The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-29


.'She has got over her sulks pretty
quick. was her husbands inward COM
ment. as he kicked off his dancing
pumps. and lazily unfastened his neck
tie.
The next day was very brilliant in
the park. The sunshine was golden.
the sky was cerulean; while the vivid
green of the foliage. the radiant and
varied tints of the flower beds, and the
charming summer dresses in the vic
torlas and barouches that crowded
along the drive. with sprinkling here
and there of Household Cavalry. made
a most charming and effective combi-
nation.
There We're handsome men. lovely
women, and beautiful horses. Con-
spleuous among the equestrians were a
lady and gentleman. both tall, hand
some, and very dark. The lady was
superb in form. with face of South
ern beauty, complexion of pale olive,
and beautiful eyes of dusky hlackness;
her wavy, jet black hair was rolled up
In great coils at the nape of her grace
ful neck. They were attended by a
handsome young groom. and all eyes
followed them as they cantered along
| the Mile.
That American. who is staying at
the Alexandria, and that's the Dunbar
Handsome girl, isn't she; but what a
contrast to his lovely young wife. And
he's regular spoons George Dunbar.
! How
Fine girl. but his wife is thousand
times more lovely
Halo! Do you know those two
just come inside the rails?'
why, it is Mrs Elmore, and riding
with Dick Trevor. of the Household
Why. it's tit for tat Here is Elmore
out with Miss Dunbar, and his wife
with Trevor the fastest fellow in town.
What can it mean?"
Yes, it was Bertha Elmore, in her
exquisitely fitting habit, and coquett-
ish hat. that did not conceal the heavy
coils of glistening golden hair that en-
circled her graceful head. Her COM
panion was Herculean in figure and
height, with long tawny beard and
mustache, tawny elose-eut hair, and
gray eyes.
They rode along chatting gailY, and
needless of the eyes that followed them.
When nearing the Kensington end,
they met Mr.. Elmore aud Miss Dunbar
returning.
Mrs. Elmore inclined her head coldly
to her husband, and passed on, while
he. not believing it was she, let her
pass without returning the salute. rein
ed in his horse. and stood staring after
her in blank amazement.
1T is Mrs. Elmore, and she is dis
pleased with me, for she has not even
noticed me-" laughs Miss Dunbar,
with contemptuous toss of her head.
'tAnd with that man. Kisses Ber-
tha's husband. as if in answer to his
own thoughts, and totally oblivious of
the presence of his companion.
Your wife has just seen you with
this woman, so it is only tit for tat.
my dear Mr.. Elmore, and you don't |
know what a nice fellow Captain Trev-
or is, and how agreeable he can be |
among ladies'" says Miss Dunbar, |
with covert sneer.
Let us go back at once. l must |
see what this means. said the gentle
man, sternly; who. losing sight of his |
wife and Captain Trevor in the crowd, |
turned his horses head to go in pur-
suit, while Georgina Dunbar's clear, |
metallic laugh rang out as she follow
ed him home
''1on will never forgive poor Dick |
Trevor, and Mrs. Elmore will never |
forgive me, sne saws resentfully.
he escorts his fair companion to her |
home, and then hastens to the Alex |
andra. Throwing the reins to the |
groom, he hurried up to his own apart |
ments. Bursting into his wife's room, |
he found her standing in thoughtful |
attitude near the window, still dressed |
in the habit she had been in the Park
''Ah, Puss! / am glad you haven't |
taken off your habit. Come for ride |
with me, DEAR he said, without any |
reference to their late meeting in the |
Ladies' Mile" though his voice be-
trayed his anxiety.
Bertha started, then smiling gra-
ciously. she said:
mot to-day, dear. / have barely !
time to dress for dinner, and | am go
ing to the opera this evening with |
Captain Trevor and his mother. Lady |
Trevor promised to take me up at |
eight o'clock L suppose you are en- |
gagged this evening, Stephen"
No, no-n-I mean ye-s-s.' he |
stammered, with severe twitch of |
conscience, as he remembered he was
to take Georgina Dunbar and her sis |
ter to the theatre
Bertha rang for her maid to help her |
off with her habit, and her husband |
went out of the room looking very an
cry, though he was whistling an opera |
tune, and resolving in his mental fury |
to keep himself disengaged on the NOR
row in spite of all of Georgina Dunbar's |
fascinations.
But the morrow saw him with bad /
headache after nights dissipation, |
and when his servant stood at his bed |
side and announced that it was twelve |
o'clock, he started up wildly and in
quired for Mrs. Elmore, and he was
told that she had gone for ride in the |
Park.
with whome''
Captain Trevor, sir''
..Fll shoot that fellow, / will, by |
Jove." and Stephen Elmore jumped !
out of bed most ungracefully, and COM
menced dressing in most excited way. |
When his toilet was complete he stood |
helpless. What could he do?
He went into the sitting-room, and !
paced up and down for half an hour
"Will Bertha never return,'' he NUT
tered, as he paused before the window.
glaEcing up and down the crowded |
thoroughfare.
She came at last. looking flushed |
and beautiful, smiling and radiant, her |
golden hair blown about her face by
the fresh breeze. Her husband ran
down to meet her; Captain Trevor es-
corts her up the steps, then lifting his
hat with stately grace went forward to
shake hands with Mr. Eimore. while /
his eyes followed the graceful figure of |
the lady In a way that made Stephen
Elmore feel that he could have knock
ed him down for that look of pleasure
and admiration.
When Bertha Elmore appeared at
the dinner table she wore magnificent
dress of pale, lustrous silvery- green
silk. with rich lace trimmings; she
wore diamonds and emeralds on bos-
ON and arms, with frosted green mosses
and long grasses dropping from her
hair.
why do you wear that horrid green
dress; you know l hate green, asked
Elmore. glad OF any escape-valve for
his ili-humor
"Oh, well; you are so fidgety, Steph-
en- What does it matter TO you wheth-
er wear green or yellow? 1t is quite
bygone fashion for husbands and
wives to consult one another about
such trides. We study to please the
gay world nowadays / am wearing
this dress this evening because Sir
Charles Selby admires it so much; he
says that remind him of Undine in
it -
Stephen Elmore stared at his wife
with wide wondering eyes, and in