" He read the paper little
while, then put on his Overcoat, and
with a Good by, Puss," went ont.
He returned home earlier than usual
for again and again Ethel's face rose be-
fore him. He felt uneasy, yet he could
not have told why. He wished he had
gone with her, she had looked so pretty
half-p pleading with him to go; and, when
he had refused, how good-tempered and
sweet she had been. Perhaps il would
be better for them both if Ethel were
not always so pleasant-som thing lit
tie more spirited and tantalizing, 40 that
a fellow wouldn't always know what he
was to receive-a smile or a frown-it
wouldn'i be quite so insipid.
So thinking he entered the house
There was sense Of quietness, of lone
illness even, as he opened the door. He
hurried into the parIor before taking off
his 0vercoat. The lights were turned
down, the room looked deserted. in
real alarm he sought the servant. He
looked really disturbed as he questioned
her.
Mrs Lathrop went ont. sir, with Joseph
anon after you went away. She said she
should be home by nine O'Clock. It's real
lonely-like, you see, for young thing
| like her to be alone so, evening after ev
ening. I'm sure she'll come soon, sir"
she said, not noticing her master 8 frown-
ing face.
Feeling indignant and exceedingly in
iured, Mr.. Lathrop wandered aimlesEly,
about the parlors until he heard the
sound of carriage wheels, and Ethels
merry voice bidding some one good
DIRnI, anu liiS OCAi tdbS4 hAsAS"
himself into an easy chair, and was ap-
parently so absorbed with his paper as
not to notice her when she entered the
room.
"Why, Harry, dear, have you got
home first? / did not expect you for
half an hour, but ] could not get away
before. They were all so sorry You
couldn't come. ] have had a delightful
time" And so the dear girl had; ex-
preston, voice, manner, all testified to it;
and she looked az che felt, bright and
happy for the moment.
"And who, pray, may they be, if |
may presume to ask?" with severe digni-
ty.
"Who? Why, who could they be,
Harry, DEAR but Judge and Mrs. Rem
field and their family?" in a surprised
tone.
"And you have been that long dis
tance alone tonight! 1t wasn't safe, and
was ont of place. What must they
think?"
"But ] did not go alone, Harry. ]
took Joseph with me, and they sent me
home in carriage"
THAT proves that they thought strange
of it, and that it was not proper thing
for lady to do. OF course Joseph was
no protection"
Ethel answered with spirit:
II had no one else to go with me, and
l am quite sure my friends did not think
SO strange of my coming to- night as that
had not been there before. And had
a very delightful visit"
Every we'll, if that is the way you take
my well-meant advice"
This little episode was productive of
only passing cloud. Ethel was natur-
ally sweet tempered, and Harry liked
her none the less for this display of
spirit while he thought of it, but in
reality forgot all about it before he
came home the next night. so that it did
not have the effect il should have done
that of making him more thoughtful
Olg anu w. HAS
wife.
But, as night after night passed, and
he received no more surprises and no
more kisses, they could not have been so
disagreeable as he had tried TO make
himself believe, or he would not have
leaned over her chair one night after he
had got home, and asked:
"Why don't a fellow get any kisses
now, Ethel?"
Ethel blushed, but replied, laughingly
and in mock surprise:
"WhatI Kisses after the honeymoon!
What a strange ideal"
$50 they were only given as a matter
Of form?" he said, in piqued tone;
"and a:poor, credulous fellow took them
as proofs of affection. Never mind; give
us some supper, then"
He said it almost as if he cared, and
Ethel longed to put her love all into one
kiss and give it to him; but she was not
deceived-it was only passing caprice,
dictated perhaps by vanity.
Ethel was passionately fond of music.
and her opportunities for hearing it had
been limited. She had hoped, night af-
ter night. that Harry would propose go
ing to the opera; but the last day was
come, and he had said nothing about it.
Mrs Renfeld and her daughters called
during the forenoon, and, on learning
that she had not been to the opera, and
was not expecting to go, insisted that
she should accompany them that even
ing. They wUnld not hear of denial. The
Judge was not going, so that there was
a spare ticket, and spare seat in the
carriage, and it was just what they want
ed. They would call for her and set her
down.
| Mrs. Renfeld had known Ethel from
a child, and was as fond of her almost as