Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-02-18


save an occasional chirp from the caua-
ries, and the ticking of the pretty French
clock on the mantel. A rap at the
door arouses her and James enters with
a cluster of ylolets. There is no card
nothing to tell from whom they came;
but she knows only too well. In the
dear old days. when she was Miss IRE
maine, two such clusters were left ev-
cry day at her door, one bearing Ray
Remmington's card, ,and the other Chas.
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, pityingly,
and then-thrusts them hurriedly into
the open drawer of the table, closes it,
and turns to meet her husband, whose
step had announced his coming.
A moment later she is excessively
provoked at herself for thrustlng the
violets out of sight. Why did she do 1t !
She could not have told you. Perhaps
she felt instinctively that her husband
could hardly approve Of her receiving
even co trifing gift as a wee bunch OF
violets from his old rival, Ray Reming
ton.
Well, the thing was done, and there
was no help for it. Were she now to
take them from the drawer, Charley
would certainly require an explanation
as to how they got there, and surely it
was a 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
after dinner. Charley was always just
a trihe impatlent-cross-when he was
hungry. She would wait until after
dinner. But before the desert was
brought in, while she was eating her
salad, her husband asked to be excused
There wvs a most interesting article
in the Erening SpOutT on the Chinese
question, which he had commenced in
the omnibus on his way home, and be-
come deeply interested ln.'
And of he went, and when tho dain~
ty cup eustards, fragrant Mocha and
luscious fruit were brought in there was
troublesome lump in the white throat
and suspicious moisture in the blue
eyes of his wife, and the custard was
trifed with for moment, and a spoon
full or two of the Mocha swallowed, for
were not the watchful eyes Of Jeems
upon her? And then she FASTENED
from the room, her mind fully made up.
She would 60 to Charley, tell him
everything-iust now 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 bis paper. She would tell him OF
Rays visit and about the hidden flow
ers, and with this resolve in her heart
she opened the door Of the sitting
room.
Charley, dear, r,'-she would not give
herself moment, for fear her courage
might fail Charley, dear. will you put
your paper aside for moment? l
want to tell you something
Now, Lou, don't bother me; 1
never was more interested in my life.
By jingo! this fellow writes well.
Where's Leila or Bijou: What is the
use of your having pets. if you uever
notice them? Now sit down, that's a
good girl, and dress Leila up in pink
ribbon or something. You ought to be
fond Of that confounded cat; It cost
enough
How quickly the moisture leaves the
blue eyes. What a sudden, firm tight
enlng there is of the pretty red lips and
what hard, cold heart this Of he's had
suddenly become And the tempteI
whispered in her heart, Not so wouic
Ray Remington have looked or spok'
en- And, remembering the tende'
voice and the love in Rays eyes, she
feels a tenderness springing up.in hel
heart for the owner Of the bold, black
eyes, and glad though guilty pleasure
in the thoughts Of the hidden vlolets'
And Charles Thornton, Esq, returns
to his paper with a self-satisfed air,
which, by the way, Is the expression
generally to be found on the masculine
countenauce when The owner thereof
has been making most egresious ass
of himself.
An hour later he throws down the
Spsuter, and asks what it IS she has to
say to him.
Il really have forgotten. 1t was Of
no consequence.
Take care, Charles Thornton? Your
wife's first falseheod. Who is to blame
for it E? and to what Wilt lead?
Three months later. Ray Remming'
ton and Mrs. Thornton have met many
times slnce that sad day on which he
sent her the violets. They have lunch
ed together, rode together and attended
matinees together, and tonight it il
arrangedlthst she will leave her hus'
bahd's protection for that of Ray.
Is she happy at the thought OF leav
| ing her husbands homer Happy
Mol wretchedly unhappy. But tina