The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-08-23
it, that would still be a remark of a general

at large.O |
81 am neither stubborn nor stupid" poor |
Margie burst out, tears starting into her
eyes.
"My dear Mrs. M~erryweather,b ex-
claimed Miss Spart; whose presence alone
prevented the conclusion of the whole mis-
understanding at that moment, "of course
MI. Fafebridge meant nothing Of the sort.
How could you think SOP"
ut is said to be a feminine trait to make
a personal application Phil said. 81 was
only speaking of the wife of the man in the
hypothesis
I'VE women are easily hurt" Margret
said, in a low voice, rising and moving
away.
She was wounded and miserable. In
imagining the comedy which she and her
husband were to play she had fancied a
sort of stage courtship, a little high-hown
and unreal from the consciousness on the
part of the actors that they were merely
playing. A light, half-mocking gallantry
was what she had expected, or at least SO
she had told herself, although in truth with
a woman's sentiment she had also expected
the ring of genuine love, too. Tears were
in her eyes as she now sought a seat in a
retired part of the piazza, and it was with
difficulty that she refrained from breaking
down altogether.
A step she knew approached quickly.
"Margiej" her husband said, coming up
to her; 'how long,
Miss Spart's appearance cut the question
short.
"Why, here you are ~ she cried, volubly.
what made you run away? Have you
discovered, Mr.. Farebridge?"
NO." he replied, ''but l hope to, for Mrs.
Merryweather has been kind enough to
promise to drive with me this afternoon.
will have the carriage at the door about
three, if that suits your convenience"
And before either lady could utter a word
of comment or suggestion, he had lifted his
hat and withdrawn.
The afternoon was enchanting, the semi
tropical scenery sufficiently novel to both
Philip and Margret to hold their attention,
and for the first half-hour of their drive
there was nothing to indicate any shadow
of disagreement between the pair.
AT the end of tlrat time, they found them
selves upon a secluded portion of the road,
when Phil coolly put his arm about his wife
and kissed her. She resisted a little, but
ended by returning his embrace with much
fervor.
80, dear Phil" she sighed, show good it
does seem to be ourselves again, and not
somebody else! l think it has been per-
fectly hendish since you came. 1t seems a
week since last night"
"Then why did you send bach my letter
of introduction? That was particularly
horrid of you"
"Of course 1 didn't think you'd give up
So" she returned. "You were a great
goose"
Sand a great goose not to break in when
you locked the window in my face, 1 sup
pose"
so, well, it doesn't NATTER" was the
feminine ~retort." It's all over now any
way.o
For the next half-bour the couple de-
!ivered themselves over to the felicities of
billing and cooling, diversified by udden
perils into which they were brought by
Pbil's erratic driving, little of his attention
being left for his horses. Then all their
joyousness was overthrown once more.
"Of course" the husband remarked,
"now we can tell, and have done with ali
this uncomfortable nonsense"
go, no Phil, oMargie cried. "Just think
what a horrible scandal that hateful Miss
Spart would make out of it. She is capa-
BILE of anything"
"What could she make out of it but the
TRUTH"
"But nobody could ever be made to I'M
derstand it, and it really is too ridiculous.
CANT you think of something else, Phil
Eyes" he retorted, savagely. 81 can
think of several things-the price of stocks,
for instance, or the transit of Venus, or of
how 1 hope Uncle Farebridge and Aunt
Merryweather are sizzling in the most
such diabolica1 Wills"
"Why, Philip Sweetser! how can YOU
talk SOP 1t is sacrilegious!"
"You have no acquaintance by that
Hdule,' Ne interrupted.
"And my aunt, toolnshe went on, with
out needing him, "and your own uncle"
Her husband broke into a bitter laugh.
SYou have a logical mind, Mrs. Merry
weather." he observed. perhaps you can
think of something"
sop poor Margie sobbed, the tension of
her nerves finding relief in the tears which
flowed fast, you have no heart at all.
You"
"There, there, Margie, L"
P1t hninn 1r-f-o 49,, 49,
ne attempted no further argument, only
gathered her into his arms and allowed her
to sob her emotions into his left breast
pocket.
The result of the farther conversation
between Mr.. Philip Farebridge and Mrs
Margret Merryweather may be inferred
from the fact that when they reached the
hotel, about dusk, the gentleman went tx
the Office and wrote upon the register, "Mr
Philip Farebridge and wife"Ia simple
line, which yet proved sufficient to send 6
perfect whirlwind of gossip and conjecture
| through the quiet corridors of the hotel
where nothing so exciting had occurred
> since the elopement of Clara Dolby witt
young Smythe, two winters before.
:, When husband and wife entered the din.
ing-room together that night, Margret fel
the eyes of every person present and was
far more completely covered with confusion
UDdh ONOh LII IhO b1doAIIS udJo VI 1Cl
honeymoon.
"Really," Miss Spart murmured, leanine
across the table, 81 was never more sur
prised in my life. If L had known yor
were going off to get married this after
noon I would at least have thrown a slip
per after you. Is it true that you were en-
gagged but had quarreled? That's what
l told Mrs. Turner. l was sure of it thi.
morning.
so, we have known each other a Ions
time" said poor Margret, her cheeks Grim
son; ''but we have never quarelled."
The next morning it was even worse
Phil at first noticed nothing amiss; but hi
, wife's keener feminine sense detected hos
? tility in the air the moment she entered thu
+ breakfast-room On Miss Spart's fac,
| she read fresh disapproval in every line
Z while Mrs. Turner's bow was so slight tina
, if such a salutation had not been expected
it would scarcely have occurred to a be
: holder that it was intended for a bow a
all. Plainly, the tide of gossip had beel
setting strongly against the young couple
and Margret wondered what new develop
. ment could lay given it so much suddel
rancor.
, She was enlightened later in the fore
noon, when she received a crisp note from
i, Miss Spart asking the favor of a few min
: utes' private conversation; and although
: Philip protested that it was sure to be
: = case of unwarrantable Interference, hi
wife insisted upon going to a spinster'
r. l1OOIus S1C was CSOlNSo III SiOop oO1O11
nifty.
l "Sit down." Miss Spart began, impress
, lively. "Poor dear!"
|. Margret laughed. 1t seemed natura
enough that a lady of so strongly marke,
spinsterhood should regard any woman
who had committed matrimony as having
= fallen into a dreadful abyss.
"Don't laugh" Miss Spart went on, wit
, rather unnecessary pathos. "What l hav
, to tell you is too dreadful. 1 can't bear t
have you laugh"
"What in the world@"b began Margret
e "There! there ~ the other interrupted; d
be calm. Don't get excited. 1t isn't you
a fault"
a "My fault!" echoed her guest. "Wha
are you talking about? "What is tn
~trouble?"
l That man" Miss Spart said, becomin
more and more melodramatic, "has de
ceived you"
"IVhat MANI"
: "That man you think is your husband
Mr.. Farebridge."
HDeceiyed me!"