The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-01-10

! 's W Su'ooS opOu your nuSO1DO-
and bore him to the earth. The servant
fled for assistance, help arrived. and Mr
Racket was found. faint from loss of
Blood, with his right arm torn out by the
socket, his LETT eye destroyed, and the
calf of his left leg deeply scored by the
claws OF the terocious monster"
The narration of this remarkable story
taxed Toms imaginative faculties to
their utmost limits, and it was therefore
with considerable disappointment that
ne heard his wife simply exc'aim, "How
alarming"
| Mr.. Racket thought that she did not
seom to feel the full force Of the news,
and he considerably repeated the hal-
''rhat fully explains his respondent
frame Of mind" said Mrs. Racket. ''His
right arm"
eyes, torn ont by the socket. He has
learned to write with his left hand"
ooh, dreadful" eiacu ated Dora.
And l,is left eye Destroyer"
Yes; he wears glass eye, poor fel.
1T must be agony" continued Mrs.
Racket. "And the calf OF his left leg
deeply g. ored by the cruel claws of the
fcrocious monster! And when you left
num- a, Mr.: B1;,,ackett. how was he? CAN
For Tie urst time dread FIJI suspicion
entered Toms mind. DID that wife OF
his still love him? He determined to
test her.
ut is impossible to say with GER
tainty," he replied. seriously; "but you
must hope for the best L:t me beg OF
you. my dear Mrs. Racket, to keep up
your spirits"
'Oh, l assure you, Mr.. Bracket, am
not IN the least inclined to be miserable.
There is very pleasant society here; an.i
you know there are as many good fish
IN the Sta IS ever came out Of it,"
Tom was thunder-struck. He feltthat
his fears were hut too we'll founded; but
he made up his mind to put his wife to
"Foor fellow" he said. "1assrre YOU
that your name WAS very o'tcn on his
lips. In his delirium he called for YOU
hour alter hour"
10 I ,!lS1 It. is very good OF him no:
| Forgotten you? Oh no! am sure
| that it is the lot Of bnt f:'w women to
have husband halt 50 atfect;onate."
and Of but few men," continued
Mrs: Racket, with an irresistible smile.
Ito have a wife"
"Ha!f so charming assented Tom,
his admiration.
'Oh, Mr.. Brackett," calculated Dora,
in confusion. but excuse me-. Will
you stay and dine here? OF course you
will, to please me. You know that a
woman hates solitude little less than
smallpox. One moment" And she
Quilted the room.
Mr.. Racket rose and paced rapidly
backward and forward. His love and
confidence had received a terrible blow,
and he was extremely ag,tated.
''Is she so heartless?' he reflected
"Perhaps had better leave her al
once, and never let her know the truth.
But l can not 20 until am quite sure,
for l love az much as l ever did.
Just now felt hundred times impelied
TO take her in my arms and calI!her Dora
again. l must be certain before can
act. / may be unjust. Perhaps that idi-
Otto story told her has made her n.y.
sterical. Some women will in such cir
cumstances say and do exactly the con-
trary Of what they mean. Possibly
she is weeping now in her own room,
breathing my name, and longing to be
1T my side ut Jub!,alpore. But here she
isagain, and smiling too! Confnund her!"
| Mrs. Racket re-entrred with no traces
Of sorrow upon her face: Il have or
!
o'clock. Until then I must do my best
to amuse you, for there is no on, else in
the house except the servants. I hope
that you had pleasant voyage home,
and that the memory of that unpleasant
tiger incident did not haunt your dreams
| by the way
! mot in the least!' returned Tom, and
he bit his lip. 1.-THE voyage was delight
full. l came by way of Suez Canal. There
were some charming girls on board. and
of course we all enjoyed ourselves I'M
mensely. There was moonlight party
at Alden, and ON that occasion the young
ladies' sang to US until two o'clock in the
morning, when we had a champagne
supper in tent, which friend of mine
providential'y had with him. 1 shall
never forget it,
tie was as reckless as any man could
be, and cared no longer what he said. =,
ut must have been very delightful"
laughed Mrs. Racket, 81 really wish I
had been there.
$50 do l. am sure" Dora went on !;
"but enjoy above all what you men,
| call q spree. Pm afraid that I have
good deal Of the Bohemian in my ma
ture."
II suppose, however," queried Mr..
Racket, ..,.,that you lead very quiet
| life here"
"Oh no, not at all. OF course know
every one in the neighborhood; and as a
married woman, ask whom please
to my house. | assure YOU l have very
pleasant evenings now and then. You
must come some day, Mr.. Brackett-
supper at two in the morning"
II arm afraid" said Tom, responding
ly, that | shall not be here for long. l
am thinking Of going abroad. l can not
rest anywhere"
"You are worried then? I can SYM
pathize with you. A woman'ssympat''y,
| You know
Eyes; family matters and disappoint'
ments-"
But you are not the man." said Mrs.
Racket, encourag'ngly, VINO ought to
be u prey to disappcintments. You are
young, AID i you'll excuse my freedom,
did not lose your heart to one of the
young ladies ut A.len."
mo, Mrs. Bracket. To tell the truth.
am doubtful as to wheih her any woman
is worth worrying about"
$40 10; be cynical" exclaimed Dora.
"All men have period Of cynicism,
know; .'ut you surely 1ust have out
grown it. Perhaps meA expect too much
from women"
'They expect sympathy, fidelity, and
consideration" exclaimed MIR. Racket,
blun.Iy.
But do they themselves practice
those virtues? All me! What terrible
thing it would be to have husband
vino would practice none Of the.n-,a
husband cold and unkind"'
"And what still moro terrible thing"
said Tom, bitterly, "would it BE- to have
fair ss1 md ,f /, .Af sfA}0
"But do you believe" asked Dora,
''that there are many such womer?'
II know to my cost that the.e is at least
one. Yes! There are many women,
Mrs. Racket, who betrAy their bus.
bands"
Il can not believe it; but when such
is the case, think that the husband i.
generally also to blame" And Dora
looked demu rely at the carpet.
II am afraid" soliloquized Mr..
Bracket 'that It is foolish to believe
that anv wOmon ia virtuoucO