The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-12-06

ana pfeCty tnnSS, ana catalogue tnem, /
so as to make mamma happy with a let |
ter tomorrow. Order John, or Jack,
or Bill, or whoever your cOachman i, to
get the carriage if that's impossible,
send for a cab
In less than an hour Mabel led her sis
ter to the great French mirror, AMI
laughingly introduced her to the love,
iest and best-dresSed woman she had
almost ever seen.
Alice trembled little when she found
herself actually on the way to Mrs.
MountlOys; but her sisters urgent will
had conquered, and her heart was hard
ened by Herbert emphatic expression
concerning the baby She was reas-
sured, however, by Mrs. Mountjoy's
hearty welcome.
$50 glad you've come, my dear" she
said. Your husband said he feared
baby would keep you at home; but
told him it was all nonsense. You did
right to recons der the matter"
Herbert, like many handsome society
men, was little sp6n3d and selfish
without knowing it. lie loved Alice
devotedly; but he was OF unwilling to
receive the sweet smilts and honeyed
words of others; while with mans in
consistency, he was Mt desirous that
his wife should play thu part of a mar
ried belle
1t was while he was dancing with one
of the most noted and beautiful WON n
of the metropolis, who was willing to
listen to his nonsense that Herbert, look
ing up from the face leaning against his
shoulder while the dreamy waltz music
thrilled the hearts sensitive to sadness
as to Joy" encountered the sparkling
face of his wife, and saw her arrayed in
the freshest and most graceful costume
in the room She was moving quietly
along with an escort in uniform.
Pray, don't stumble, said his part
ner, petulantly, for that moment the
grand repose of his manner was gone,
and the lady on his arm might have
been made of wax, or any other ductile
material, for all he cared now.
How the dickens came she hereP' he
muttered to himself, as he led his part
ner, absently, to seat, deaf to all her
pretty wor S, blind to her facinations
1T certainly is Allcc-but that dress
the prcttiest thing here! and left he
quite determined not to come DOM
understand it. Dancing with that nib
tary puppy, Guinett, too. She knows
hate him"
With these amiable thoughts, he laid
himself out to gain the attention of bis
wife, and make her explain 1t vas
some time before he had the chance, so
he was obliged to content himself with
following her graceful motions, angry
with himself and with her.
'Alice! Can | believe my eyesw he
said at last, in the pause of the dance.
81 should think you might, rather,
was the nonchalant reply.
Pray, how did you Gomez"
pray, how did you come? I rode.
Did you walk"
"Well, but --"
excuse me. I'm engaged four deep
already" and Her1ert was forced to
move aside, as pompouS acquaintance
claimed her hand.
I'D like to knock that fellow down,
! ! he muttered, angry in earnest.
! Another pause, and another tete-a
! tete. No satisfaction given Herbert
had hardly the gra to redeem his
i, dancing engagements.
About the baby, ALICE he asked
anxously.
She put her rosy lips to his ear and il
sIbdued voice exclaimed;
Hang the baby"
Herbert started and changed color
To be sure he had used the same Ian
> guage; Lut from her it was too exasper
l ating. How he got through the even
ing he could hardly tell. When at las
they were together in the carriage drv
ing home, there might have been al
}, open rupture but for the determined
!; calmness of Alice, who took everything
9 as a matter of coure.
= One glance in the beautiful nursery
y unsealed his eyes There, by the fire
sat Mabel, in all the abandon of neg
IS lige toilet, her luxurant tresses falling
d in glossy freedom over her shoulders
e while the little fellow on her lap, clutch
= ing at one long, shining curl, crowe(
and laughed as well as he could fo
uuApl hloDOo'
A sudden revulsion of feeling cam
| to the father heart at sight of til
d sweet home picture.
L AHA! | know who contrived tn
Il plot, he said. "But | am glad to Sc
lie you, Mabel, nevertheless.
wasn't she the belle of the ball?
h answered Mabel, saucily.
It There's no doubt of that. At an
1t rate, didn't get chance to dane
with her.
n "Of course. Who ever heard in Sc
ciety of dancng with ones wife," sh
y said, sarc8 ,tcally 81 see that sh fol
y y lowed m, directions implicitly. 70
u must learn, sir, that a house divide
against itself cannot stand-that is,
o. one half is flirting at a party AMI I'll
other half is at home, crying her eyt
70 out. "
~ ~ "Of, Alice-were you really"
,S 81 should think she was. can aSsu!
,e ,,e you that myself saw half the hou;
N dissolved in tears, and SO wretche
4 that"
A Mabel, hushp' said Alice, impo
he ingly.
Traitor, do you turn on me'' G,
id claimed Mabel, with mock displeasure
er My child" she went on, tossing IL
re growing cherub, tell yo II selfish pal
that he also has some obligations, al
av that, if you had known you were to
to the bone of contention in this famil
you'd have stayed in the garden
angels, where you were wanted
be And that night she tapped on the do
at of Alice's room and looked gaily i
ite Wasn't | right, she asked. Al
ON she was right, for Herbert w
It strongly affected by this audacio
outburst, but it had the effect
- | leadinn him To see his dntu in q ne