St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-26

You aren't bit like yourself tonight,
Mr. Trevor" lisps Mrs. Latimer; ''yOu
have hardly spoken to me-"
i say something, know not what
Il thought perhaps you were thinking of
some difficult caSer'
Tie youngest, the most playful kitten
can scratch l am q briefesS barrister!
Not that there is the slightest doubt the
briefs will pour in some day, only-the
shower has not begun yet
Having seen her little shaft pierce home,
the innocent, babyish thing goes on:
Aren't there some stories about the old
chambers you men live in?"
tell her one of the stories that made
Pickwick's blood run cold. clothed in my
most narrowing language, well suited to
my gloomy state of mind.
Her sweet-smiling artificial face changes
would change color if it could-as / tell
the story, but as l finish she says with a
little shrug: Those CHASTITY, creepy stO-
rieS are rather bad form, aren't theyr'
Evelyn and MacPhOOle are talking all the
time. Why on earth can't he speak to the
girl on the other side of him. Doesn't the
fellow know that common politeneSs for
bids him to monopolize his hostess? If
only could have kept my place at the end
of the table,
1uc SldIc VI the lights. the Tdllle- TIC
chatter, my overwhelming rage, despair
and jealousy, make m quite sick.
Il think there is going to be q thunder
Storm" says Miss ForteScue; Il can see
the lightning through the curtain. and, am
ashamed to say, am afraid of it,
''WhY?" l say moOdily. II shouldn't
care if were killed. Should yOu?''
Il would rather live than die" she re-
turns slowly.
Evidently she thinks 1 am mad. Perhaps
am mad. feel like it.
/ am consumed with impOtent rage. The
trammels of polite society bind me down.
l may not rush away. may not poison
MacPhoole's wine. or stab him; and either
of the last two would be unmixed Joy to
me. But the very thought of acts so con-
genial brings comfort TO my bloodthirsty
soul. revel in CORY dreams. Alas for
the days when men won their brides by
the shedding of bloOdi Those were the
times to live in. What is man now but
phlegmatic animal, laborious and luxurious,
according to circumstances? l am out OF
all patience with my times.
Just as L reach this point there is loud
clap of thunder, followed by q vivid flash
of lightning.
Evelyn starts violently, and MacPhoole
elasped the edge of the table.
Mad, unable any longer to contain my
Jealous rage.I sprang wildly from my chair.
How dare he?
1t all passes in an instant.
Evelyn draws away her hand. Some
one, believe it is Miss FoTteScue, touches
my arm. l sink into my seat, blind, chok-
ing with passion.
Somehow haven't the least idea now
Mrs. Latimer'S glass has overturned. and
the wine is running all over her gown.
Very likely it is my doing. have enough
sense left to offer my services, and Jenkyns
ruSheS to the rescue.
But l have no remorSe. 1 am glad l
have spoilt her gown. Why should a
woman of her age wear such a babyish
frock? With joy remember having heard
that port stains villa wash away.
Il am so-Ty YOU are so afraid of thun-
der" she says with spiteful sweetness. Her
gown is a ruin.
Il am not afraidr' say in my very
rudeSt manner.
''YOu are very cross, though" she re-
torts, with as pretty pout as she can
manage.
Here 1 register solemn VOW never to be
one of thirteen at dinner.
L am quite sure there is no spiritual affin-
ity between Mrs. Latimer and me, yet she
says at this moment:
DO you mind our being thirteen?" She
looks up into my face in charming spirit
of Christian forgiveness.
''DO you?"
''N-nO. They say, don't you know. the
first one who gets up will die within
year"
II think to myself 1 have had enough
bad luck tonight to conceal misfortune for
many a year.
81 shall not get up first" says Mrs. Lat
imer;" not that L think there is anything
in it; but, don't you know"-she shrugs
her shoulders with an affected little laugh
Miss Bellairs will-be-the first" She
says this slowly and looks tlXedly into my
face.
Good heavensI" I cry aloud, sis the"
There is a sudden silence.
see several people CHANGING at me and
whispering or shaking their heads.
The monster fixes me with his awful
eyes, holding a gigantic plum half way to
his mouth. The dean, disturbed In his din
neT. regards me with piouS horror. Evelyn'S
gentle eyes are fixed on me for one mo-
ment startled and reproachful. Why does
not the earth open and swallow me?
Like the sound of trickling water in the
desert, the voice of Chalmers rises, loud
and hearty, addressing the man opposite to
him. Everyone begins 10 talk again, and
furiously do L eXecrate my madness.
But excitement and rage have upset the
balance of my mind. lose my common
sense. The idea takes possession of me
that this night L must give my life for
Evelyn's by being the first to rise. At least
the idea gradually assumes this form. 1t
life. Will she be sorry? VIII there be
tears in her lovely eyes when she hears of
il? Will she weep for me?
But heroes must act, not dream. l fix
my gaze on her. At last l see her trying
to catch Lady BurlistOn's eye. The SUI
preme moment has come.
mol nor 1 cry wildly; ''let it be me.
1 will
1 start up and she rises at the same mo-
ment. Every eye is fixed on me in amaze
ment. r
Like flash the abSurdity of my behavio
appears to Inc. Ashamed and confused,
rush to open the door.
Mrs. Latimer passes me with sickly,
simpeTing smile. Miss FOrteScue looks
straight before her. Last of all comes
Evelyn. BreathleSsly fix my eyes ON her.
The blue ewes give one grave, reproaehful
look at my flushed face and then she ayertS
her head. Evidently she thinks L am under
the influence of wine.
Frantic. stung by such a suspicion. re-
gain my chair somehow. Savagely, bitterly,
do attack MacPhOole on his polirics, al
ways a grand vent for ones temper; dare
not touch any more wine; my brain is on
fire already.
At last the monster gives US the signal
to go into the drawing-rOOm. Ladies! What
are ladies to me? There is but one i'm all
the world for me, and another man will sit