The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-27

D
fervent hope that his hostess was quite
well.
dreadful headache; nearly frantic
with it" said Mrs. Cathcart, knitting
her pretty brows and rising, pressing one
hand to her forehead as she did.
There had been times, and those dis
tant but few brief hours ago, when
such words and such a movement of
pain would have wrung her husbands
heart, and his "My darlingl what can
/ do for it?' would have sounded per-
fectly agonizing; now, the wretched
being only turned abruptly to his sister
in-law with, "Eunice; dinners late
enough already" and marched on with
her huffily.
81 am sorry you are so unwell. The
day has been oppressive. You will be
glad to get down to the seaside, won't
your said James Grafton as he gave
his arm to the too evidently snubbed
wife.
81 shall be glad to get away some
where. I'm sure / don't care where it
is. want change terribly" said Mrs.
Cathcart, with certain hardness of tone
in her voice that her guest had never be-
fore observed.
"Do you know, l always admire your
dinning-room so much," put in the
| bachelor as they entered the room.
"There's perfectly hideous glare on
it just now" retorted Mrs. Cathcart.
"And your decorations are charming
these trailing bits of briony and
wild"-
Don't agree with you, Grafton. Pm
sick of seeing the place Uttered with
weeds, interpolated Cathcart, the young
married man, with an angry sniff, as
they took their places at the table.
"John." he exclaimed, turning to the
servant, "see that there's something de-
cent out Of the conservatory in the cen
ter OF the table mountaineering at
least three feet high, and bushy."
John as he went about his work with
imperturbable gravity remembered with
great inward mirth that only few DAYS
before he had been ordered to remove
tall fern, because, as his master had said,
it hid his wife's face. 'Rum 'uns, mar
ried folks, amt they?" he remarked to
himself. All, indeed they are. especial
ly when young, good-looking and very
much in love with each other! But their
run" mess, 0, worthy John, strange as
it is, is nothing to their utter want of
consideration for other peoples feelings.
What James Grafton and Eunice Bell
suffered at that little square dinner Tread
ly have not the heart to relate in detail;
and, indeed, there is but small need that
| should do so, for have not you and
taken melancholy part in many only
too similar scenes? / could however,
forgive the young couple for their con-
duct during dinners; but what | con-
slider absolutely brutal and unpardon-
able was that although / feel GER
tain both Captain and Mrs. Cathcart
knew that James Grafton would have
enjoyed quiet stroll about the
grounds when the sun was setting
(tor of course he was on certain subject
as easy for them to read as the morn
ing paper), yet these two selfish married
creatures, absorbed only in the interest
ing game of irritating each other, hung
on to the two unmarried ones the whole
evening, with relentless malice that is
perfectly unattainable except by a hus-
band and wife who are, for the time be-
ing, not on speaking terms.
After dinner, Mrs. Cathcart, by wav
Of pretending she did not care, ratified
of her gayest dance music and sang
dozens of her brightest. songs but moth.
ing would please her except to have
Eunice sitting quite close to her, turning
over the pages. Once, indeed, Miss Bell
ventured as far as the window, but she
was speedily captured; sisterly arm
being gently but firmly placed around
her waist, while a plaintive voice muir
INJURED in her ear: 'Ah, Eunice! sis
ter's afiection--love--is, after all, the
only thing in the world one can really
depend upon!"
And while this was going on in the
drawing room Cathcart had effectually
j botton-holed Grafton, and was confidine
to him that as his domestic life had suf-
fered an utter collapse he intended
indeed, it was his only chance Of saw.
ing MS life and reason--he intended to
exchange with Hutchings, and go TO
seek glory and, he devoutly hoped death
in South Africa. I
But the most wretched evening must
at last come to an end. About 10
o'clock James Grafton again found him,
self in Tulip-tree lane; but, instead Of
the happy calm Of few hours earlier.
he now felt as if he had been assisting
at an earthquake. He was quite dazed'
and unable to contemplate anything at
all except the extraordinary ways of
married people, at which he gazed, so
to speak, with mingled wonder, terror
and anger. Should he ever be able to
re-enter that house, that desecrated sane
tuary? @ta .
1t was however, sweet. peaceful
night, so that by the time he had reach
ed his own door he had SO far recovered
himself as to see that it was his bounden
DUTY to rescue Eunice Bell from-good
heaven! 1t was maddening to think
what she might be enduring that very,
mlnlltn Ia II !. - 1