Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-17

| window By this time have ceased pretend
| ing to peruSe my acknowledged friend, and am.
| to all appearance, engaged in contemplating
the beauties of nature as seen through Charles
window, not mine.
| Meanwhile Charlie slumbers on, as TRANQUILITY
| as though there were no such person as Mrs.
Charlie In existence. let alone sitting right be-
| fore him in all her bewildering beauty. lie does
| not even stir when she gives him playful tap
| softly by his name. With comical little nao4f
| she gaZes from the window; and begin to fee
| less uneasy about violating the tenth command
ment tna9 abis d d6 at rst such an angallant
wife! / fervently wish there were no such
thing IS les cOitreIld,tces to be studied; then
could get into conversation with my slumbering
companions wife, which might cause her to fee
less lonely than she does now. Whether inten.
sity OF desire brings fulfillment of the wish
know not; but this do know. that when see
hef take hold OF the heavy leathern strap to let
down the window am not at all slow In avail
ing myself OF the opportunity kind Fate throws
ALLOW mern calculate. starting to my feet
with an alacrity that seldom characterizes my
movements. (However much may admire ami
nation in others, must confess TO being rather
addicted to taking it easy mySelf)
THANK your answers Charles wife, with a
graceful little bow, and smile that causes me
to bqngle most awkwardly with the strap
cold,' say, going back not to my former seat,
but to the one next hers.
"Oh, no! 1 think not. l cannot have too
HUGH Sile FttuTIS Will dHOtneF OF UnOS2
dangerous smiles. - always think these first
class carriages are great mistake: they are so
close and Il-yentilated. For my part, should
nnl5ey prefer travelling r THRU Ia, .,
dainty little wife travelling third-eass is too alb
surd; 81 fancy, you would soon alter your opin-
ion n you were to try the experiment:
?" she demands, lifting her pretty dark
browS in disbelief.
I'm afraid you wouldn't find the society
quite so agreeable as the ventilation an
ooh; but I like to study society in all its
phases, not only from an opera-boX or in ball
room always ot envy H pieR exc his insight into
man should do Just as he did, go into all sorts
OF places and all sorts OF company" announces
Charities strong-minded better-half; and don't
1t would be good thing if there were a few
more young ladies as sensible as yourself, ~ Is
my stilted response
am rather disappointed to find that bawtch-
Ing Mrs. Charlie is somewhat strong minded. /
like a ''womanly woman" and have lively
horror OF strong-minded females
Does my fair companion divine my thoughts
that she hastily adds: You will set me down
as a thorough 'blue;' but really don't deserve
that epithet. For one thing, am no believer
in womanS rights"
mot even TO the extent of allowing the
window to remain open, just because it will be
certain to give your husband an awful tooth
ache, sitting as he is, right in the draught,''
slyly put in.
Charles wife gives me quick, searching
glance, then breaks into a little silvery laugh.
ooh! poor boy. How thoughtless OF me Close
1t, by all meanS-if you WILL
"Shail open the other? Perhaps you will
find the smell of stale tobacco too much for
you?" hypocriticaily remark.
To tel the truth. am dying for cigar, and
have been ransacking my brains for the last
half hour as to the most delicate manner OF
finding out whether my fair friend objects to
smoking. don't like to put the question point
blank.
.sOh, no; don't mind it in the least; in fact.
rather like it. You see, am used to it, for
Charlie smokes from morning till night
80 do L. laughingly admit.
"And you have refrained from fndulging in
the pernicious weed all this time in case its
scent might annoy me?' she archly queries.
"Well-yes, know great many ladies OBJ
ject to smoking, reply, pulling out my cigar
case and extracting choice Manila. Then.
opening my vesta-boX, l find that have al
ready used the last match. "What nuisance -
with lightsr'
81 can give you some, y laughs my neighbor's
wife. 'Charlic is in the habit OF forgetting his
so generally carry box;' and she passes me
natty little Russian leather fusee-case.
What boon it must be to have wife to
look after ones comforts" | reply. casting to
the wind any lingering scruples and breaking
the tenth commandment outright.
Charlie does not wake until we get into that
abomlnation, the tunnel; then he suddenly
opens his eyes, starts up, gives me suspicious
glance, and his wife reproving One for we are
III the midst OF an animated discussion of Thack-
erays TdnIty Far Charles wife is well read,
and are laughing and joking as merrily as
though we were old friends We come to il dead
STOP and my companion goes back to her for
mer seat Her jealous lord maintains dignified
silence all the rest of The Journey, scarcely
deisning to look at my side OF the carriage; and
finding her att 'mpts at conversation only meet
with mOnosyllabic replies the poor little thing
resumes her discarded book and never once
lifts her eyes from its pages until the trains
steam into Bri yhton station. AS she is leaving
the carriage she turns and gives me little bow;
then Charlie hurrles her and the portmanteau
into fly, and they are driven away.
Poor little woman; what life she must
have Of it!' I mutter. '.1hat fellow is the
greatest tyrant ever came across. and yet she
I'd Charlie dear him, And savagely Ringing
away nearly half Manila, too hail a fiy and
am ratified off to The Bedf0rd in no very envi-
able frame OF mind.
CHATTER II.
In the course OF our conversation have dis.
covered that Charlie is a doctor, that they live
at KenSington, that they have come to Brigl-
ton for a fortnight because Charlie is done up
with hard work, and that they are going to stay
with some friends in Regency square. / had
! as myself for some how or other am inter
| ested in my travelling companions And yet
don't know that am particularly Interested 10
Charlie. What man Is particularly interested
/ in any member of his own sex?
! For two days see nothing OF either OF them
| although am out nom early In the morning
| till jdlc DIT ulSut, anu hctp prtlty SHARP lDON
/ out Tor naVi-bItle serge dress ana dter-S takel
hat. such dresses there are in plenty. ana
/ have had one or TWO dSappointmentS in The
matter OF the hat: but a second glance at ths
wearer puts all doubt TO rest, for Charles wife
! has naneless grace that few of these fashion
able fair possess. | began TO feel very bitter TO-
| wards Charlie. who is evidently a thorough
Bluebeart. and keeps his wife locked up in soynt
( back-room at Regency Square; for must con
| feSS TO have occasionally Strolied by that quar-
/ ter and scanned not a few of tie numerous win
! dows. in hope OF catching 'only a smile as
. passed." However, on the evening OF the thrt
{ day happen to be walking along the beach IL
/ the direction Of BlUGbeard'S Castle, when sud
| denly come upon Charlie. his Wife and very
/ stylish looking girl, whom instantly set d0WI
, as one OF the friends with whom they are stay
! ing. She is walking next to Charlie: and indff
/ ferent as my sight is, can see how affection
| ately she is looking up into his face AID tina
! evident he is not repelling those amorol
! glanceS, His neglected little wife is gazing ab
| sently at the great fCam-creSted waves tina
| come tImbling on TO the shore, no doubt wish
Ing TINT one would come and carry her far ava,
! from the man to whom She is bound soul an(
| body. SO ''wrapt in dismal thinking" is she
| that pass unnOticed. AS for Charlie, he ha
! eyes for nought else than the girl at his side.
! turn and watch them out OF sight, with an over
| wheluling desire to perform the part OF tina
| wave, Tor which q imaginej she is Vainly, Sadr
| longing. and to snatch her up and bear her fal
! away from her cruel faithleSS bOndSman. to
/ home where she should reign a very lttl
/ queen, and where Harold Gilchrst would be he
! most loyal and loving subject. i"lhou shalt no