Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-19

tried to frost her manner, but it only
acquired an icy sweetness that made
her all the more attractive, and her
house WAS thronged, and her invitations
were multitude.
Nevertheless, Lucia almost forgot
herself one day when the servant an
nounced Mr.. Dunstsble. Tom Dun
stable |" she exclaimed before she
thought. 81 am delighted" And she
held out both hands to this old SCHOOL
mate and sort of cousin, and WAS eager,
her face sglow, to hear what account
he had to give of himself, asking If he
remembered this, and replying as to
whether she remembered that, laughing
over circumstances occurring before
her husbands reign, and all at once
starting and looking about for her hus-
band, beckoning him, and when he
would not stir, taking Mr.. Dunstable
over herself, and introducing him, with
another grand mistake, ss dear old
friend who was one Of the family, but
not scrap Of relation.
A dear old friend, one Of the family,
and not scrap of relation Nothing
more was needed to kindle Mr.. McDon-
ald's altar fires. He was flint and steel
already. "Wasting her sweetness on
curmudgeon," said MIR. Dunstable to
himself. And if for minute he had a
mind to give Mr.. Mcdonald something
to fret about, in another minute
he thought he would cut off
his hand before making Lucia any
trouble. $50" he said to her. when
Mr.. Mcdonald had walked off and left
them as q great dog leaves couple of
children that have disturbed him, "you
have a iailer-"
81 have the best of husbands p she
exclaimed. "And I adore him. Be
sides"
Besides, mustn't talk to you IN
that way. Well, I won't. I shouldn't
like him to speak so to my bonny Kate.
am going to be married to Kate Des-
pard-the sweetest girl I must come
and tell you about her tomorrow, Lu-
cia. What hour shall you be alone?"
Tomorrow? Lucia had begun to
recollect herself sufficiently to know
that her husbands wrath would be
bright and shining light tomorrow if
such an interview took place. "To-
morrow" she said. "But I have an en-
gagement. How long are you to be in
town? Only two days2 Let me see-I
shall be at Aunt Marbury's tomorrow
at throe."
All, Lucia, Lucia Med Donald, her inner
consciousness cried, clsndestine meet
ing at another persons house No
wonder If her husband were angry
And yet it seemed hard if she might
not hear about the marriage Of one for
whom she had such an innocent attach
ment. And she hated equally that any
one she honored should think her heart
less or see her husbands one weakness.
The fact that she felt a little guilty
made her humility and sweetness incar-
nate in her manner toward her husband;
and the fact that she was so sweet and
submissive made him trife lordlier
than before. She knew the drift of his
thoughts too we'll, and he need not have
taken the trouble to formulate a pro-
nuciamento, as he did at dinner.
ga married firt," said Mr.. McDon-
aid, aprcpos OF little or nothing, "ranks
with the monstrous. Once convinced
of such a deformity in woman's char
acter, ! would not live with her an
hour"
"By the way" said Lucia, the least
bit tremulously, "Tom Dunstable is
going to be married"
you are very familiar, Lucia. But
why 'by the way'P Is Mr.. Dunssable
firt?"
"He? Oh, no; but Kate Despsrd is,
and he is going to marry her"
"He is to be pitied then," said Mr..
Mcdonald, with asperity.
"Yes; Tom is the most faithful fell
low in existence. He will never forget
the time I saved him from Master
Brownlow's rage by taking the feruling
myself"
"You, LuciaP And the hound let
you'll Well, would thank him to for
get. want no man with "reminiscences
of my wife,"
Lucia did not remind him that it
would be difficult to blot out her past
existence. She only laughed, and said:
"Oh, it makes no odds, for it is not the
same person. am totally different
being from that one. 1t hardly seems
es though I had been alive before ]
married you, Dom" And anybody not
luxuriating in jealousy would have
melted at the smile she gave him.
But the next day she was at her Auns
Marbury's to find Tom there before her.
and to listen to his enamored account
of Kate Despsrd, his marriage, his
homes his plans. "I oave Kate n nlain