St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-02-15

''MalOr ClissOld is SOutherLer," said
l to myself, ''and the Southerners ex-
pect wine upon the table as matter of
course. I'll say nothing more upon the
subject to Max, but Pll quietly order
the wine myself"
And here was where | made my first
mistake. To a wife, any expressed wish
of her husband should be sacred. But
/ was young and inexperienced then,
and never dreamed of the Iisk | was
running.
Well, we got up an exquisite little
menu, Collins and l, with the aid of
few suggestions from Aunt Bell, who
had travelled on the Continent, and
knew just exactly how things ought to
be done.
We had excellent soup, baked bass,
roast fowls and vensiOn, and the most
exquisite cream and jelies, with an
epergne heaped high with dollhouse
grapes, tropical fruits, roses and ferns.
On the very day of the dinner, went
down to Cavor's, the wine-merchant,
and ordered up basket of champagne
which Collins was to put upon ice at
once.
Then l came home to dress. When
my toilet of cream white silk and ap-
plique lace was complete, / ran into
Aunt Bells room, where the dear old
lady sat like dressed doll, in black
velvet and diamonds, and told her what
had done.
my dear Isabel ~ said she, depre-
catingly.
''But it would have been so unfash-
ionable to give dinner party without
| wine J" pleaded |. "And of course Max
won't say a word when once he sees it
upon the table"
'Isabel," said my aunt, looking with
troubled eyes into my face, ''we never
meant to tell yOu of it,, darling, but
there was time once, long before he
met you, when Max was too much ad-
dicted to wine parties and champagne
Suppers. He conquered the fatal pro-
clivity but, oh, darling, to think that
it should be his wife's hand that places
the fatal cup before him again Oh,
Isabel, take my advice-do not put
wine upon your table!'
But some demon of obstinacy was
prompting my reckless nature even
then
''That's all nonsense, Aunt Bell y
said |. "Of course we must do as other
people do, unless we want to be set
down as eccemtricities. Major Clssold
is an hOnOred guest, and must be treat
ed as such. Aud, pray, don't fret !!
Everything will be sure to be right"
The dinner party was success. Max
frOwned little, to be sure, when the
iced champagne was brought with the
dessert; but | studiously avoided his
glance, and after the first glass, left the
table with Aunt Bell, us | had under
stood to be the custom at parties such
as this.
Il am sorry about the champagne,
dear,n said Aunt Bell, when once we
were snugIy seated in the little draw
ing-room.
..Please don't be a croaker, Aunt
Bell" laughed. But my heart failed
me a little, as | sat there toying with
the golden tassle of my watch-chain
for, like Il skeleton tapping at the door
of my heart, the tOrmenting question
kept recurring-whose fault would it
be, if Max should fall back into his old
follies, and | should finally sink into
that most wretched and degraded of
creatures, a drunkard's wife
To avoid my own fancies, | started
up and sat down to the piano. Aunt
Bell took up book, and so the slow
hours dragged by.
Ever and anon, the sound of high
voices and noisy laughter reached us
from the dining-rOOm. Evidently the
gentlemen were enjoying their sparkling
"Widow Clicquot."
Aunt Bell glanced across at me with
wistful eyes. tried to smile, but made
rather a failure of it.
At length the parlOr maid came in.
"Mrs. DOrrillOn," said she to me, in a
low and agitated voice, "Mr. Dorrillon
is took very bad, ma'am, and they're
a-carryin' of him up stairs. And please,
ma'am, the waiter says he's drunk !"
''Drunk p
I | Isprang to my feet, feeling us if every
drop of blood in my body was turned
to ice.
''And please maam, the gentlemen is
going, and Major Clissold's compli-
ments, aud he'll do himself the honor to
call tomorrow and"
"That will do, Delva ~ l said, alb
ruptly.
Aunt Bell came up to me and put her
arms around me, as the girl tuttered
out of the room again, and we could
} hear the hall door closing behind our
departing guests.
"0h, Aunt Bell, Aunt Bell ~ | walled
out, dropping my head upon her shoul-
, der, "what shall | do ?"
"Let us proceed at once to the din
!: ing said Aunt Bell. "The waiter
can tell us if"
J And she led my almost fainting foot
steps across the hall into the room had
, so joyously assisted in decorating but Il
brief period ago.
1t was deserted now. The flowers
lay faded on the table, the half filled
glasses stood around, and two or three
stains upon the spotless damask bore
mute witness to the unsteady hands o
| the guests.
The green leather chairs were pushed
back in various attitudes, and, leaning
with one elbow on the mantle, his face
, turned away, stood my husband !"
| sprang towards him, crying out:
"Max oh, Max !" -,
He turned to me, with a look | shall
never forget 81 hope you are satisfied
now, Isabel" said he. 'My young
senseless log, upstairs. Constant has
, staggered away from the door, support
ed by Clissold, and /"
: "And you, Max ?" gasped.
''None Of the accursed stuff has passed
my lips" said he, ''nor ever shall Bui
l have learned the bitter lesson thai
) my wishes are of no consequence in my
wife's eyes"
''Oh, Max, forgive me this once -
sobbed out, 'and it shall never occur
. again" ..
| Just at this moment the colored waiter
, came in.