Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-24


lady to HON be was spga ed. W 'ihs
received me pretty much as ! m'sn
have expected him to do, witf . m
ture Of awkwArdness, affection, ana
telfsssertiop. He had been having
flbe iin,s IN my sosepce, as the head
Of tie house and the idol Of his mother,
aid be might well feel aggrieved tat
this position should be snAtched from
bin. But there was no my stery abo I,
him. lie was frank and natu al
enough.
/ turned to Lucinds. Her very
presence in the house was q sign oil
my wife's extIavsgance at a time when
she ought to have been outstanding her
resources to the utmost, entertaining
no visitors, and arranging for the fu-
ture. But / bad always been good to
Lucinda. ! had treated her as dsugn-
ter, in spite of the imprudence Of Wi.
lie in forming an engagement so young
when he scarcely earned enough ia the
cit, Office in which ] had placed hiw)
TO pay his OVID expenses. Therefore !
smiled pateInslly on the young lady.
and advanced to greet her with the
usual kiss. To my surprise she re-
treated, put her hands before her face,
and said, half cry ing: mo, can't; !
can't indeed. | don't know how you
can expect me to-" Then she fled pre-
cipiiately from the room. looked at
Willie in Amusement. But he gave ms
no explanation.
81 think you oughtn't to mind"
was all be said (; "of course it's likely
that she will feel like that. I'll 20 tell
mother you're here"
When met nv wife | felt that | had
cruelty wroDged her in imagining that
she could have anything to do with the
mysterious unpleassntness hanging over
me. She might have been extfavagaut
and though,less in my absence, but she
was full of rapturous delight at my re.
turn. To her | was everything that |
bad ever been, and hero into the bar
gain. / could hardly get her to be-
leye that | had not actually been
buried and dug my way out Of my
grave with my own hands.
"What you have gone through ~
she sighed sympathetically. How
can we ever make up to you for what
you have suflered?"
did not like to trouble her in the
first Joy Of our meeting by any refer.
ence to the unkindness Of my London
acquaintance, nor to yex he- by any
hints as to her own superluous expen-
dture. She assured me that the chill
dIen were all well, and that she was
not in want Of money.
"Imay say that We are better off
than we ever were," she remarked,
"snd it is all your cleverness. | al
felt sure that some day or other you
would do it,"
did not understand her, for ] thought
she could not have always felt sure
that | should be left dead in Africa /;
but ss there seemed no cause for anx-
itty, and no need to take immediate
action, / was willing to defer all ex-
plantations until the next day.
81 ought to have gone out to dinner
this evening"" my wife remarked, = to
he Simpsons but Of course | shall
send an excuse now" She was saved
the trouble, however, for few min
utes afterwaTd note was put into her
hand, which she read with satisfaction,
GLOW very copsiderate Of them . y
she said they have sent to say they
won't expect me-"
"Rather odd Of them to take the in
itiatiye," ! observed, and put out ny
hand for the note. Dear Mrs. Rod
new" so it ran, 1--WE have heard Of the
fortunate return Of your husband, and
feel sure that you will not like to leave
him in order to keep your engagement
with US. We have therefore decided 10
put off our little dinner for the present.
With congratulations, yours sincerely,
Amelia Simpson"
81 wonder they didn't ask me to
20 too" remarked, with doubtful
laugh; "peihaps they were afraid |
might do it without asking, SO they
sent this preventive"
"Nonsense, Tom. The Simpsons
have been very kind not like some
people"
Everybody has not been kind
them"
"Some people are so jealous. And
you have been so much talked about"
said my wife with placidity. | did not
press the subject further, though il
struck me as curious that any fellow
friends should be jealous Of the fame
achieved by that fellows death among
strangers in savage country.
was glad to be once more in my
own comfortable home-more comfort
able than ever, with the chairs re-coy-
cred and new hearth-rug-w ithin
sight Of my smiling wife and delishted
children, LUCINDA keeping in the back
ground with Willie,) and not inclined
to hurry into an unpleasant topic which
bad no urgency.
The next morning | slept late,
When got down stairs my son had
already gone off to town, and my
wife was busy with dressmaker.
With the Grape taken off and lit
tie colored trimming, you could wear II
perfectly we'll" the woman was deciaT'
ing as looked into the door Of my wife,
special room. There was an unmistlka
bic Widows bonnet on chair, and a
very handsome black silk dress spread
to its full length before the thoughtful
eyes Of my wife and her professional
adviser. | decided not to interrupt
them, and went into the garden to look
round.
Here my impression of neatness and
general improvement was confirmed
Everywhere there was q change-and q
change for the better. My wife's cloth
ing and that of my children had alone
the shabby worn-too-long look, but this
was now accounted for by the fact thai
they had hurriedly put off their new
black clothes to receive me. Other
things indicated the presence Of money
they also indicated the absence OF me.
When l opened my wardrobe it was full
of my daughters dresses when | went
to my writing-table l found the top
drawer crammed with letters in fine