Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-30

| SIG Clapp6Q nor uduuS III Slco.
"Oh, Mabel, what is it?" and Alice slid
down at her sisters feet, gazing in her
face with expectant smiles. "What are you
going to do?"
sim not going to do it. 1 shall stay here
and watch baby. You are going to the
party
'sMabel Impossible ~
"Quite possible. In fact it must be
done. You must let Herbert see that you
are quite as pretty as anybody. and quite
are to 60 to the party and play part. Let
me arrange the programme"
"But, Mabel. haven't dress prepared
or anything. 1 gave up going a week
ago, you see, when baby was threatened
with the Group"
"Pshaw! You shall wear one of mine
one of the most bewitching, bewildering
Of dresses, bought with my last allowance
from Uncle Curtis. Only to see it will
throw you into ecstacies. Worth never
composed anything more lovely. want
to see it on you. Come, come, call your
maid; am all Impotence. We will shame
our bad husband into good behavior, see
if we don't. No irresolution, pretty sis
ter, mine. I'll stay at home and fancy
myself mistress here, and count your pic
lures, vases and pretty things, and cata-
logue them, so as to make mamma happy
with a letter tomorrow. Order John, OF
Jack, or Bill, whoever your coachman is,
to get the carriage-if that's impossible
send for cab."
In less than an hour Mabel led her sis
ter to the great French mirror, and laugh
ingly introduced her to the loveliest and
best dressed woman she had nearly ever
seen.
Alice trembled little when she found
herself actually on the way to Mrs. Mount
joys; but her sisters urgent will had con-
quered, and her heart was hardened by
Herbert's emphatic expression concerning
the baby. She was treasured, however, by
Mrs. Mountjoy's hearty welcome.
$50 glad you've come, my dear,'' she
said. "Your husband said he feared baby
would keep you at home; but I told him it
was all nonsense. You did right to recon
slider the matter.''
Herbert, like many handsome society
men, was little spoiled and selfish with
out knowing it. He loved Alice devoted
ly; but was not unwilling to receive the
sweet smiles and honeyed words of other
while, with mans inconsistency, he was
not DESTROYS that his wife should play the
part Of a married belle.
1t was while he was dancing with one of
the most noted and beautiful women of
the metropolis, who was more than willing
to listen to his nonsense, that Herbert,
looked up from the face leaning against
his shoulder, while the dreamy waltz mus
jc thrilled hearts sensitive to sadness as
to joy," encountered the sparkling face of
his wife, and saw her arrayed in the fresh
est and most graceful costume in the room.
She was moving quietly along with an es-
cort in uniform.
''Pray, don't stumble" said his partner
petulantly. for from that moment the grand
repose of his manner was gone, and the
lady on his arm might have been made of
wax, or any other ductile material, for all
he cared now.
How the dickens came she here?" he
muttered to himself, as he led his partner,
absently, to seat. deaf to all her pretty
words, blind to her destinations. It GER
tainly is Alice-but that dress-the pref |
test thing here and left her quite de.
termined not to come. 1 don't understand |
it. Dancing with that military puppy.
Guinnatt, too. She knows hate him."
With these amiable thoughts. he laid |
himself out to gain the attention Of his |
wife, and make her explain. 1t was some
time before he had the chance, so he was |
obliged to content himself with following |
her graceful motions, angry with himself |
and with her.
''Alice! Can I believe my eyes?" he said |
at last, in the pause of the dance.
II should think you might, rather" was
the nonchalant reply.
SPRAY, how did you come ?"
''Pray, how did you come? rode. Did
you walk?"
"Well, but
'Excuse me, I'm engaged four deep al
ready" and Herbert was forced to move
aside, MS pompous acquaintance claimed
her hand.
I'D like to knock that fellow down" he
muttered, angry in ealnest.
Another pause, and another tete tete.
No satisfaction given. Herbert had hard
ly the grace to redeem his dancing engage
ment.
s'About the baby, Alice?" he asked,
anXiously.
She put her rosy lips to his ear, and in
subdued voice exclaimed:
Hang the baby!"
Herbert started, and changed color. To
be sure he had used the same language;
but from her it was too exasperating. How
he got through the evening he could hard
ly tell. When, at last, they were together
in the carriage, driving home, there might
have been an open rupture, but for the de-
termined calmness of Alice, who took
as matter of course.
One glance in the beautiful nursery un-
sealed his eyes. There by the fire sat Ma
bel, in all the abandon of a,egligee toilet,
her luxuriant tresses falling in glossy free
dom over her shoulders, while the little
fellow on her lap, clutching at one shining
curl, crowed and laughed, as well as he
could for ''auntie's smothering kiases."
4 sudden reyullstloa Of feeling game to
the fathers heart at sight Of this sweet
home picture.
'Aha! l know who contrived this
plot,'' he said. ''but am glad to see you,
Mabel, nevertheless"
wasn't she the belle Of the ball 2" an