The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-12-08
I'm the Palace OF Truth.


Richard Turner, Esq, O lawyer, let us
hope of future fame, returning home one
hight in an unenviably bad humor, found
certain dainty little note awaiting him
on his mahtlepiece. 1t had Just come,
ais landlady said, and slowly tearing
open the envelope. Dick read as follows:
My DEAR Mr.. TURNEE:-Many thanks for
rour lovely flowers, which have been greatly
admired. 1t was like your thoughtfulness to
emembcr my birthday when had almost for
gotten it myself. was 30 sorry TO have missed
FOUR call this afternoon.
Sincerely yours. FLORENCE HEDIFER.
A very gracious little note, but for
some reason it appeared to afford Its
reader but small satisfaction. Dick read
It twice with a curling lip, then tossing it
INTO the scrap basket, he lit a cigar,
stretched himself in an easy chair and
;houghtfully observed through the smoke
wreaths that began to float around his
head "What precious little liar she
is! As if didn't see her ten minutes
after she was not at home to me this
afternoon, start out driving with Tom
Baker in that confoundedly jerky dog
art of his. Shouldn't wonder if lie had
,erked her off before they got home;
nd served her right tool Why, Snip,
what is the matter with you sir?"
Snip was the skye terrier, who, failing
20 understand why he had been sighted,
was seeking to secure his masters notice
by sitting upright and waving his front
paws to and fro in gentle and depre-
eating fashion.
Odd hurt your feelings, poor little
boy?" said Dick, tenderly. "Well, |
wouldn't, / assure you, for dozen little
firts like Florence Redifer, but | do
think, Snip, and | expect you to agree
with me, that we would all be much bet
ter off if women and men, too, would say
out truthfully what was i'll their minds
instead of this eternal beating around the
bush. Why can't people bea little more
candid with their fellow creatures instead
of fooling them to the top OF their bent
and then laughing behind their backs?
Do you know, Snip|
Snip didn't know, but he was the last
dog in the world to confess his ignor-
ance, 30 assuming look OF wisdom
which Solomon might have envied, he
gave a mysterious little bark that could
mean anything and composed himself to
listen.
Gust s o'clock" said Dick, consulting
his watch. in two hours I've got to
dress and 60 to Mrs Grey's BAH, the
biggest bore Of the season haven't a
doubt; but there's no escaping it, Aren
you glad, Snip, you don't have to so to
balls?"
Snip barked again, this time in an
affirmative manner. He always accom-
modated himself to his masters moods,
and was well accustomed to being ques.
toned Alert and vigilant, he watched
the cigar dwindle down by slow degrees,
while he waited i'll well-bred silence iora
renewal of the conversation. But Dick
was drowsy and cross, and when the
cigar was smoked out he turned his head
aside and fell fast asleep, while his little
dog curled contentedly around his feet
looking up into his masters face with
world of patient love in MS honest brown
eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten! Was it posi-
bic that he had slept nearly two hours
and the clock was really striking ten?
Dick jumped up, glanced at his watch
to make sure, and with stifled groaI
prepared to induct himself into his dress
suit. This was never n very rapid pro
cess with him, and by the time he en-
tered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly lit-up houat
the great clock in tho hall was pointing
to q quarter past IL.
The rooms were crowded and stiIingIy
hot. The very flowers appeared t" drool
under the glare and the heat all cNcep
some deep red roses which had been ar
ranged in sentence over the doorway
and whose glowing hearts presented III
most sumptuous and intense bit OF colol
ing. even in that many-hued apartment,
1t was strangs. but Dick found hlmse
unable to read that sentence, althonS
composed of only three short words. In
language, even the letters, were unknow
to him, and for half minute he stoo
puzzling over the mystery. Then tn
incoming crowd gently showed him asld'
and abandoning the effort, he made I'll
hest of his way toward his hostess. ,
pretty little woman, magnificent
dressed, but seemingly already muc
i faticued with the work in hand, she ha
smiled as Dick edged up to her.
"Have you just come, Mr.. Turner,
. she said. az thought you were to
j one of my early birds"
$50 would have been" he explaine
"only, unfortunately, / fell asleep al
I, did not wake up in time"
! "Oh! that was the case, was /
Well. such a lengthy nap ought
brighten you up beautifully for the re
of the evening. Sometimes, you kno
!. you are rather stupid.
a Dick looked at her to sec if she mea
q a Joke, but her pretty face was grave
o raised to his. "You are fattering me
r he said, shortly.
t 81 don't mean to, indeed" she q
" swered, quite earnestly. "But the
" are plenty of men who are always stupl
# while you can be rather entertainir
q when you are at your best" and s.
|, turned gently from him to greet nj
!. batch of guests.
IL "Was / ever damned with such fai
praise before ?" thought Dick. II VIC
a der if am at my best tonight"
= For minnie he stood, taking surv
It of the scene before him. The musicia