Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-26
What nonsense l


So at seven o'clock the carriage st0oC
at the door, and in a bewitching dinner
dress. she was driven to the house he haC
forbidden her to enter.
| But the dinner dragged--not but ina
| Mrs. Blessington's chef had done himself
| infinite credit, or that her guests hac
/! failed in their part. The trouble lay only
with Mrs. Redgrave's self. In vain she
strove to rally; compliments palled on hel
and the lights tired her One thought
weighed on heart and brain:
Suppose Ernest should be seriously dis
pleased? Well, what if he were. Mrs
Blessington had told her how she man
aged her husbands first displeasure
! "Never yield! Never show that you RI
sorry, and you will soon learn not to fee
sorry"
So when at ten o'clock she babe hel
| hostess good night, she determined not tC
show that she felt any regret.
A light in the library showed her thai
her husband was at home. She hesitated
an instant at the door, then went boldly
| in
Ernest stood with his back to the fire,
his eyes fixed upon her, but not her Er-
nest. The sternness had gone from his
eyes, but there was no smile upon his lips.
Over all his face was an expression Of the
| most whitening contempt.
"You have enjoyed your evening,
| madam - he said, s'You had for it the
| relish of your falsehood this morning"
Oh, how Grong she had been! She was
tempted to 90 to him and creep into his
arms and beg him to forgive her, but she
remembered Mrs Blessington's advice.
eyes," she said, ~ had charming
evening; but 1 am quite sleepy now,
goodnight. am going to bed
She turned to leave the room, but in
one stride he was beside her, and held
her arm in grip of steel.
Coward, you hurt me!' she said, in
sudden anger.
He dropped her arm then as though
she had stung him.
''You meant that word you have ceased
to love me, Why did you dlsobey me,
Grace?'
"BecauseI DO not propose to be slave
to your caprice-because have had my
own way all my life and mean to have it
always"
"And 1 say you shall not have it:
Choose between Mrs. Blesslngton and
me-between your unworthy friend and
your husband-between your own will
and our future happincss-ont this instant,
choose!'
II have made my choice; | abide by it.
When you are more reasonable will list
en- further. Now good-night!''
He made her no answer. She fingered
moment at the head of the stairs, hop
ing he would speak again, but all was
silent
How unhappy she was as she shut and
locked her door. Strange as it may seem
she had never loved her husband so well
in her life. His pale handsome face
haunted her.
Glow hateful l wasl" she said to her
self. Gas if wouldn't give up fifty Mrs.
Blessingtons for one Ernest. will give
her up, too, but I'll do it in my own
way"
Once she unlocked the door to go down.
But not would undo all that her firm
ness had accomplished; SO the night
passed-to her a sleepless one.
In the early morning a servant brought
her a note. 1t was from her husband,
and ran thus:
cat nine o'clock l start for India, to
be absent six months. During that time
my lawyer will consult you in regard to
our separation, and make it as easy for
you as possible. l have known for
long time that our tastes were diametri-
cally opposed, that all my sweet hopes of
home were wrecked, but not that you
could defy and outrage the love which
| so freely gave you. Do not think me
harsh in leaving you without a good-by,
but thought it would be less painful to
us BOTH
With tear blinded eyes she glanced up
at the clock. 1t was just eight. She
had one hour in which to act. 1t was but
the work of ten minutes to order the car
riage, make a hasty toilet, swallow cup
of coffee, then issue her commands to the
coachman to drive at any speed, but to
reach the terminus before the clock struck
nine. One hour to undo what might be
a life's fatal work.
But time waits for no man. It was ten
minutes past the hour when the terminus
was reached, and already the train was on
its way.
With low cry of agony Grace realized
the whole; then the strain relaxed, and
the fair young head fell back upon the
silken cushions in a dead faint
GA lady fainted' was the cry which
reached gentleman who was giving
some directions about the luggage he had
countermanded being put into the mail
train.
He turned quickly. There stood his
own horse. his cwn carriage, and within
the lovely face OF his unconscious wife.
1t was the work of an instant to spring
up beside her and lift it upon his breast,
trying to revive her with his passionate
kisses At last the beautiful eyes opened
with wild, incredulous recognition.
ooh, am dreaming!" she murmured,
ernest, don't leave me!'
"No, darling-no. At the last moment
my heart relented. thought perhaps
1 had misjudged you, or thatI had been
too severe, and ordered my luggage to
be taken off the train, and let it start off
without me. My wife, l thought you did
not love me-that you had chosen the