The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-06-16
WESTMINSTER MD, SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1888.

His medltatl0ns were cut short by the
return of his wife, who informed him that
she had ordered some luncheon, and that
he must meanwhile do his best to amuse
her, as there was no one else in the house
except the servants. This style of CONVEX
satiOn made Tom more and more reckless;
and at once he launched out into an ac-
count of an imaginary moonlight picnic at
Alden, where-so let it appear-he had
broken the hearts of several charming girls,
and upon the whole had behaved in highly
reprehensible manner
at must have been very delightful, !"
said Mrs. Bilbury II wish I had been
there! Sometimes we have very pleasant
evenings here OF course, l know every
one in the neighborhood; and, as a married
woman, | ask whom | like to my house.
You must come one night, Mr.. Tilbury,
and sup with us afterwards y
By this time Tom was perfectly frantic.
'I'm afraid I shan't be here for long," he
said bitterly, II am going abroad. [
cannot rest anywhere.
"You are worried, l see, said Mrs. Bill
bury, II can sympathize with you.
ayes, family matters and disappoint-
ments, you know"
''Disappointments! But you are young;
and, if you will excuse me, not bad look
ing. Perhaps you have merely lost your
heart on one of the young ladies at Alden. !"
"Oh, no." he replied. 'And, to tell the
truth, [ am doubtful whether any woman
would be worth worrying about ~
Don't be cynical, " said Mrs. Bilbury,
with a smile. perhaps you expect too
much from women"
IL expect sympathy, fidelity and consid-
eration,' answered Mr.. Bilbury, gravely.
"But, let me ask you, do you yourself
indulge in these virtues? All men are
very inconsistent, [ fear However, |
hope that you do not believe that women
are bad as a rule
"Well, [ know to my cost that some are
bad. Yes, some even betray their hus-
bands"
''And in such cases I'm afraid that the
husbands are also to blame
II don't think so, said Tom, curtly.
But you are worrying yourself, | see,
although you try to affect Indifference.
What is it?"
"Worrying myself? Not bit y cried
Mr. Bilbury
II am glad to hear you say so, y returned
his wife. Il don't worry myself: Cozy
suppers and"
''But the probable death of your hus-
band p interjaculated Mr.. Bilbury.
ooh, l am philosophical. We only
lived together for two days; we only knew
each other for few weeks. What am l
to him? What is he to me? Life is still
before me"
"That is rather plain speaking" thought
Tom. II wonder whether she would like
to get up a Irritation with me- Twill draw
her on little
"Ah!" he said aloud, "you have happi-
ness within your grasp, and you can make
another happy. 1t is not every man who
is so fortunate as to meet with woman
like you. Now, confess that have been
unfortunate in experience. But if [
thought that [ might hope for your sym
pathy-"
"Surely, Mr. Tilbury, it would be un-
womanly of me to refuse it.
E'Tom drew his chair nearer to that of
his wife, and continued: ooh, if l might
hope for your sympathy, and look for your
regard and pity, my dear Mrs. Bilbury,
life, [ assure you, would soon assume new
complexion to my eyes. Let us be plain.
Can you not make ME happy, and bestow
your sympathy, your love, and your pity
upon one who will value such gifts at their
true worth p
Mrs. Bilbury, evidently agitated, rose.
"Really," she exclaimed, II was not pre-
pared for all this. I feel the need of love,
love such as yours; but And she buried
her face in her hands.
"This, thought Mr. Bilbury to himself,
''is my faithful and devoted wife p yet he
was unable to refrain from seating himself
beside Lydia and putting his arm around
her waist. Dear Mrs. Bilbury," he said,
II love you Do you, can you, love me ?"
She gave scarcely perceptible gesture
of assent, and Tom, now thoroughly con-
vinced of his wife's untrustworthiness,
sprang up and confronted her.
"Mrs. Bilbury," he said, ''what would
your husband say to this? You have dis
graced him p
She looked up and held out her hands
'You are a vicious woman he con-
tinued, unrelentingly.
''Then why, Just now, did you ask for
my love?" she demanded
Because I wanted to assure myself that
you were as vicious and worthless as [ now
know you to be. As for loving you'll
despise you! All! if you were only
good woman And he approached her
and took her by the hand. For an instant
he stood thus; then he raised the hand and
kissed it, and finally he kissed his wife on
the cheek.
care you going, Mr.. Tilbury? she
asked.
eyes; I had better go; it is for the best.
We could not be happy, Goodbye"
He kissed her again, and then moved away
to the door, where he stood, painfully re-
garding her.
"Good-byer' r' she echoed. "But," she
continued, in another voice, "Tom
"Tom !'' repeated Mr.. Bilbury. starting
and coloring "Who told you my name
was Tom ?"
"You did, you foolish fellow, about two
years ago.
"And you know me, Lydia ?" he cried,
as he quickly returned to her. "You have
known me all along p
''No, 1 did not know you until you told
me that tremendous story about the tiger.
There was no mistaking you then p
By this time Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Bill
bury were embracing each other so affec-
that the conversation was render
ed very fragmentary and disjointed. tits,
therefore, almost impossible to chronicle
what they said; but it is certain that they
forgave each other, and it is matter of
that there has since been no hap
pier couple on Richmond Hill