The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-06-01

anu aO oloc ht iauHCutu OuJ lnJO an
account of an imaginary moonlight
picnic at Alden, where--so he let it ap-
pear---he had broken the hearts of sew
eral charming girls, and upon the
whole had behaved in highly repre-
hensible manner
at must have been very delightful" :"
said Mrs. Bilbury. IL wish had
been there Sometimes we have very
pleasant evenings here. OF course,
know every one in the neighborhood,
and, as married woman, ask whom
like to my house. You must come
one night, Mr.. Tilbury, and sup with
US afterward.'
BY this time Tom was perfectly fran
tic. "Tm afraid / shant be here long"
he said, bitterly. am going abroad.
| cant rest anywhere"
"You are worried, | see,' said Mrs.
Bilbury. 81 can sympathize with
YOU
Eyes, family matters and disappoint-
ments, you know"
"Disappointments But you are young,
and, if you will excuse me, not bad
looking. Perhaps you have merely
lost your heart to one of the young ladies
at Aden."
ooh, no." he replied. "And, to tell
the truth, l am doubtful whether any
woman would be worthy worrying
about"
'Don't be cynical" said Mrs Bill
bury, with smile. perhaps you ex-
pect too much from women
81 expect sympathy, fidelity and con-
sideration," answered Mr.. Bilbury,
gravely
"But, let me ask you, do you your
self indulge in these virtues All men
are very inconsistaut, l fear. However,
l hope that you do not believe that wo.
men are bad as a rule"
"Well, l know to my cost that some
are bad. Yes, some even betray their
husbands.
"And in such cases I'm afraid that
the husbands are also to blame"
81 don't think so, said Tom curtly.
"But you are worrying yourself, l
see, although you try to effect indiffer-
ence. What is it?"
"Worrying myself? not bit off,
cried Mr.. Bilbury.
81 am glad to hear you say So" re-
turned his wife. 81 don't worry my
self. Cosy suppers and"
''But the probable death of your
husband ?" interjaculated Mr.. Bilbury.
"Oh, l am philosophical. We only
lived together 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 Irritation with
me? will draw her out little"
"Ah!' he said aloud, "you have hap
piness 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. l con-
fess that l have been unfortunate in my
experience. But if thought that l
might hope for your sympathy"
"Surely, Mr.. Bilbury, it would be un-
manly of me to refuse it.
Tom drew his chair nearer to that of
his wife, and continued; s"Oh, if l
might hope for your sympathy and look
for your regerd 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?"
Mrs. Bilbury, evidently agitated, rose,
"Reaily," she exclaimed, 81 was not
prepared for all this. l feel the need
of love, love such as pours; but" And
she buried her face in her hands.
"This," thought Mr.. Bilbury to him.
self, sis my faithful and devoted wife,
yet he was unable to refrain from seat
ing himself beside Lydia and putting
his arm around her waist ''Dear Mrs
Bilbury," he said, 81 love you! Do you,
can you love me ?"
She gave a scarcely preceptible ges
ture of assent; and Tom, now thorough
ly convinced of his wife's untrustworthi
ness, sprang up and confronted her.
''Mrs. Bilbury," what would your
husband say to this A.? You have disgrac
ed him!
She looked up and held out her hand:
imploringly.
"You are vicious woman!" he con
tinued, unrelentingly.
| WThen why mat now did you a 81
for my love?" she demanded.
"Because l wanted to assure mysel
that you were as vicious and WORTHLESS
as | know you to be. AS for loving
you-l despise you All! if you wer
only good woman And he approach
ed her and took her by the hand Fo
an instant he stood thus then he rails
ed the hand and kissed it, and finally h
kissed his wife on the cheek.
"Are you going, Mr.. Bilbury?" sh
asked.
"Yes, | had better go it is for tn
best. We could not be happy, Good
bye" he kissed her again, and theI
moved slowly away to the door, wher
he stood, painfully regarding her.
"Good-bye| she echoed. "But," sh
continued in another voice, Toni"
"Tom!" repeated Mr.. Bilbury, start
ing and coloring, 'Who told you m
name was Tom ?"
"You did, you foolish fellow, abou
two years ago"
"And you know me, Lydia :" he cried
as he quickly returned to her, "Yo
have known me all along''
"No; | did not know you until yo
told me that tremendous story abou
the tiger, There was no mistaking yo
then p
BY this time Mr. and Mrs. Thoma
Bilbury were embracing each other s
affectionately that the conversatil ]
was rendered very fragmentary an
, disjointed. 1t is, therefore, almost in
> possible to chronicle what they said
J but it is certain that they forgave ca,
/ other, and it is a matter of notoriety tn,
there has since been no happier coup
' | pn Richmond Iyill Ibn,..Ia.'a H.,