St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-11-06

~, MdUtl. Wudt Is IL. stuu fAiSS
sat down at her sisters feet, gazing in
her face with expectant smiles. What
are you going to do?"
I'm not going to do it. Ishall stay
here and watch the baby. You are to
60 to the party"
Mabel. Impossible"
"Quite possible. In fact, it must be
done You must let Herbert see that
you are as pretty rs anybody. and
quite as much to be admired. 1t is
decided. You are to go to the party
and play = part. Let me arrange the
programme. ="
..But, Mabel, l haven't a dress pre-
pared-or anything. l gave up going
a week ago. YOU see. when baby was
threatened with the Group"
.Pshaw. You shall wear one of mine
one of the most bewitching. bewilder-
ing of dresses-bought from my last al
lowancc from Uncle Curtis. Only to
see it will throw you into ecstasies.
Worth never composed any thing more
lovely. l want to see it on you. Come,
come, call your maid; am all impa-
tience. Wen shame your bad husband
into good behavior. see if We don't. No
irresolution. will stay at home and
fancy myself mistress here, and count
your pictures, vases and pretty things
and catalogue them, 30 rs to make
mamma happy with a letter tomorrow.
Order John. or Jack. or Bill, or who
ever your coachman is. to get the car
riage-if that is impossible, send for
cab.'
In less than an hour Mabel led her
sister to the great French mirror and
laughingly introduced her to the love-
licst and best dressed woman she had
ever seen. Alice trembled a little when
she found herself actually on the way
to Mrs. Mountjoy's; but her sisters
urgent will had conquered and her
heart was hardened by Herbert's en-
phatic expression concerning the baby.
She was reassured, however, by Mrs.
Mountjoy's s hearty welcome.
I'm so glad you We come. my dear,
she said. Your husband said he
feared baby would keep you at home,
but told him that was all nonsense.
You did right to reconsider the matter. "
Herbert, like many handsome society
men. was little spoiled and selfish.
without knowing it. He loved Alice
devotedly; but he was not unwilling to
| to receive the sweet smiles and honeyed
| words of others, while, with q mans
inconsistency, he was not desirous that
his wife should play the part OF mar
| ried belle. 1t was while he was dancing
| with one of the most noted and beauti-
full women of the metropolis, who was
willing to listen to his nonsense, that
Herbert, looking up from the face
leaning against his shoulder. while the
dreamy waltz music thrilled the heart
sensitive to sadness as to joy" en-
countered the sparkling face of his wife
and saw her arrayed in the freshest
and most graceful costume in the room.
She was moving quietly along with an
| escort in uniform.
pray, don't stumble" said his part.
ner petulantly, for at that moment the
| grand repose of her manner was gone,
and the lady on his arm might have
been made of wax or any other ductilc
material for all he cared now.
..How the dickens came she heree''
he muttered to himself as he led his
partner absently to seat, deaf to al
her pretty words. blinded to her fascina
tions. 1t certainly is Alice-but thai
dress-the prettiest thing here! And
left her quite determined not to como.
I don't understand it. Dancing with
that puppy. Guinett. too! She knows
hate him"'
With these amiable thoughts he lai Z
himself out to gain the attention OF hi
wife and make her explain. 1t wa:
some time before he had a chance, 81
he was obliged to content himself with
following her graceful motions. angry
with himself and with her.
"Alicc! Can l believe my eyes! h
said at last, in the pause of the dance
II should think you might, was th'
nonchalant reply.
..Pray. how did you Gomez
"Pray, how did you come? rode
Did you walk?"
Excuse me. l am engaged fou
deep, already" and Herbert was forcet
to move one side rs pompous &C
ouaintance claimed her hand.
I'D like to knock that fellow down,
he muttered, angry in earnest.
Another pause and another tcte-a
tete. No satisfaction given. Herber
had hardly the grace to redeem all
his dancing engagements
"How about the baby, Alice? b
asked, anNiously.
She put her rosy lips to his ear. an
, in subdued voice exclaimed:
Hang the bapy!
Herbert started and changed color
To be sure, he had used the same Ian
guage: but from her it was too exas
:. pcrating. How he got through tht
evening he could hardly tell. When
; last they were together in the carriage
driving home, there might have beel
an open rupture but for the determine
. calmness of Alice, who took every
| thing as matter of course. On
. glance in the beautiful nursery unseale
! his ewes. There, by the fire, sat Mabe
in ali the abandon of negligse toile,
> her luxuriant trcsses falling in gloss
freedom over her shoulders, while tn
I little fellow on her lap clutched at on
/. long. shining curl. crowed and laughe
e as well as he could for aunty's smotl
i ering kisses. A sudden revulsion (
q feeling came to the fathers heart I
the sight of the sweet home picture.
|, AHA, know who contrived tt
v plot ~ he said. But l am glad to 81
e YOU, nevertheless.
e "Wasn't she the belle of the ball?
asked Mabel. saucily.
e There's no doubt of that. At N
rate. 1 didn't get chance to dant
IS with her."
e ..Of course Who ever heard in o
ID ciety of dancing with ones wifer' 81
l..;S saro>cf,callv al GOO that nj