The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-03-09

avenging deity in the doorway. He had
heard only the last phrase.
''Do not lot me interrupt yOu," he
said, in his Hottest accent of whitening
scOrn.
But Lucia was too quick for him.
''Good-by, Tom" she cried. regard
less Of appearances.
''Good-by. suppose we meet at
Mrs. Maynard's dinner to-nightT" but
she was ut the carriage beside her hus-
band. before the words had passed Toms
lips.
Aren't you going to help me- in,
Don?" she inquired.
''Do you wish to cntcrY' asked the
Grand Llama.
why certainly do. told John To
drive around and wondered why he was
so slow
"SlOw? Too quick, should say" he
answered. while John shook his whip
reins To the prancing beasts.
"Oh. now Dom" she exclaimed, "yOu
are angry at poor Toms palaver.
IL don't know any right poor Tom
has TO be talking palaver to my wife. :"
He was telling Of his happiness with
Kate Despard.
Il don't know any right my wife has
to receive confidence from another
man."
don. aren't you ashamed" said Lu-
cia. desperately. IAN old friend. all
but brought up in the house with me
''ls that any reason that he should be
saying to YOU that once he expected to
call your hand his own? You married
woman, listening To himp And for oil
know. he had kissed your hand. II is
shameful! II is monstrOus! 1t is abom-
inabler'
He never kissed my hand
.'Why is your glove OFF,
"Oh, Don, my darling, how ridicul-
Gus YOU make yourself!''
Answer my question. Have you
been exchanging rings with that ras-
cal?' he cried. his eyes blazing in his
white face. "By the Lord. il that is SO,
| will have his life! Where are your
rings. Lucia''
.'Gracious, Don. what flame you
can blow up from a spark! Do you eX-
pN'i ihV w "Nti ilhC 81
many letters? Rings hurt ones hand
under gloves and ! don't always wear
them.
You will let me sec'--his eyes grow
ing blacker and blacker, as if his wrath
condensed its darkness through them
''eycry ring | have given you, the mo-
ment we enter the house, whether You
find them letters or not
DO you mean to say, Donald she
exclaimed, turning on him her beauti-
ful eyes, "tha, you are accusing me,
your faithful wife, of anything your
words imply?' Then the worm turned.
"liow long do you think You can keep
my affections ~
81 don't imagiue can keep them. l
don't imagine lhave kept them And
when, rs just at that instant they reach
ed their own door, u band Of music set
the horses TO dancing. the carriage
wheels ran up the stepping-stonc. and
II crash ensued, out of which she WAS
lifted in dead faint--Lucia counted ii
one of the good fortunes of her life.
OF course. with the servants running
this way and that, with confusion and
cries in the house. rings and reproaches
were forgotten. and Mr.. Mcdonald call
ing himself brute, hung over his wife
in despair. and Lucia had n delightful
hour Of recovery and devOtion; and
then, against her husbands remOn-
stranccs. proceeded To dress for Mrs.
Maynard's dinner.
..Ah. what hypocritc and actress /
am Incoming" She sighed TO herself
.. Aud ,,,kut ., ..n,yarI' And all hacouco
love him 50.
But nobody would have thought the
lovely creature sweeping into Mrs. May
nard's drawing room in her white. gold
embroidered satin, was any OF the hOr-
rid things She called herself. They were
the last arrivals. and when Lucia went
out on Mr.. Maynard's arm, she found
herself. in q little spasm OF fright, with
Tom Dunstablaat the other hand and her
husband nearly opposite. Ii was mo.
Iucnt Of absolute terror TO Lucia. She
knew that the sight Of Tom punishable
would bring back all her husbands
mood. She SAW the black cioud shut
down over his face Instantly, and she
felt that her least motion would be
watched with lynx-like narrowness.
But she must get that ring and before
she put on her gloves again.
"rom," she whispered, not looking
ut him. scarcely moving her lips. and
face placid rs sunshine, "give me that
ring AT once, a. Won value my life.
The CONSERVATION and pleading in
her eye would have piined her had not
her husband trod on Miss Ormond's
train in the general seating, and been
moment preoccIpied. In that moment
Tom. nodding an excuse TO his neigh
Dor and also Ia Mr.. Maynard. slipped
into the hall, and was back again before
the rustic had entirely subsidized
The prairie chicken was being served,
when she saw. rs if in 4 dream, 4 waiter
who had just cone in. STOPPING To pick
up Toms napkin, and n sidelong glance
showed her Tom fumbling with tiny
parcel. In another breath il was all
right. The color left her cheek; she
understood what WAS said around her;
the prairie chicken had some hay0r.-
She stretched her hand for bit of
bread.
81 beg your PARDON" said Tom
"ths is your roll think
She cr,lmbled the roll between them,
and the ring touched the tip Of her fing-
er, and with the help of the crust and
the tableclOth she worried il into its us
ual place, while answering Mr.. May
nard's question Us to her preference re-
garding game. And Us she raised her
hand to brush back a lovc-lock falling
too low over her beautiful eyes. Mr..
Donald Mcdonald saw the blood-red
flush of the ruby gcmmed ring.
Ii was not till year and day after
that he heard the story from his wife;
and forgiving her for her part. promised
better fashions for his own.