Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-12

does: j do not doubt ~ lot moment.
But there is something that the old
comparison Of the bloom on the grape
stands for that that woman has robbed
me Of, and had robbed me of before |
ever met Tom. When he was growing
Up and noticing women's ways and airs
and eraces, Antoinette was there to be
an exponent Of the latest craze in dress,
and carriage. and dainty belongings. 1t
is such an old story that can laugh at
it all, but il hurts just the same. They
had the jokes and associations, and
little language of cousins brought up
together. and yet she maintained just
| that shadow Of reserve toward him that
made her unfamiliar and uninteresting.
] suffered tortures for these few days |
spent in the house, Tom asking me, in
all honesty and with all the proper
ardcr of Bridegroom. why | was blue.
At last We came TO California. Tom
and had it all out about Autoinette,
and. of course, he laughed at me and
kept urging me to say that ! would
never let thought OF her make
me unhappy. Finally | was silly
enough to say that was quite cured of
my jealousy Of her, and''Tom believed
me. or pretended to, because it was
more convenient. As if a woman is
ever cured Of that kind of jealousy
When Tony was born Tom insisted on
naming her after Antoinette, and the
poor child goes saddled with that ridicu-
lous name, Standish and all. But for
tunately she was too hearty child
ever to be called by it. When Net
tie was born Tom discovered that
the only thing that consoled him for
the fact that she was not boy
b as likeness to Antoinette. The
child looks no more like Antonette
than do Tor, at least, Heaven be
praiseo, can't see it, and was named
for me, as Tony should have been, but
she grew up quiet and gentle, and Tom
found pleasure in nicknaming her Net
tie. ard Nettie she remains. In the
course of years Antoinette's relatives
died one by one; she did not marry,
and finally, when her mother died,
! Tom said to me, with enthus nsm, as If
it we're the one thing we had been wait
ing for, Now Antoinette cal make her
home with u.s. | was older then and
had more firmness, and was less afraid.
said that no stranger should ever maze
her home " til us, but that Miss Stand
ish might visit at my house if he wish
ed to extend her limited invitation.
She arrived overland, in the deepest
mourning for her mother, which did not
at all prevent her from going to the
theatre, receiving visitors, and amusing
herself generally. She stayed with US
a very long time. At last little Grace
was taken sick with typhoid-feyer, and
my anxiety made my nerves beyond
my control nursing a sick child and
the sight of that cool, well-dressed, UNI
moved, idle woman being a COM
panion to Tom were quite incom-
patible. | told her one day at dinner
that the turmoil of house upside down
with sickness must be distaSteful to
her, and had secured her two plea
SAINT looms at 4 very nice boarding
house that morning. Neither Tom nor
she said ole word, and the next day
she departed. She remained in the
city a fortnight, and then went to New
York. Next year. back she came, only
Al 1T 10 Ic
But Tom insisted that she should spend
a week or two with us, and so
it has been ever since. She has
tho hold of relationship and early
association with Tom; something of
gratitude, too, believe he thinks, for
her mother was at the head of the house
when he was boy. Heaven he has
more than worked that off in man
aging AntOinette's troublesome little
investments, and Offering me and his
two children up on her altar. Well,
that's the story. Antoinette is the in
cubus Of my existence, very we'll
dressed and graceful incubus, but still
| an incubus. | conceded too much,
and vet not enough. admitted
that / was wrong in being jealous Of
her. and then would not live up to the
admission permitted her to quarter
herself upon me, and then could not
endure her presence. Oh. how | adj
mire the old-bloOdedness Of the women
who make it their first business to
adopt their husbands old flames for
their own most intimate friends . Ugh
| could sooner confde in Grace's nurse
than in that white cat-in fact. do
confde great deal in Katie"
you've confded in me, dear, and
that's a great deal better than either.
| foresee powerful rival to Antoinette
in your daughter Tony. She will be
growing up into the graces Tom adj
mires, while Miss Standish will be as
steadily descending the down grade.
When his cousin begins to look faded
Tom will not be so anxious to be seen
with nc, believe me. | don't know
much about men, but | know that"
So we parted, and | saw that it had
done Agnes good to open her heart to
me. At dinner that night Antoinette
said, in her winning way:
tom, you are too much like pacha
in his harem here. The feminine ele-
ment predominates too much in your
family; that's what makes you so dog
matte. This little girl should have
been a son, to contradict you occa.
sionally."
Agnes looked stern and Tom uncom-
Portable, when Tony piped up, most
Unexpectedly:
"Wise people accept things that
can't be changed, and direct their
efforts toward the things that can.
You could bring gentleman here to
quarrel with papa"
Tom was delighted. His amour
propre was much nearer thing than
his affection for Antoinette. He roared
with laughter, as we all did. Even
Antoinette managed to twist out q
smile, while Tom cried out:
We'll said, Tony-well said. You
brought that Oh yourself, Antoinette
now, don't sympathize with you bit.
That's very like Emerson's Wise men
accept the absolute | hope the man
you bring to quarrel with me will be