The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-22
LYNETTE.
The Argosy.l
.EreAzsys

6relight one autumn evening. 4 tea cable. splendid with old crown Derby. a satin cozy, embroidered to match cooked on the top of the old silver teapot, stood be,wcen them, and the third volumn of the las, popular novel lay on the wolf skin rug just where Lyne,,e had dropped il. when even her bright eyes could read no longer. She was slim, fa;r-faced girl. with outlines a thought too sharp for pres:iness. alert and sensitive to the finger tips. Her keen brigh; face took a dozen varying shades of expression while she spoke as many words; her hair waved crispiy, her eyes were gray. dilating and deepening with the intensity of her mean ,n,. She vas kneeling on the rug tor nen,ing the big burning-log in the grate with toy brass poker. and watching the blue flames and red spar.ss come and go while she talked. Her sister listened be- hind her peacock fan, calmly and reason ably. as was her won't.
 No marriage can ever be happy" de clared Lynetse. in her thin, musical, childish voice, '' without perfect love and trust
 II think have heard something like cha, before remarked Mrs. Feather stone in her full eontralto. Besides, l 4lever disputed the statement, did :"
 Why, Lola. Didn', you say that a wife had right to mans present and future. but his past was his own::"
 Something of the kind" Lola ad- mit,ed. Il also said that II was queer way of displaying your perfec, trus, in a man to insist on knowing all his secrets"
 Trust me not a, all or all in all ..' quoted Lynette, emphaticaliy.
 A nice position Merlin got into by acting on the advice" commented Lola.
 Lynette shrugged her shoulders. and gave the log furious blow. sending sparks in showers about. Lola raedi,a- lively stroked the soft plush of her tea gown with her dimpled white hand, glanc- ing approvingly at the sparkle of the gems that incrusted it, and then spoke with authority from the depth of her basket-chair.
 My dear child, i, was wise woman who said Never insist on being your husbands first love; be content ii you are sure of being his last.
 "lwould never set eyes on John again If were not perfectly sure ot being the one and the o,hsr.' Lyne,;e replied her color rising and her eyes darkening @our lives are to be one, with one spin- ion. one ideal. oae set of tastes and feel tngs-
 Whose: Yours or his |: And how abou, yachting ?" interposed Mrs. Fea,h- erstone.
 Lola. When you know haze ordered three yachting suits for my htnA and ,x-h.sA and {, Gala,oa. Of course shalltry to go with pleased i, is all right"
 sYou are good little thing. Lyne,:e :" said her sister. affec,iona'ely ou; you see agreement on every point is physi- cally impossible. wish you would ad- init the principle in all things. l, will save a world of disappointment and dis persed allusions."
 Lyne,te's eyes grew dewy and her lip quivered.
 "Let me keep my illusions while can. then. You and Mark may have your views of married happiness. John and I would rather come to grief in striving after high ideal than sneak through life contented with having realized low one"
 Lola was silent. She had never con- sciously formed an ideal. and wouldn', have distressed herself by striving after |, if she had on any consideration. She had a beautiful, weii-ordered home. a pretty little year-old baby son. kind, eonside.a,e husband, and vas the hand somest woman in the country. How could her life be possibly improved on ::
 "l beg your pardon, Lola." broke ou, Lyne,te impulsively. didn', mean that is. l didn't think-l oughtn't 10 have said so to yo.:. What biundering egotistical wretch am
 Lola's great brown eyes opened wide n utter bewilderment: then following Lynette's glance across the room. be- came enlightened and half closed their curly fringed lids in perfect indifference. A half-length portrait hung on the wall facing the fire. A portrait of pretty wo- man of certain order of pretsiness. the sort that, curiousiy enough. is never ad- mitted by other women however attrac- tive men may find it. Buddy brown hair, coiled high upon the head, after the fashion of some ten years ago, and rip- bling across low, white forehead long eyes of bright blue. with half closed. heavy, white eyelids, a small mouth with full, red lips. and soft- round chin with a dimp,e ikea baby's.
 -Did you think should be sensitive about Marks first wife v Lola asked. anu. edly. ''l had forgotten that she ever existed for the moment.
 Lyneste frowned incredulously.
 "l should hate the sight of her. Why do you keep that portrait there. Lola z
 tsn.~.nxs ar,, so rnfsrh bupffer lone- ing, my dear-better in every way and |; serves to remind Mark of the fact like to keep her there in perpetual con- parison with me-to her disadvantage" Lola sat upright and spoke quite animas- edly-for her When Mark and frs, came home here he asked me to rear range everything as l wished and saw him glance at the portrait. ] knew what he meant, and said directly that should prefer to leave Lady Mildred there It
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