, 1880-03-15


Year auspiciously, perhaps"
"Oh, I'm 80 glad =
"And then Paul's coming" she said j,
blushing, next week to stay month ;
he has business here, and he wanted
me so badly to be here. too. declare, "
che added, laughing; "I'll have to
marry him soon to get rid of him."
"Oh, Mabel, don't marry him unless
you're certain you'll be happy p cried
Alice, Historically. Be sure, first, he
won't 60 to parties and leave you
alone with BABY she sobbed.
"What Is Herbert at party?"
"Yes, he is; and when 1 told him I
couldn't go on account of the baby, he
said, Hang baby Yes, you little
angel, your father said those awful
words-and then he sla-slamm med the
door,"
Hes viper!" exclaimed Mabel,
with sudden vehemence. "a nice
way to treat a wife like you-a baby
like that ! But why couldn't you leave
the baby ?"
because he was threatened with
the Group last week."
But he's we'll enough now-sleeps
deliciously. Holl not wake up all
night. perhaps. And the nurse would
have taken good care of him."
81 should have been thinking of fire
and Group, and all that"
"Oh, nonsense You ought to have
gone. But Herbert had no right to
behave as he did, and he must be pun
ished;" and Mabel threw her wraps on
the bed, and took her seat by the glow
| ing fire. 'It won't do to let him get
the upper-hand. All have it. I've
thought of splendid plan. A charm
ing, delightful little plot !" and she
clapped her hands in glee.
"Oh, Mabel, what is it ?" and Alice
slid down at her sisters feet, gazing in
her face with expectant smiles. ' What
arc you going to do?"
elm not going to do it. I shall
stay here and watch baby. You are to
go to the party"
Mabel, impossible!'
"Quite possible. In fact, it must be
done. You must let Herbert see that
you're a. pretty as anybody, quite as
much admired. It is decided. You
are to go to the party and play part.
Let me arrange the programme"
But, Mabel, 1 haven't dress pre-
pared-or anything. 1 gave up going
week ago. you see, when baby was
threatened with the Group"
Pshaw! You shall wear one of
mine; one of the most bewitching, be-
wildering of dresses. bought from my
last allowance from Uncle Curtis. On
ly to see it will throw you into costa
sizes. Worth never composed anything
more lovely. 1 want to see it on you.
Come, come; call your maid. I am all
impotence. Well shame our bad hus-
band into good behavior; see if we
don't. No irresolution, pretty sister of
mine. I'll stay at home and count
your pictures and vases and pretty
things, and catalogue them, so as to
make mamma happy with letter to-
morrow. Order John or Jack or Bill,
or whoever your coachman is, to get
the carriage-if that's impossible, send
for hack"
In less than an hour Mabel led her
sister to the great French mirror, and
laughlngly introduced her to the love-
liest and best-dressed woman she had
almost ever seen.
Alice trembled little when she
found herself actually on her way to
Mrs. Montjoy's, but her sisters urgent
will had conquered, and her heart was
hardened by Herbert's emphatic ex-
preston concerning the baby. She
was reassured, however, by Mrs. Mont
joys hearty welcome.
sSGo rv7oI rou,yo oo~oo H..
she said. Your husband said he
feared baby would keep you at home;
but told him it was nonsense. You
did right to reconsider the matter"
Herbert, like many handsome society
men, was little spoiled and selfish
without knowing it. He loved Alice
devotedly; but he was not unwilling to
receive sweetsmiles and honeyed words
of others; while, with mans incon-
sistency, he was not desirous 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, looking up from the face
leaning against his shoulder, while the
dreamy waltz music thrilled hearts
sensitive to sadness as to joy, encoun-
tered tho sparkling face of his wife,
and saw her arrayed in the freshest
and most graceful costume in the room.
She was moving quietly along with an
escort in uniform.
"Pray don't stumble" said his sis-a-
sis, petulantly, for from that moment
the grand repose of his manner was
gone. and the lady on his arm might
have been made of wex, or any other
ductile material, for all he cared now.
"How the dickens came she here ?"
he muttered to himaelf ma he led his