The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-07-22

Hiooc tuc iOftuuc Vi any metOOram9. On
the stage Mrs. Fitztohnson's visitor
would have been in his element. In Curzon
street he apparently was not-for, with
an oath, or Al least some foreign excla.
nation that sounded to Geoffrey rather
like "pickled onions," he gave a swift
glance at the sstonished Captain, ran
down the steps and disappeared into the
gathering gloom.
"Who in the dickens is that, Squares ?"
"The gentleman did not give his name,
sir. He said as how Mrs. FitzJ ohnson
would know who he was, and need not
announce him." Squares spoke in tone
of respectful indignation at this outrage
on the cOnvendnces. Geoffrey kept his
presence of mind.
"Oh, OF course l had forgotten
What time did the gentleman come ?"
This as an aher-thought while ascending
the stairs. -,
"At half-past 4, SIR"
Halfpast 4! And it was now half
past 7.
"Did any one else call this after
noon p
eyes, sir; but after the gentleman
came Mrs. FitzJ Johnson told me 70 say ::
n OF at home,' to any other visitors"
Geoffrey did not wait to hear any more,
but dashed into the drawing-room. He
half expected to find his wife the victim
of an assassin's knife. On the contrary
she was at that eternal piano, playing a
dreamy sonata of Rubinstein's. On his
entering the room she half rose, but on
seeing who it was she resumed her seat,
exclaiming, "Oh, it's only your
"Whom did you think it was? That
Guy Fawkes back again ? Who, may l
ask, is he; and what was he here from
half-past till now for, to the exclusion of
everybody else ?"
" Geoffrey was gradually working him
self into passion. Florrie made no at
tempt to calm him, but smiled family and
struck few aggravating chords on the
piano.
If you really care to know, that Guy
Fawkes,' as you are pleased to call him,
is Count Sparlatti, an old Dresden friend
of Joey's. He is an Italian, and when
Joey came back from Dresden the Count
came with him to learn English. He was
always at Mumblethorpe. All, me- an
other plaintive chord what happy days
those were. And what fun we had The
Count was my sweetheart then"
Why, you were only Q years old ~
"That's all " another still more plain
tive chordl.
"Don't be a fool, Florrie." The pas
sion had died out and the lecturing mood
taken it's place. "You are 10 now, and
quite old enough to know that it is not
proper to have men staying three hours
tete-a-tete with you and to tell the ser
wants you are at home to no one else
DO you understand ?"
"No l DON'T" the blue eyes opened
their widest. IL thought it was the
chic thing to do. OF course at Mum
blethorpe they would be awfully shocked,
but then they are old fashioned. They even
have family prayers Bat since l have
been married have gained experience. l
have seen several charming women
Lady Angelica, for instance. Could you
wish me to take better model? Hence
if any one notices my friendship with
Count Sparlatti you can say that | knew
him when he was quite a boy--such a
nice boy" l may soon become so
charming that can make love in pub
Iic-smile in the mice boys face, put
my hand on his arm for him to clasp in
his. Only tins sort of thing requires prac-
tice, so you must not think it strange if
have a few private rehearsals when | am
not at home to the world at large"
How dare you speak like this p
"Oh, you don't know how much dare
when l am put to it," But the defiant
little laugh ended in sob, and the daunt-
less novice ran out of the room.
Geoffrey gnawed his mustache, fumed
about the room, resisted, as unmanly, an
impulse to run after his wife, kiss away
her tears, and implore her to only be
on the old Mumblethorpe lines,
and finally decided to confde his troubles
that very evening to Lady Angelica.
From that fair oracle he received but
very cold comfort: "My dear Geoff, it
serves you we'll right. You thought be-
cause she had given you all her heart you
were warranted in neglecting her. So
like man. Mr. Lansdell was just the
same Now she is consoling herself.
| had no idea she had so much sense.
admire her. Do you think she would
dine with me on the 18th? BY the by,
if the necessity should arise let me recon-
mend you to my solicitors. They man
aged Mr.. Lansdell's and my affair beauti
fully. My husbands q messages sound almost
when they come to me through
the senior partner" Heavens! Had it
really come to this? Not married year,
and solicitors on the tdpis already Lady
Angelica gave stealthy glance under
her eyelashes at her downcast compan-
ion. She had heart, though no one sus-
pected it, "Look here. Geoff. Be
man. Go home and tell your wife that
you mean to turn over a new leaf, and
not take all her devotion for granted, but
try and earn it. Clear up the mystery
of our mods and becks' and wrcathed
smiles. Explain to her that the tender
little episode at the Foreign Office was
only gratitude on your part for my hav-
ing promised to speak to the Duke about
that staff appointment with which you
wanted to surprise her, and fun on mine
to make her Jealous and see what stuff
she was made of. Tell her have re-
pented in sackcloth and ashes and have
sent you back to her with flea in your
ear, and the staff appointment in your
pocket. Tell her that she is better off
than l. If her husband has neglected
her, he still loves her, while L"
"God bless you, Angelica"
"Don't be silly. Now be off"
Geoffrey walked home under the stars,
q happy man. He had been brute and
a tool, he told himself severely. It was