Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-12-15

'inOo oin0o n0A i0CuiH Iom HeT GOur, Dub
never alone, as to-day, and he found it
dangerously sweet to sit there gazing
into the lovely eyes and at the dear, ten
der little mouth of his early love.
But let US return to Mrs. Thornton.
She stands there, in the centre of that
pretty room, with white, white face,
and wild, frightened look in the sweet
blue eyes, then burst into passionate
flood of tears, throws herself on the
nearest chair, drops her face in her hands,
and her hands on the table before he.
Five-ten-6fteen minutes pass. The
sobs grow fainter and fainter. At Length
silence reigns, save for an occasional
chirp from the canaries and the ticking
f-thA nrattV French clock on the man
tel. A rap at the door arouses her, and
James enters with cluster of violets.
There is no card, nothing to tell from
whom they came; but she knows only
too we'll. In the dear old days, when
she was Miss Tremaine, two such clus-
ters were left every day at her door, one
bearing Ray Remington's card and the
other Charles Thornton's.
How long ago it seems, and how
changed the violets are !! AS fragrant
as of old, and as quantity pretty. their
dear little faces all awry, but somehow
they almost make her cry. And she
likens them to little. fearful blue eyes,
and kisses them tenderly, pityiDgly, and
then-thrusts them hurridly into the
open drawer of the table, closes it, and
turns to meet her husband, whose step
has announced his coming.
A moment later she is exceedingly
provoked at herself for thrusting the
violets out of. sight. Why did she do
it? She could not have told you. Per-
haps she felt instinctivelY that her hus-
band would hardly approve of her receiv-
ing even so trifing gift as wee bunch
of violets from his old rival, Ray Rem
ington.
Well, the thing was done, and there
was no help for it. Were she now to
take them from the drawer, Charlie would
certainly require an explanation as to
how they got there, and surely it was
queer place in which to put pretty, fresh
flowers. Better not say anything about
them. And should she speak of Rays
visit? Yes, she would surely tell that
but not now-atter dinner. Charlie
W6sn W66s ihSaTf he Vas fd ffh6gry She would Wait
until after dinner. But before the
dessert was brought on, while she was
eating salad, her husband asked to be
excused.
There was most interesting article
in the Evening Spouter on the Chinese
question, which he had commenced in
the omnibus on his way home, and be-
came deeply interested in.
And off he went, and when the dainty
cup custards, fragrant mocha and lus-
cious fruit were brought in, there was
troublesome lump in the white throat
and a suspicious moisture in the blue
eyes of the wife, and the custard was
triaed with for moment, and a spoon
full or two of the mocha swallowed, for
were not the watchful eyes of "Jeemes" I"
upon her? And then she fastened from
the room, her mind fully made up. She
would 60 to Charlie, tell him everything
just how she missed the old caresses and
delicate little attentions how lonesome
it was to sit there night after night,
gazing at the back of his newspaper or
at the top of his sleek brown head, as it
peeped above the top of the paper. She
would tell him of Rays visit, and about
the hidden flowers, and with this resolve
in her heart she opened the door of the
sitting room.
Charlie, dear"-she would not give
herself a moment for fear her courage
might fail-"Charlie, dear, will you
put your paper aside moment? want
to tell yon something"
"Now, Lou, don't bother me; I never
was more interested in my life. By
jingo this fellow writes we'll. Where
Leila or Bijou? What is the use of your
having pets if you never notice them
Now, sit down, that's good girl, and
dress Leila up in pink ribbons or some
thing. You ought to be fond of thai
cat it cost enough"
How quickly the moisture leaves the
blue eyes !! What sudden, firm tighten
ing there is of the pretty red lips, and
what hard, cold heart this of hers has
suddenly become And the temptel
whispers in her heart: ''Not so woulG
Ray Remington have looked or spok
en-" And. remembering the tender
voice and the love in Rays eyes, sht
feels sudden tenderness springing W
in her heart for the owner of the bold
black eyes, and a glad though guilty
pleasure in the thought of the hidder
violets.
And Charles Thornton, Esq, return,
to his paper with a self-satisfed air
which hv the wau Is the eynressinI