Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1883-05-10
THE PALACE OF TRUTH.

Richard Turner, lawyer, let us
hope of future fame, returning home
the other night in an unenviably bad
humOr, found certain little note
awaiting him on his mantclpiece. 1t
had lust come, his landlady said, and
slowly tearing open the envelope, Dick
read as follows:
"MY DEAR Mr.. TURNER: Many
thanks for your lovely flowers, which
have been greatly admired. 1t was
like your thoughtfulncss to remember
my birthday when | had almost for
gotten it myself. was SO sorry to
miss your call this afternoon.
Sincerely yours,
"FLoRENCE REDIFER.n
A very gracious little note, but for
some reason ii appeared to afford its
reader but small satisfaction. Dick
read it twice with Il curling lip, then
tossing il into the scrap basket, he lit
cigar, stretched himself in an easy
chair and thoughtfully observed
through the smoke wreaths that be-
gan TO float around his head: "What
u precious little liar she is! As if |
didn't sec her, ten minutes after she
was not at home to me this afternoon,
start out driving with Tom Baker in
that confoundedly jerky dog cart of
his. Shouldn't wonder if he had jerked
her out before they got home, and
served her right, too! Why, Snip,
what is the matter with YOU, sir?'
Snip was the skye terrier, who, fail
ing to 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 IL
gentle and deprccating fashion.
"Did ! hurt your feelings, poor little
boyP" said Dick tcndcrly. well, |
wouldn't, | assure you, for dozen lit
tic flirts like Florence Redifcr, but | do
think, Snip, and expect you to agree
with me, that we would all be much
better 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 n little more candid with
their fellow-croatures, instead of fool
ing 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 ig-
norance, so assuming look of wisdom
which Solomon might have cnvled, he
gave a mysterious little bark that
could mean anything and composed
himself again to listen,
"Just eight o'clock" said Dick, con-
sulting his watch. "In two hours I've
got to dress and go to sec Mrs. Grey's
ball, the biggest bore of the season |
haven't doubt; but there is no es-
Gaping it. Aren't you glad, Snip, you
don't have to 60 to balls?"
Snip barked again, this time in an
affirmative manner. He always ac-
commodated himself to his masters
moods, and was well accustomed to be.
ing questioned Alert and vigilant, he
watched the cigar dwindle down by
slow degrees, while he waited in we'll
bred silence for renewal of the con-
versation. 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, looked up
into his masters face with world Of
patient love in his honest brown eyes.
Seven, eight, nine, ten. Was it pos.
sible that he had slept nearly two
hours, and the clock was striking temp
Dick jumped up, glanced at his watch
to make sure, and, with stiIled groan,
prepared to induct himself into his
dress suit. This was never a very
rapid process with him, and by the
time he entered Mrs. Grey's brilliantly
lighted house the great clock in the
hall was pointing to quarter past
eleven.
The rooms were crowded and sitting
ly hot. Tho very flowers appeared to
droop under the glare and the heat
all except some deep red roses which
had been arranged in u sentence over
the doorway, and whose glowing hearts
presented the most sumptuous and in
tense bit of coloring, even in that many
hued apartment. 1t was strange, but
Dick found himself unable to read that
sentence, although composed of only
three short words. The language,
even the letters, were unknown to him,
and for half minute he stood puzzled
over the mystery. Then the incoming
crowd gently showed him aside, and,
abandoning the effort, he made the
best of his way towards the hostess. A
pretty little woman, magnificently
dressed, but seemingly already much