The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-10-30

comes to the drowsv brain after ANYTHING
disagreeableahas occurred the day before.
miss him; and, on inquiry, learn from
my maid that he went out early.
Breakfast is ready, and the tea getting
cold, Shall | wait for him? No; de-
eide not to; so sit down to my solitary
breakfast, feeling very mach inclined to
cry. have almost finphed when the
door opens and Douglas enters.
9 went" he says, apologeticallv, " to
get these flowers for your hair tonight. .
: am not going to the ball tonight, :
return, ungraciouslv.
Not going?"
"No."
That is ali we say to each other; but.
as leave the room he calls me back.
?" ask.
"Won't you stop while | eat my break
fast -
He speaks half wistfully, half disap-
pointedly.
finger at the door. Nv better nature
hat by a few short words might he as
happy a. | was before this quarrel arose.
hesitate, approach him by a few
inches; then my mood changes, aud |
say, co.dIy:
" am very busy. | am afraid | can
not STAY"
Very w~l,' hr SAYS. sglinc heavily ::
" but before You 20 take this paper =
(handlng me- a copy of Il society journal.
" There is paragraph in il which will
interest von.
There is something in his tone rs he
Spcaks-Someth ming of ronv-which, in
t." present state of nv feelings irri'atcs
ne 50 ~ay, coldly:
" Thank You; | don't care to sec it,
lcaNr The room: hut. directly | hear
him 90 ont, return steathiIy and fetch
oI II it. aud begin to read; and have
glanced through TWO or three paragraphs
when come 10 this (thc rontext i about
some fancy balD:
" Mrs. Fleet was there. OF conrs" Shc
appoarrl rs Venus Her dress excited a
far amount u remark, being sonnet hing in
the stvl, Of the Madame Favart Venus
--a white satin body, cut s4uare-vcry
guare-and laced down the back no
sleeves white satin petticoat, very short.
Nr. Fleet did not attend. He"
50 this was the sort OF woman wanted
"a make my friend. Ny husband is
right; but again my false, wicked pride
makes nae think if Mrs. Fleet were t"
come to call on me now sh"nld ask her
to lunch. won't say the first word If
he chooses 10 ask me to make friends
again, perhaps might; but humble my
self | will not
With these bad, rebcllous thoughts in
my mind, 90 about my housekeeping
but nothing goes right. am cross: cook
is cross. | scold cook is pert. I give
her notice.
After this achievement betake myself
10 the drawing room, and begin TO work
some crcVci>
am working flower, out thinking Of
something very different am thinking
how disagreeable everybody is-every-
body but me-and how infinitely
Surely something looks wrong
What on parth-oh -
Aud then follows a naughty little word
| have often heard the boys use at home.
| have done q rose blue.
take mp my work, and, dashing it to
the floor, trample it under foot and then
myself, | burst into tears, and realize, for
the first time, that since yesterday morn
ING have been perfectly miserable.
began to wish my husband would
come in and seq me; perhaps he would
pity me. | am finding ont that | cannot
live without his love.
The hours pass on. No Douglas. He
does not come to dinner. Is it any Won
Ter: Have | made his home pleasant to
him today and yesterday: This is the
first time he has ever failed to come to
dinner Perhaps he Will begin to spend
hi, evenings out-at music-hallS or thea
tres But this thought is too dreadful;
DO not think he would do that. Oh, if
only he would come home How cross
| was To him at breakfast. and he SO kind
>Al that evening | sit alone in the
drawing-room, doing nothing only
thinking c-thinking miserable thoughts.
Nine o'clock.
If it had not been for my odious pride,
! should he dressed now for the ball.
How happy might have been.
Presently hear the haIl-door open and
slam.
1t is my husband coming in to dress
Nv heart throhs loudly as hear him COM
ING up the stairs.
am crying again
As he passes the door give = great
sol. hear him pause for a moment, but
only for moment; he passes on.
rush to the door
Douelas!' cry, pteously. "Doug-
las :"
If he hears me, he does not answer:
and with great hoarse cry, | sink upon
the floor, in an agony of grief.
Half an hour passes, and then he de-
srends, and leaves the house
He is gone.
"Oh. | did think he would come in
before he went" | wall, with a great
terrible sob "Oh, Douglas! Douglas ~
cannot crv now. can only sit still,
with fierce grief gnawing at my heart.
$50 stay on, watching and waiting.
Twelve o'clock! One, Two. hear
them all strike.
l am the only one up in the house.
The servants have gone to bed hours
ago
rise and pace the room and, as I do
so, | catch sight of my face in the mir
ror over the mantel-piece.
almost start-it is so white and hag-
gard 1t frightens me. My eyes look
wild and strange, and CLEAN in their tear
I Il L.