The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-12-10
In the Palace or Truth.

Richard Turner, Esq, lawyer, let ms
hope Of future fame, returning home one
aight in an unenyiably bad humor, found
Dn his Inantlepiece. 1t had just come,
mis- landlady said, and slowly tearing
open the envelope, Dick read as follows:
Ny DEAR Mr.. TURKER:-Many thanks for
rour lovely flowers, which have been greatly
admired. 1t was like your thoughtfulnoss to
emember my birthday when had almost for
gotten it myself. was so sorry to have missed
four call this afternoon.
Sincerely yours, FLORENCE REDIFER.
A very gracious little note, but for
Iome reason it appeared to afford its
reader but small satisfaction. Dick read
It twice with curling lip, then tossing it
into the scrap basket, he lit 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 mot at home to me this
afternoon, start out driving with Tom
Baker in that confoundedly jerky dog
art of his. Shouldn't wonder if he had
;erked her off before they got home;
md 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 slighted,
was seeking to secure his masters notice
by sitting upright and waving his front
paws to and fro in gentle and depre-
eating fashion.
"Did I hurt your feelings, poor little
boy?" said Dick, tenderly. "Well, /
wouldn't, / assure you, for dozen little
flirts 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 in their minds
instead Of this eternal beating around the
bush. Why can't people be 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, SO assuming look of wisdom
which Solomon might have envied, he
gave mysterious little bark that could
mean anything and composed himself to
listen.
"Just 8 o'clock, said Dick, consulting
his watch. "In two hours I've got to
dress and go to Mrs. Grey's ball, the
biggest bore of the season haven't a
doubt; but there's no escaping it. Aren't
you gled, Snip, you don't have to go to
balls?"
Snip barked again, this time in an
affirmative manner. He always accom-
modated himself to his masters moods,
and was we'll accustomed to being ques-
toned. Alert and vigilant, he watched
the cigar dwindle down by slow degrees,
while he waited in well-bred silence for q
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 a
world Of patient love in his honest brown
eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten! Was it posi-
BILE that he had slept nearly two hours
and the clock was really striking temp
Dick jumped up, glanced at his watch
to make sure, and with stifed groar
prepared to induct himself into his dress
suit. This was never a very rapid pro
cess with him, and by the time he en-
tered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly lit-up house
the great clock in the hall was pointing
to quarter past ii.
The rooms were crowded and stihingly
hot. The very flowers appeared to drooT
under the glare and the heat, all except
some deep red roses which had been ar.
ranged in sentence over the doorway
and whose glowing hearts presented tn
most sumptuous and intense bit OF color
ing, even in that many-hued apartment
II was strangs, but Dick found himsel
unable 10 read that sentence, althoug
composed OF only three short words. Th
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 aside
and abandoning the effort, he made th
best of his way toward his hostess. :.
pretty little woman, magnihcentl
dressed, but seemingly already muc
fatigued with the work in hand, she ha
smiled as Dick edged up to her.
"Have you just come, Mr.. Turner
! she said. ''I thought you were to
one Of my early birds"
$50 would have been," he explaine'
, "only, unfortunately, / fell asleep an
J did not wake up in time. :,
"Ohl that was the case, was Il
Well, such lengthy nap ought
/ brighten you up beautifully for the re
, Of the evening. Sometimes, you kno'
you are rather stupid.
, Dick looked at her to see If abe mea
joke, but her pretty face was grave