Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-17

MADAME is seated in the parlor near the
mantepiece. She holds In her hands piece of
sewing. at which she works with feverish agita-
ton. After minute or two she looks up at the
clock and then says. in an indistinct tone:
ELEVEN o'clock!" a pause.) In piercing tones:
ELEVEN o'clock" CA noise of footsteps is heard
She breathes long sigh.) ''Ah, at last" She
begins to work again Monsieur enters with a
Joyous expression and advances quietly with
outstretched arms towards his wife, Madame
does not move She does not lift her eyes; she
works on steadily. Monsieur stops and looks at
his wife with disturbed expression. But no.
she appears to be calm; she cannot have heard
him come in. He smiles, and, gliding softly
behind her. is about to kiss her, when she starts
bolt upright and surveys him with scorn.l
Monsieur (stupefed. makes q step towards
-Nncldrae Gecoiling quickly. Leave me, sir!
Monsieur (abOut 70 speak,
Madame. Leave Inc. (She moves towards
the door of the room.)
Monsieur following her with his eyes) -
Madame Con the threshold. solemnly )-After
to-day we have nothing in common. (She en-
tiers her room. Monsieur rushes after her; the
door shuts In mis- face.)
Monsieur Ole is In CONSERVATION. What can
have happened? Is his wife really furious. or is
it all joke. Maybe she's laughing to herself
now. In order to assure himself monsieur goes
to the door and listens. He can hear nothing.
Decidedly, there's going to be row. Well, he
has seen plenty of them; the best thing to do is
to wait till it blows over. He goes to the fire.
place. warns his feet. rubs his hands. then takes
the newspaper and throws himself on the sofa.)
Madame coming out of her room and taking
upa position before Monsieur, brusquely)-
Then you think that this life can endure?
Monsieur (surprsed) -
Mcriame-Ycu think that after having passed
my whole evening in waiting for You. shall be
too happy to go alone into fireless room while
you sit there quietly warming your feet and
reading the newspapers
Monsieur (about to get up) :"
Maddnle-Oh. don't get up, l beg l should
be too sorry to disturb you. I can understand
home you should wish to take little repose.
Monsieur (about to speak, =.
MGddHe-1 only regret that you should have
made me sit up for you. If could have fore
night
Monsieur Cooking at the clock) =.
Ma'ieme (quickly)-I beg your pardon. That
clock is more than an hour too slow. 1t ia now
half-paSt twelve.
Monsieur Cooking at his watchO
Madame. But it's all the same to you. OF
course you never think of the time. You can
come home at two just as well as at three, Just
as well as at six o'clock in the morning.
Monsieur (tries to protest.
to youI know you. know Of what you are
capable when you are once started on a disso-
lutte career.
Monsieur (smiling) g
Madame. Oh, you may smile! Raillery suits
debauchees of your species excellepty 1t is an
added grace. Skeptic and depraved that is the
height of elegance.
Monsieur Cooking at himselO =
Madame. You made several conQuests this
evening. suppose? How many hearts have
RI fri phoI
Monsieur (stupeded) -
Madame. We're there many women at this
this stag party?
Monsieur (shocked) .
Madame. Oh. know what you are going to
say. A dinner OF political economists, was 1t
not? All scientific men, and all married? Moth
ing but the virtuous fathers of families presided
over by an octogenarian. They would have
liked to bring their wives but the rules Of the
club forbade it? That was too bad; those ladies
might have found themselves in verv good COM
pany; they could have laughed with you, drunk
with yOu sung with you. Your scientific dinner
must have been very gay
Madame Wasn't it gay7 So much the worse.
You don't object to gaiety. You can be sport
i've if necessary.
Monsieur (modestly) e
Madame. AT least SO have been told. for /
have never been able to discover 1t myself
Monsieur (protesting)
for others.
Monsieur (smillng and approaching his wife)
Madame Cpassing before him). No, sir; no. I
am only your wife. have not the good for
tune 10 De slender enough to please you.
Madame. One must be thinl-s cloud. q Va
PORCH, know your tastes now. 1t is easy to
ind them out. 1t is only necessary to see
Madame Tourimel to understand that you only
COR for hrrva 1,f L. IL.
creature dares to visit me-. Infamous!
Monsieur (soitly)
Madame. Yes do be Indignant! 1t is revolt
inc; it is horrible. How can one risk such an
accusations Is not Monsieur Tourimel your
dearest friend? You have never left him since
you were at college together; you are in the
same office; you were his groomsman at his
marriage; you continue to labor for his happi-
ness. What more natural? Only my dear, /
must not conceal from you the fact that MANY
people are beginning to wonder why you lunch
SO often with people who are only your friends.
On. doubtless, the preteXt is excellent Mon
sieU Tourimel lives only two steps from the
office: you haven't time to come home for lunch;
you 90 and lunch with TouriineI: nothing more
simple. could do it myself Ii / chose. But
you know well enough that / am not one OF
those women who get up early in the morning
to run to the other end of Paris STAY at
hOme-in my own house,
Here Madame pauses to take breath. Mon
sAoH 0oe'Siuueo Ihat IL Is His turn 10 speak.
Monsieur Opening his mouth)
Madame (of AGAIN. II Monsieur Tourimel
chooses to keep open house. he's free to do so.
Every one manages his own affairs.
Monsieur (discouraged)
Acdame. As to how he afforded such ex-
travagance, that is an affair between his con-
science and himself. l don't pretend to know
who pays for his wife's dazzling dresses Oh,
my dear. only repeat what every one says
Madame Tourimel ia very elegant for the
dam of oil a
Monsieur (surpr:sed)
Madame. Yes, of an old drummer. You
can't maintain the contrary. I've seen him.
He used to bring my father his orders when he
was in the National Guard. can show them
to you. If You like. You don't believe it! l
quite understand that. That would be profan-
ing your ideal The halo round the head of q
beloved women ought not to be lessened!
Monsieur (stunned)
Madame. Oh, beg your pardon. didn't
know you were so susceptible. In future will
be careful how speak Of Madame Tourimel.
Everything that she does shall be perfect She
may rob me OF my husbands heart: she NAV
take father from his children: she may bring
ruin and despair into this once happy hOme-I
will not complain; will say nothing; | will
think IL only natural only just; only reasonable.
Is that enough? Will you be cOntented with
that amount OF abnegation? Or must / go
further and throw myself at her feet and beg her
to lead away my husbandI
lIhis time Monsieur could answer, but he ONLY
shrugs his shoulders AMI turns his back on his
wife.l
Madame. Is that it1 Are you goinQ7 That ia
hob hIysv co. lo ~