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

friction, though agnes words ut.e'eo
in q passion, did not make me believe
in any very terrible tragedy. as ] had
discovered, even in British Columbia,
that the Language Of lady who is All
Moved is sometimes Incorporate in IN
verse ratio with the object Of her an
noyance.
| had warm regard for Agnes, and
believed tina, something was troubling
her. and from motives beyond vulgar
curiosity, hope. was anxious to dis
cover what il was. One day, just be-
fore dinner-oh, that villainous half
hour before dinner--whst wretched
quarrels. what MISUNDERSTANDING, what
covert stabs has not that evil, misbe-
gotten time engendered, discussions
that if saved for dinner itself would
have been peaceful and instructive,
begun before are born in bitterness
and matured in CONFUSION. Let no
one dream that he is an exception and
good.na,ured before dinner. lie is
not. Let no unwise housewife and
otherwise benigpant mother OF family
attempt to institute the odious custom
of rallying her household in the sitting
room iust before dinner. Madam, be-
ware It's a fostering Of intestine
warfare. Those will growi then who
never rrowled before. and those who
always snap will snap the more.
This unholy practice hourished in
Aenos's home, and one day,
lust before dinner, as ! have re-
marked. while Tom sat idly shaking an
snticipative toe, and the children,
usually charming toward each other,
were quarrelling in undertones, Agnes
came in fresh and happy from the outer
air. with bright eyes and breezy man
ner. She planted herself before Tom,
drew her shoulders coquettishly for
ward. and revolved slowly on her heels,
like q wigmaker's image, saying, tri-
umphsntly. How do you like my
wrap It's the very latest"
~ like them. Antoinette has one;
| saw bers yesterday" said Tom,
calmly.
The change that came into Agnes's
manner was the subtlcst ! ever saw,
but the veriest clod-hOpper would have
felt it. Her face did not alter at all,
her smile died naturally. She carefully
took off the wrap, folded it with the
playful tenderness that women put on
before an audience in dealing with
pretty clothes, and led us into the d.
Ding-room. God, who gave them the
power, knows how it is that women
can be gracious, civil. laxative, and yet
frozen, cruel, and forbidding; at once the
life and the death Of the circle over which
they preside in that mood. There was
just that tinge playing over the ice OF
Agnes's armor that made me guess in
that wild British Columbia's manner
that the refrigerating force in Toms
speech had been the name Of Antoi-
nt,te, whoever she might have the
happiness TO be. A woman who
has been married fourteen years
understands a blunt lack Of SYM
pathetic enthusiasm on the part
Of her yoke-fellow under certain
circumstances. She wisely reasons
~ have kept him waiting for his din
ner have come in elated with shop
ping when he is hungry, and made
demand on his good nature when he
hadn't any patience He shall yet be
taught to speak of this wrap as the
one he admires so much" And she
will achieve her end; but no woman
hears with equanimity that the effect
Of her purchase has already found ia
yor in her lords eyes upon the accursed
shoulders Of another woman. "Ah,
Antoinette," said ], mentally, "you're
the girl I've been looking for"
1t always seems as if after ones at
tention has been arrested upon a GER
tain name or fact that that object is
continually cropping up in places where
it was formerly unknown. had been
three weeks in the Hatton household,
and never heard Of Antoinette; now
she was always to the fore. picked
up a gorgeous illustrated book-it was
a present from Antoinette Grace was
told not to demolish her fathers driving
gloves they were given him by An
9oinette; certain room was An
toinette's when she came; Tony and
Nettie were both named for Antoinette !;
framed photograph in Toms desk
was, in fact, the counterfeit PRESENT.
ment Of Antoinette. | asked Agnes
finally:
"Who is Antoinette ?"
Antoinette Standish, distant cou-
sin Of Mr.. Hatton's," Agnes replied,
with startled indifference, and yet a
certain difficulty in the pronunciation
Of the words, as if the name were UNI
pleasantly familiar to her thoughts.
felt that knew all wished to know
about Antoinette. The fate of the i'm
mortal wrap decided matters. Agnes
called Tony, her eldest born, young
1" En- attendant mieux," and endeavored
TO try the garment on her. "lf you
mean to cut that over for me don't
want it. I'D not be seen in anything
like AnsOinette's, said the thirteen
year-old, sturdily.
Hush, child" said Agnes, with that
mvsteriously-approving accent in re-
proof, Of which mothers have the Sc
cret. Eleven-y ear-old Ncttie would also
have none Of it, and the rich cloak was
finally cut up into cloak, cap, and mufl
for tiny Grace.
Tony's precocious sympathy with her
mother drew my attention to the young
woman. She was q handsome, glowing
child, promising to be beautiful
woman, but the awkwardness of her age
at that moment. The children were al
what one might call intense, yet singular
ly undemonstrative, neither Agnes mol
Tom believing much in caresses. Wher
they were hurt in body or mind they haC
a most painful way Of swallowing theil
} tears or their indignation with a stoica
| struggle that sometimes left them whit,
: in the face. In one way, therefore,
! was immensely relieved one day whei
, | stumbled over Tony lying on thu
/ library floor, sobbing bitterly. Sh,
, tried her best TO recover herself, anC
finding that impossible tried to shrinl
out Of sight, but my sympathy is 81
} evident, and my caresses SO judiciousl.