The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-11-02
MRS. CHEsTERFIELD's FOLLY.


month he had spent his evenings at his
club. Tonight he was at a supper Civ
EN- him by his bachelor friends, ant
with him, he had said:
"You know had rather be with you
dear, but l could hardly refuse Hal
when he got the thing up for me. Run
over to your mothers, like brave lit.
tic woman. One of the boys will
bring you home. wont stay late,
promise you"
Then, with good-by kiss he was
gone.
Six months ago, could such a plea
have drawn him from her side? All
how happy she had been! how proud
on her bridal day of her splendid lover
how timidly she had looked into his
handsome face, and for the first time
called him husband, wondering il
every wife was as gloriously content as
she!
Then followed those weeks of radi-
ant happiness when they two forgot the
world and all else, save that each exist
ed for the other, till the time approach
cd for the Homecoming, and she found
awaiting her the prcttiest house Will
could find, furnished throughout in eX-
quisitc taste by her indulgent father.
When she had kissed and thanked
him, did she dream beneath its ROOT
ever to shed one tear, think one unhap-
py thought? Yet even now the blue
eyes are wet, the lashes are heavy will
moisture, and her lip tremblcs, when g
knock at her door disturbs the unpleas
ant tenor of her thoughts.
A servant, entering in obedience tc
her summons, bears a salvcr, and on il
a card, which he presents with re.
spectful bow.
Upon the pasteboard is written, in &
bold characteristic hand, the name Hale
Raymond.
Her first impulse is to be excused, OF
plea of illness; then bright thought
rushcs into her mind.
TELL the gentleman. James, will
be with him presently" e.,
She had heard somewhere that hus
bands are apt to grow weary of thcil
| homes, and seek elsewhere the excite
ment not obtainable in that pure at
mosphere, but that, if the wives absent
| themselves and indulge in little quic
recreation, it soon arouses their liegt
lords to sense of their duty. Wei
she knows viii does not admire Hale
Raymond-in fact, treats him with po
lite GOODNESS, which he is too thorough
man of the world not to see, bu
which he chooses to ignore. However
he certainly cannot object to an eve
ming call: and, if he is not here tC
share his attentions, she is not RESPONSE
Bile.
So, hastily rising and standing before
the large Psyche mirror in her dressing
room, she took from bouquet besd,
her tea rose and put it in her hair.
Certainly the glass reflected vision
which any man might be proud to cal
his own. OF medium height, with VIC
let eyes shaded by long dark lashes
hair of that rare auburn tint whicl
turned to gold in the suns bright light
a mouth and teeth in exquisite pcrfcc
ton, figure beautifully moulded
drapcd in black velvet, with ligh
tissue over dress-what wonder that
as she entered the parlor and Hale Ray
mond rose to greet her, the regret
with which he met her excuses for he
husbands absence were mere lip ser
vice?
But he notes, as she speaks. the fever
ish sparkle in her eye, the quick tlusl
upon her cheek, and resolves accord
ingly upon his plans of the siege.
"Though | cannot see Mr.. Chester
field, cannot but anticipate wit
pleasure an hours quiet chat alon
with you. But how comes it that | an
in such rare luck? What imperativ
business has called your husband from
your side?"
81 do not know if we may call din
ner imperative business, but such i
the cause of Mr.. Chesterfield's absence
II was given him by one of his oldes
friends, and he, of course, could not r6
fuse"
81 suppose not, as husband. AS
lover, one manages to escape sue
bOres; but then we are not sure of tn
prize, and with the race all untried be
fore us, we do not dare rest for INC
ment upon our oars. presume whe
the goal is reached the reaction sets in
but unfortunately cannot speak fior
experience"
81 imagine you are entirely to blam
for so lamentable condition of affairs.
"Not so entirely as you believe m
to be. When one watches i'm the mids
of garden of eXOtics one queen ros,
fairer, more beautiful than any of il
sisters-sees it ripen, day by day, int
more perfect sweetness, such loveline'
. that ones own unworthniess teach6
him hesitation in approaching it, unit
he wakens from his dream of hope
' find he has waited too long-other fiji
paclnp hnl1a,. haxn al.
v flower from the stem-then is there le
only faint fragrance perfiIming Il
air, filling him with the torture of Il
= might have been. But il is CROWN
late. Think of my story, Mrs. Chcste
J, field. Perhaps you can give me its s.
. quel. Good night !"
And bowling low he left her, wol
dering at his meaning.
Could he have been so bold as
have her understand literally his word
How charming he was! Not to !
:. compared to Will, however.
n The little wife's heart beat high wi
pride and love for her gallant husban
D.. even though he had that one eveniI
neglected her.
"What, little wife! All alone? N
RI sitting up for me, | hope? Did | n
promise to come home early? The (,
lows thought me wofully shabby, but
know in their hearts they all cnvi'
me-
$, 81 did not know il was late. | ha
- had a very pleasant evening. NJ
u Raymond called"
4 "Wha:-IIale Raymond? / am sc
ry was not at home; not that mi,
> ed anything, but because he is not {
sort of man care to have my wife l
ceive alone"
"Indeed? thought him charming
throwing an unusual emphasis into {
- words, as she noted the flush she su
.. posed jealousy originated, dye W
III Chesterfleld's face.
il. An answer was on his lips, but
~ checked it, as unworthy of him; a
ps %. recounting the evenings sayings a
ng doings TO the little wife he loved
al we'll, and of whose displeasure he
or o, tie dreamed himself the subject,