The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-03

himself kindled to wit when they are
gone. he will moralize on them by the
hour. He is ever ready to ''break a
comparison or two" on a charming
lady. sit must be strange life,' he
observed, lowering his voice, s'this
sweeping up and down and bending of
the body under other peoples jack.
ets.''
"My figure is my fortune, remarked
Mr.. Armstead, who was standing very
upright by his wife, and staring at the
gliding garment.
"Why, it must be delightful - ex-
claimed Mrs. Armstead. ''Only fancy
being always sure to have on the very
latest thing.''
"Good gracious! how frivolous -
thought Mr.. Airey.
''lt is evident that must go to my
BANKER said the lady's husband.
''Shall l have the pleasure of your
company, sir. or do you remain among
the Jackets p
The lady looked an invitation pref
tily.
elbow charming !" thought Mr.. Al
rey and he said, 81 think, if Mrs.
Armstead will allow me, | will stop
and put her into her carriage" The
lady smiled, and the husband stalked
off alone to his banker. The English
man now bloomed into talk with so
much sprightliness and vivacity, that
Nine. Lalouette was reduced to a fixed
smile OF appreciation, and Mees could
no longer display her uniqe power of
language. Mrs. Armstead rewarded
her cavalier with occasional smiles
and mods, while she gave her undivid-
ed attention to the business before
her. She liked prattle at her ear,
and had the rare gift of seeming to un-
derstand it.
Having finally decided how the jack.
ct was to be cut, how it was to he dec
grated, and what it was to cost, she
became light-hearted, and for CONVEX
sation sake began to babble of her
doubts. She wondered if she had
chosen right. Did he think that the
shape would go with the latest gowns !?
Was it too heavy? TO all these ques-
tions she waited for an answer, but
stepped daintily into her brougham.
Then she gave the gentleman some fin
gers beautifully gloved through the
window, and said smiling, 81 have
half mind to go back and counter
mand it. Would you be so good as to
tell me the time Thank you so much.
How late! And I have forgotten little
Bobby's medicine again. I guess I
won't go back about the jacket.
Home - Thereupon she was swept
away, leaving Mr.. Airey with his hat
in his hand. He stood holding his hat
and staring after the carriage, until
fat French lady of fashion pushed him
off the pavement, while her little dar-
ling of dog ran between his legs.
Having unwound himself from the an
imal's chain and murmured an apology
to it's owner, Mr.: Airey put on his hat
and heaved sigh. 81 have forgotten
little Bobby's medicine again - he re-
peated as he moved away. And they
talk of the frivolity of French women.
''Poor little Bobby!'' This moralist
has tender heart, and delights to ex-
ercise it. Pathetic were the pictures
which he conjured up of the little in
nocent. He thought of Tiney Tim and
little Paul Dombey. He fancied the
sick child lying like faded flower on
his small bed, and lisping blessings on
his mother, whose whole mind was
on the choice of winter
jacket. She had forgotten the medi-
cine again. How often had she for
gotten it Perhaps for months that lit
tie blighted child had been signing for
the lively tonic, or the dark-brown
cod-liver oil; but the hand which
should have administered the draught,
while it's fellow smoothed the pillow
OF the sufferer, was posing bonnets or
fringes.
Perhaps at that very moment poor
little Bobby was looking his last look
into his mothers eyes, and whisper
ing, ''Never mind, mother, it S too late.
| shan't want the physic now. You
may take it all yourself ''But this
is weakness said Mr.. Airey to him.
self, as he found the tears in his eyes.
He went home like man bent on dis
charging duty, and springing light
as a French thinker from the particu-
lar to the general, wrote in his diary,
"American women have even less feel
ing than Parisian.'
A week passed and Mr.. Airey had
not called upon his Boston acquaintan-
ces. 1t was no small sacrifice. Had
anyone ever told him that he was in love
with a married woman, his neatly ar
ranged hair would have risen and
betrayed the thin places. Neverthe-
less, on some of those platforms which
in countless numbers lie between the
abyss of love and the heights of sub
lime Indifference the estimable gentle
man moved with ease and grace. The
pleasure which he felt in the