The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-25
4 LESSON FOR WIVES.


The pretty little blonde lifted pair
OF saucy, blue eyes to the face Of the
man at her side.
"Why do you object to my going to
Mrs. Houston's ball, Robert? thought
you were proud of my social success and
liked your wife to be reigning BELLE"
. Robert barrow looked grave.
cit is because I cannot attend you to
this ball, my DEAR" he returned, for i'm
portant business calls me out of town
business so:urgent that | will not spoil
your anticipated pleasure by explaining
it to you. And you are so determined
TO 90 that you are willing to accept the
escort Of your cousin, Ralph, whom you
know 70 be a notorious firt and lady
killer Florence, | wish you would give
it up"
She pouted her pretty red lips.
aDo be reasonable, Bob" she cried;
81 have my dresses all prepared, and
there will be nothing prettier at Mrs.
Houston's tonight. AS for cousin
Ralph, he is gentleman; you need not
be afraid to trust me to his care. 1t is
not so terrible thing after all. Our
own carriage will convey cousin Ralph
and myself to Mr.. Houston's house, only
three or four blocks away, and shall
not remain late. Therefore, on the
whole, dear, think you ought to make
no objections"
He stopped and kissed the pretty face
with stifed sigh of disappointment.
Every well, my darling" he returned,
gently, al will not stand in the way of
your happiness. Go, Florence, if you
wish. and enjoy yourself"
But there was troubled expression
upon Robert Darrow's handsome face,
and his eyes held grave look in their
depths as he turned away. Somehow
the heart of the gay, young wife smote
her little.
81 wonder what is the matter. she ex
claimed, when he had left the room !;
Robert is not like himself anymore.
wonder what troubles him? He is too
proud and reserved to tell me, but he
has something on his mind, am sure
of it."
She leaned her head back among the
cushions of her easy chair and closed her
eyes YEARLY; she had been busy all day,
shopping and making ready for this
wonderful ball, and was quite fatigued.
She did not hear her husbands light
steps when he entered the room, all
ready for his journey, which was into a
neighboring city. He stopped aud kissed
the pretty, childish face.
~ will not wake her." he said to him
self. Poor little darling, how she will
suffer when she knows all the bitter
TRUTH will keep it from her as long
as 1 can"
Then, with long, lingering look, he
turned away, descended the stairs, and
leaving the house, turned toward the
depot, from whence he embarked on his
journey.
When Florence barrow opened her
eyes the twilight shadows were stealing
into her room, and Marie, her deft little
maid, was lighting the gas in the pretty
lily-shaped globes.
"Mr. barrow has gone, ma'am," said
the girl; ''he left you these flowers"
And Marie laid bouquet of lovely
Parma violets before her mistress as she
spoke. Florence seized them with CIV
of rapture, and buried her face in their
fragrant, purple hearts.
"Oh, how beautiful she cried;
marie, is my dress all readyg'
"All ready. Mrs. barrow, and dinner
il waiting"
So Florence went down to the pretty
dining room, where dainty repast
awaited her. But it was fearfully lonely
and desolate without her husband. The
heart of the young wife contracted with
terrible pain as the thought entered it:
What if she should never see Robert
again. She missed him everywhere.
The meas was eaten in dreary loneli-
ness; then she retired to her own cham
Der to prepare for the ball.
Two hours later Florence barrow
entered the grand drawingroom at Mrs.
Houston's elegant mansion leaning on
the arm of her cousin, Ralph Arden, a
handsome, but rather dissipated-looking
man.
She was lovely, in trailing robe of
delicate azure silk with frosty, white
lace over-dress looped with purple
hearted violets, with knot of the same
fragrant blossoms in her hair and ct her
white throat.
A murmur of admiration went around
the room; she was Immediately sur
rounded by eager admirers, and dance
after dance solicited.
Late in the evening she stood alone
for few moments in deep embrazure
of q window. Some gentlemen near
were busily conversiDg and did not OBJ
serve her.
"Yes, it is true" she heard one of
them say. "Darrow is at the very verge
Of ruin, and / am told that his wife's ex-
travagance is at the bottom of it ALL
do not doubt it. Look at her to night,
dressed like queen, surrounded by adj
mirers, without her husbands protec.
ton. No wonder he is ruined and de-
spairing. 1t is the reckless extravaganza
OF their wives which wrecks the pros
perity of one-half our young business
men,"