The Penn's Grove record., 1884-12-13

AAN1
would see that evening.
1t was nearly six O'Clock when a cab
drove up to the door, anu | heard my
J husbands voice through the open win
dow. A tastefully-spTead tea waited
upon the TABLETOP we had made the
luncheon our dinner, as Archie and
Beatrice Tudor could not be kept out
late. We were laughing and chatting
pleasantly when Kendall came in ; little
| Frank, in his very best lace robe, lay
fast asleep in my lap, and l had no in
tention of waking him by disturbing
my position In any way.
MY husband greeted my relatives very
cordially. though l fancy he was disa-
greeably surprised at their presence at
n rate, he went back into the hall,
saying, "Run upstairs with Martha,
Willie, and get yourself tidy, for tea is
quite ready.
81 have engaged a nurse for Willie at
a reglstry-office ~ said Kendall to me IN
an undertone ; ''he is far from strong,
and Martha will see to him entirely.
Sturdy fellow this /" he added, turning
to Miss Clemence as be bent to kiss the
baby.
l knew that he wanted me to look at
him, that he might read my feelings In
my eyes ; but l kept my face resolutely
bent down, in deep ~displeasure that a
servant had been added TO our house
hold independently of my W will and
choice.
Kendall was thoroughly nervous when
he brought his son into the room, and
babe him shake hands all round. My
careless glance as l touched his hand
revealed a thin, pale child, very awk-
ward and frightened, in a black sailor
suit of country make, presenting a
marked contrast to the self-possessed
little Tudors who stared at him with
the curiosity incident to their age. 1t
was a relief that he was not vulgar.
looking /; however | chose to mistake
his shyuess for ill-breeding, and deter
mined to punish Kendall thoroughly
through the child. Little Willie sat
beside his father at tea, and, finding his
child so little noticed, Kendall lavished
upon HIM a fondnesS that infamed my
jealousy every moment. His first choice
at table being a slice of very rlch cake,
of which the smallest morsel was sufi-
cient for children, my husband, with
the thoughtlessness of u man, heaped
his plate with 1T. | knew that such a
meal after a long journey would GER
tainly harm the boy, but | had not the
grace to clothe my remonstrance plea
sanity. l turned to Kendall with the
cold remark
THAT slice should be divided between
the three children no child should eat
so much rich cake"
sit won't hurt Willie, " said Kendall
obstinately ; and, without noticing me
further, he turned TO nVers with
Mrs. Tudor.
l noticed however that after the first
taste little Willie only crumbled his
food, gazing round the table with cTlm-
sonlng cheeks, and gulping down his
tea as though forcing back something
IN bis throat. / was becoming as nerv-
Gus as the child, for | had a horror of
scenes, and l knew very well what was
coming.
Eat your cake, Willie, like a man."
said my husband, as a hull in the con
versation took place.
II am afraid he has a very poor appe-
tite," remarked Mrs. Clemence ''he
has eaten nothing as yet"
Dismayed to- find himself the object
of general attention, Willie hastily
swallowed a piece of cake, and then
what l had fcrseen took place. He
buried his face In his small thin hands,
and, pushing away his plate, burst out
crying. If my husband had been alb
sent, l must have taken the motherfess
boy in my arms and hushed him as |
did my own Frank /; as it was, l looked
at the sleeping child ID the couch, and
remarked that he would be i'll all night
if suddenly awakened. Miss Clemence
told Willie nobody would love him If
he was not w~ell-behaved Mrs. Tudor
said something about ''spoilt children"
Archie abruptly produced a stick Of
chocolate from his pocket and forced it
between Willie's fingers, and little Be-
atrice twined her arms around his mock,
whispering, please don't cry, cousin"
1.-THE child is tired out, " said l "he
cries only from fatigue. He had better
go to bed and have something to eat
there"
Kendall was very much annoyed at
this public manifestation. He gave me
q AOOh aALhoSb VI Qlck uoL az Az AhNAA
ference of my tones, and then, raising
Willie gently in his arms be carried him
away. The last sound | heard was,
Ceramic / do want nay grannie ~
and the wailing cry haunted me through
out the evening.
From that time a great GOODNESS arose
between my husband and myself; whilst
~outwardly the same united couple, both
were conscious that a barrier, in the
shape Of little Willie, really separated
us. He was left entirely to the manage
ment OF his nurse, a personwhose cring'
ing manners towards myself at once
prejudiced me against her.
THAT boy is always crying, " said my
husband irritably one morning, as he
pulled on his gloves In the hall. 81
wonder what is the matter now"
vt Is perfectly dreadful at his age"
returned l. Mamma will be here next
week, and | am sure.the noise Will quite
upset her,"
willie must 40 to school next quar-
ter, :" said he sit will be altogether
better for him than this house."
He turned towards the door, for our
fond adieux were things of the past
but l saw before US q return OF the old
happy days, when Willie should no
longer Oe an eyer-present source of dis
agreement, and my heart went out
yearningly towards my husband.
"You might srare me a kiss" sand
|, coloring, and l put my hand on his
arm.
There was a sort of affection In his
look, as he answered sternly-
when | have once seen you kiss my
child, l shall know you care for such
tokens from me. Til then, let neither
OF us pretend regard, Milicent."
BE it 50" said 1, white with angry
PRIDE. "You will never see me kiss
that boy. / hate the very sight of himl'
Take care of what you are saying
remarked Kendall quietly; "those are
dangerous words to utter"
lie had just left the house when VIII
lies screaming reached a HIGHER pitch
than ever, and l hurried upstairs IN a
rage, determined to exercise my author
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