The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-05
THE DAILY STAR
TOO LATE.

even; the reply impetuous, cuttingly sar-
castle and with u dash of anger in its
tone. You would never have thought
that Maxwell Maillard, gentleman, ao he
called himself, and the world called him,
could have spoken so to his sweet young
wife, as any coarse, fiery man might in
an imperious mood to an intrusive ser
want or an annoying beggar. Nor would
you have thought either that lovely Alice
Mailard could have become so flushed
and disturbed or have made such areply
to the husband she loved better than life
Itself, and then have turned and walked
away with such queenly step from his
presence. .. .,.,...
1t certainly was an unpleasant and un-
fortunate mood the merchant was in that
evening. The close of the year was near
ut hand, and all day long he had been
perplexed by thousand cares incident
to his large business; besides he had dis
covered a gross error in the books, the
result of an incompetent book-keeper's
blunder, and had taken them home with
him that evening to endeavor to trace
its source and rectify it.
1t was while in this mood, his brows
emitted with perplexity, that his girl
wife came to him in the quiet little IL
brary whittier he had retired after din
ner, and stealing softly up behind him
had playfully blinded his eyes with one
of her white hands, at the same time
pushing away the thick ledger over the
green baize-covered table. In an in
slant, the quick, rough question that be-
tokened annoyance burst from his lips,and
in an instant more the white hand was
snatched away, the little, graceful head
tossed high, red spot appeared On both
cheeks, and the cutting, sarcastic answer
was given. And in few moments more
the merchant was left alone, his hand
somely shaped head, covered with thick
iron gray locks, was bent again over his,
books, with compression of his lips and
a glitter in his eye one seldom saw there,
while the girl-wife was sitting in the par
lor quiet as a statue, but with that same
high color and excited mien with which
she had left the library.
For some minutes Alice Maillard sat
thus, perfectly motionless, looking
straight before her; then her countenance
softened--a grieved, wounded look came
into her eyes; her lips relaxed and quiv-
cred with feeling, and she burst into tears
and sobbed as though her very heart
would break.
The sobs increased and the tears rolled
down the cheeks now pale with emo
ton; but after time she grew camer.
81 am sorry spoke so," she said, con-
lessing her fault to herself with as much
earnestness as though her husband were
listener. 81 am sorry. If Max were
rough (here the lips trembled again). Il
was hasty. l suppose those tiresome
books troubled him; l will 60 and apollo
gize."
And, rising, she left the room, and
walked along the hall to the rear of the
house where the little library was situ-
ated. But, laying her hand on the knob
of the door, she was surprised to find it
fastened. The lock was turned.
"Unkind," she said now, the red spot
deepening again on her cheek; and as
noiselessly as she had come she returned
to the parlor /.
Two, three hours passed away; lone
some enough felt the solitary Alice,
striving to pass the time with her sew
ing, upon which, now and then, a tear
dropped silently.
All that time, however, her thoughts
were busy; and she chung to her first. re-
solve not to sleep until she had made
peace with her husband. For it was a
new thing to this lovely young creature
the pet of her girlhood home, and a
bride Of less than year-to hear a harsh
word or utter an unkind one; and all
that long evening, while she sat there in
tears, seemed an age to her. All, little
Alice, can such exquistely keen suffer
ing ever come againl
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock struck, and
then she heard the library door open and
her husbands footsteps along the hall.
But they did not pause at the parlor,
though the door was partially ajar; they
passed on, and he assembled the staircase
to their chamber.
This was too much. Tears again
SWtiltu LII tilc EtISt, StllSitiNc eyes, anu
womanly indignation prompted her to
remain below until she was calm; and
when she went up to her room her hus-
band was, or pretended to be, fast locked
in sleep.
Next morning at breakfast the young
wife was prepared to expect the way
might be easier for the establishment of
peace between them, but there was re-
serve and iciness in Mr.. Maillard's man.
ner which quite frustrated his intention.
He hurried through the meal, went to
the library for his books, looked into the
breakfast-room again for corteous
"good morning." but did not unbend to
bestow the customary parting kiss
Alice felt more than ever grieved, thus
thrown back upon herself. All day long
she was most unhappy, and could not set
tie herself about her usual employments.
The feelings she suffered were SO new
to her; it was something she had never
thought could happen-to speak quick
angry word to one who was all the world
to her; and, though she had been be
frayad infn thn uttarancp she never cOnld