St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-08

But when Two people are living lOgetner In
state of artificial tranquility, it seems to be
law of nature that the elements of disturb
ance are unseen, and that the outburst comes
inevitably with the lapse of time.
In ten days from the date of their arrival
at Munich the crisis came. Ernest returned
later than usual from the picture gallery, and
for the first time in his wife's experience
shut himself up in his own room.
| He appeared at the dinner-hour with a
| futile excuse. Mrs. Lismore waited until
the servant had withdrawn. ''Now, Ernest
she said Sits time to tell me the truth
Her manner when she said those few words,
took him by surprise. She was unquestion-
ably confused; and instead of looking at
him, she trifed with the fruit on her plate.
Embarrassed on his side, he could only an
swer, 'sI have nothing to tell.''
ssWere there many visitors to the gallery?"
she asked.
stAbout the same as usual"
''Any that you particularly noticed,'' she
went on. 81 mean among the ladies.'
He laughed uneasily. 'sYou forget how in
terested am in the PICTURES" he said.
There was pause. She looked up at him
and suddenly looked away again. But he
saw it plainly; there were tears in her ewes.
ssDo YOU mind turning down the gas?"
she said. 'sMy eyes have been weak all
day."
He complied with her request-the more
readily, having his own reasons for being
| glad to escape the glazing scrutiny of the
light.
81 think will rest a little on the sofa,''
she resumed. In the position which he oc-
cupied his back would have now been turned
on her She stopped him when he tried to
move his chair. II would rather not look at
YOU Ernest she said, '.since you have lost
confidence in me-"
Not the words, but the tone touched all
that was generous and noble in his nature.
| He left his place. and knelt beside her-and
opened to her his whole heart.
| cam I not unworthy of you?" he asked
when it was over.
She pressed his hand in silence.
81 should be the most ungrateful wretch
| living,'' he said, ''if / did not think of YOU,
and YOU only now that my confession is
made We will leave Munich tomorrow
and, if resolution can help me- l will only re-
member the sweetest woman my eyes looked
| on as the creature of a dream.''
She hid her face on his breast and remind
| ed him of that letter of her writing, which
| had decided the course oftheir lives.
ssWhen I thought you might meet the hap
| py woman in my lifetime, said to you,
'sTell me of it-and promise to tell her that
| she has only to wait" Time must pass, Ern-
est, before it can be needful to perform nv
| promise But you might let me see her. If
you find her in the gallery tomorrow, you
might bring her here"
Mrs Lsmore's request met with no refus-
al Ernest was only at loss to know how to
grant it.
''You tell me she is a copyist of pictures,"
| his wife reminded him. ''She will be inter
ested in hearing of the portfolio of drawings
| by the great French artists which 1 bought
for you in Paris. Ask her to come and see
them, and to tell you if
she can make some copies. And say
if you like, that L Shall be
very happy to become acquainted with her.
He felt her heart beating fast on his
BOSOM In the fear that she might lose all
control over herself he tried to relieve her
by speaking lightly. ''What an invention
yours isp' he said. eff my wife ever tries
to deceive me l shall be mere child in her
hands"
She rose abruptly from the sofa-kissed
him ON the forehead-and said wildly, II
shall be better in bed!' Before he could
move or speak, she had left him.
The next morning he knocked at the door
of his wife's room, and asked how she had
passed the night.
Il have slept badly" she answered, "and
I must beg you to excuse my absence at
breakfast-time." She called him back as he
was about to withdraw. Remember" she
said, ''when you return from the gallery to-
day expect that you will not return alone"
4 x K
Three hours later he was at home again.
The young lady's service as copyist were
at his disposal; shs had returned with him to
look at the drawings.
The sitting-room was empty when they en-
tered it. He rang for his wife's maid-and
was informed that Mrs. Lismore had gone
out. Refusing to believe the woman, he
went to his wife's apartments. She was not
to be found.
| When he returned to the sitting-room, the
young lady was not unnaturally offended.
He could make allowances for her being a
| little out of temper at the slight that had
been put on her; but he was inexpressibly
disconnected by the manner-in which she
expressed herself.
81 have been talking to your wife's maid
while you have been away she said. II
find you have married an old lady for her
money. She is jealous of me, of course?"
''Let me beg you to alter your opinion"
he answered. ''You are wronging my wife;
she is incapable of any such feeling as you
! attribute to herr
The young lady laughed. cat any rate,
you are good husband" she said, satirical-
| ly. Suppose you own the truth? Wouldn't
you like her better if she was young and pretty
like me?'
He was not merely surprised. he was dis
gusted. Her beauty had so completely fas
cinated him when he first saw her that the
idea of associating any want of refinement
and good breeding with such charming
creature never entered his mind. The dis
enchantment Of him was already so COM
plete that he was even disagreeably affected
by the tone Of her voice; it was almost as re-
pellant to him as the exhibition of unre
restrained bad temper which she seemed
perfectly careless to conceal.
81 confess you surprise me-" he said cold
ly.
The reply produced no effect upon her.
On the contrary, she became more insolent
than ever.
81 have fertile fancy, "she went on, "and
your absurd way of taking a joke only en-
courages me. Suppose you could transform
| this sour old wife of yours, who has insulted
me, into the sweetest young creature that ev-
er lived by only holding up your finger
wouldn't you do it,"
This passed the limit of his endurance, 81
have no wish, he said ''to forget the consid-
Grafton which is due to woman. 1 have
but one alternative; 1 must leave the room.''
She ran to the door as he spoke and placed
| herself in the way of his going out.
He signed to her to let him pass.
She suddenly threw her arms around his
! neck, kissing him passionately, and whis-
pered, with her lips to his ear, "Oh, Ernest,
forgive me-! Could I have asked you to
marry me for my money, if had not taken
refuge in disguised"
When he had sufficiently recovered to