Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-10-29
A FAIRY TALE.


eyes, John"
"This evening"
ave will be entirely alone. No one
Is coming. am so gladr'
Exactly. Unfortunately. however,
must 60 out this EVENING"
''What must you dop"
The fork fell from her Ii tie hand.
81 must go out, Margaret"
"With meP"
mo, dearest, alone. / must, truly.
One of my oldest friends, good jolly
fellow, has my promise. He tucked
the napkin deep in his collar. You
ought TO be acquainted with him. He
is, although married. still trifie
wild; his head is filed with thousand
queer ideas; but he is every inch a
man. At o'clock. sharp. we meet in
the cafe. 1t is not necessary'-the
napkin was tucked in still deeper
''for you 10 SIT up for me-"
"Johnr'
No one could express more with one
word. A chapter romance could
easily be constructed out OF it. A
side view OF his hitherto faultless char
acter opened itself before her, but she
did not wish to believe it. 1t remind
ed him reproachfully of his vows of
fidelity and begged for her loves
sake. Still the young husband did
not seem 10 have the faintest concep-
ton of the important meaning of this
short speech.
''Oo you know, my sweet Maggie,
the omelettc is excellent to day. And,
as l said, YOU need not sit up for me-
When one meets an old friend and
recalls "reminiscences of their boy
hood, it is not easy TO separate. Mid
night comes, one scarcely knows
how"
''Midnight!"
yes" answered John unmoved.
at is |, 2 o'clock, one feels Jolly, sings
and drinks. Upon my word, pet, !"
and then he cut the Omelette into
cubes and other regular geometr.cal
figures and ate them with epicurian
satisfaction.
Maggie had become quite still. She
endeavored to move him with silent
eloquence; wiped her eyes with her
cambria handkerch ef and pressed her
red lips close together. The tyrant
saw all, but he was still mistaken.
After dinner he kissed his pale
young wife, promised in any case to be
home before evening, and went to his
Office.
Maggie passed sorrowful after
noon. Upon her husbands writing
desk she found the fr.ends's invita-
ton, whom she considered, Judging
by the letter, to be a perfect scoun-
drel.
make yourself free, for once" so
he wrote, land learn to live as have
learned. You know already my views
on marriage. There is one kind. the
democratic, in which the man and the
woman do rs pleases them. ! do not
need to tell you how regard that.
Then there is the despotic marriage,
in which the man alone as tyrant
rules always. Horrible! More horri-
BILE still when the woman tyrannizes.
Then there is still the constitutional,
in which the man and the woman
share in all the advantages of govern
ment. That is the best marriage.
Nevertheless, advise the young
man, remain bachelor. 1t is no re-
Fiction upon these views that they
originatein French comedy. I'm
fortunately, you and / arc not so sit.
uated as to profit by them. Onesmust
give reckoning for deeds already done
and submit with dignity to the newt
able. | have, however, written out 8
prescription for myself. shuttle the
cards a little-that brings change.
From time to time / leave my wife,
give my marriage VOWS an opportuni
70 a
school impression. behind marriage.
Be this once, as you often were as ar
unmarried man again, my companion.
At o'clock will expect you in the
cafe. Be punctual, for am impa
tent. We will give ourselves license
for once"
Horrible! Maggie was inconsolable
She sank into an easy chair, leaned
her head on her hand and abandoned
herself TO the most sorrOwful thoughts
Slowly it grew dark IN the coy
waking reality was melt
ing into dreamland. Her mood be
came milder, and out of the broker
colors, which she could scarcely sep
arate, of the arabesques of the Smyrna
carpet in which her little feet nestled
there sprang up n recollection OF
shrewd story teller which made he
smile through her tears.
AS John, toward O'Clock came
home. he hummed gay song in an
ticipation of the expected pleasure
He made an elaborate toilet, selected
his most stylish and elegant coat ant
a handsome colored satin cravat
Finally he entered the sitting room
to take leave of his wife. Maggie hat
the appearance of not seeing him.
Maggie, dearestr
She arose as waking from dream.
"Who-ah you'll"
Eyes, / wish to bid you good-by
Don't make IL disagreeable for me
Bo reasonable aud give me kiss.
al certainly do not hinder you. 70
arc free TO 60.
"Dut kiss"
"WhyP am thinking of somethinn
moro important Amu'e yoursei'
Adieu."
"You appear strangely. Has any
thing occurred during my absence
Nothing that could keep you here
You will be late" ,
30. / shall have plenty OF time. Is
quick and will listen here at you
feet I'll wager you will warn me
Calphurnia warned Cesar; DO not z
TO-DAY into the Senate.
ssFar, far from the truth"
"In earnest?'
"Certainly."
"But, tell me, tell me-"
VERY well. will not delay In o
ser 10 not keep you long. You ma
scarcely left me when closely veiie