Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-05-03

The dinner bell tinkled invitingly, and the
master and mistress Of the house came down
together. At the door Of the dining room
stood the rian servant, salyer in hand, and
the silk skirts of the lady OF the house swept
against him as she passed in. Philip frowned
6ercely at him, for the usually most well be-
haved and respectful waiter seemed to forget
all his duties in staring with brazen impu-
dence in the beautiful face Of his masters
wife. Philip grew pale with anger, but
Bertha only gave glance Of lofty contempt
at the fellows smooth facr and white apron.
"Your servants are ntt well behaved, my
lear Philip"
In a moment more they were alone, and
Philip forgot his wrath in the new picture Of
his wife across his table. His old lonely days
we're ended. No more solitary feastings.
Bertha was always to brighten his house and
his table for him. The satyr of bronze on
the mantel that had scowled on his des-
olation, seemed actually smiling now.
The portraits around the green tinted
walls had seemed to his imagina-
ton, as he had sat down so many times to his
richly furnished table, like guests at a
funeral, or again, as il morosely curious how
4 man could violate all the principles Of hos
pitality by dining alone. Now, he fancied,
they had taken on more genial, oompan.
ionable expression. To be sure the sun
poured in through the open blinds in unusual
brightness, but it was tho light in Bertha's
blue eyes that changed everything for him.
It was the beginning Of his own home This
woman, who seemed too lovely to be other
han caller for an hour had come to stay,
10 sit with him as she did now, whenever he
breakfasted or dined or supped-always.
The world might heap wrongs and outrage
on him, his factories might burn and his
wealth dissolve-she whose presence in itself
was perfect existence to him, had come to
him to stay forever.
Bertha's face was bent over the table
studying the odd device ON her napkin ring.
The sunlight f1ickered in her golden hair as
tenderly as if it were giving her kisses of
welcoml. So she would sit before him al
ways. But the sudden credking of mans
boot made him look up. The waiter had
come in almost noiselessly and stood at the
;ideboard carving a bird for their second
coursc. Philip was glad he had not said one
If the hundred caressing words that had
,oms to his lips. But how slow he was at his
| arriving; was the canvas back so tough, then?
| Ugh! There was glass OF, the sideboard,
md Philip happened to glance into it. The
nltn held the knife and fork in bis hands, yet
hn was not carving at ALL but was still star
E1s at Bertha's bent beautiful face in the
Gdrror, with his evil, swinclike eyes. He
saemed to be studying her features, as if to
ecall some association. Oh, he had sue
seeded. A hideous grin distorted his mouth
and whole face Then Philip rose and pushed
back his chair. His servant recognized his
masters wife Apparently she had played
some very inharmonious part in some pre-
yous scene he had witnessed. And he was
but one of the world she had disgraced her.
self before What could his evil eyes have
seen? Which miserable page in this lovely
yoman's history that her husband was try
ing to blot out of memory! If he could for
give her, might not the rest? Must she be
subject to insult in her own home? Was he
not powerful enough to protect her against
5he shame of such looks as this fellow gave
her9
He stepped to the sideboard and touched
mis- servant on the shoulder and bec1oned
1im to the door. The malicious grin had
hardly time to vanish from the frightened
face.
"Go!" the words came kissing from his
masters lips, land ie l ever see your face
again, or if you ever breathe word against
rhe woman I have made my wife, The
man skunk up stairs like whipped dog.
"Why, didn't notice you had been out, y
said Bertha in mild surprise as Philip re-en-
tered the dining room. "Were you ill? How
pale you are"
But she did not rise in her solicitude and
come to him Instead he came to her, and
bending very gently over her tried to kiss
away the lines of care on her white forehead
which he had never caused. He did his best
to smile gayly, and succeeded well enough to
deceive her.
II will be your servant to-day" he said,
with no profane eyes to look on"
Then he shook off his unhappiness by sheer
force of will, and began to talk lovers non
sense to the COLI mistress of his home in more
perfect abandon than ever, even in the ex'
uberance of his youth. He must be happy
while he could, he dared not stop talking, lesI
he should think too much. But she ouly
looked at him in far off surprise with now
and then curious, not quite pleased smile
at his absurdities. At last, all too s0on, she
arose.
81 iaust go and dress and try and look {
little prettier, for today at least" She
touched his shoulder kindly as she passed ou
into the hall, leaving him sitting still a
table.
It was only then that he discovered lette
that had been concealed by plate. Wha
did lie care for business today? Still it nigh
serve to pass little of the time till his wifi
should return. How the thought of he
warmed his heart. In few moments tn
door behind him would open, and he woul
turn to see her graceful form on the thresh
old. She would be dressed in some new color
or perhaps in the black that gave her the al
of dethroned queen. By this time she mus
have thought of some kind thing to say t
him, but first it would be: