Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-26


 b fasting in the cosey little oak-pan.
 NJ elled room of their rather pretentious
 metropolitan residence. Mr.Bockaby / glanced from time to time at his newspaper, and held his buttered toast in meek abeyance, while he scanned some prom. isingly headed article; the lady of his choice eyed him askance and seemed waiting for an opportunity to talk
 MT. Bockaby waded carefully through extensive effusion entitled "The Financial World,' crunched his toast savagely as he came to the end of it, rose from the table, threw the newspaper as far away as his mus cularity permitted, and faced Mrs. J. Archi- bald Bockaby, who, by the way, was not in the least disturbed. She was one of those pretty bland little women, whose faces look as though they could never express anything but chiselled good humor and polite insin- certy.
 "Malvina,' B said MT. Bockaby, with paroxys- nal energy, i've have got to retrench. We have, assure you. Things are looking very bad with me- By at least three of my specu- lations shall be 8 heavy loser-and-well, Malvna, we must retrench.''
 Still Mrs. Bockabys equanimity was undis- turbcd. She had heard the same story regu- larly each week for the past year. It was q sort of serial, to be continued in MT. Bockaby's next exhibition of bad temper. But she fiat tered herself that she was a good little wife, and always seemed to give in to her lord, even if in reality she invariably did exactly as she chose. She followed the course pre- scribed by those clever women who please themselves, by appearing to please other peo- pie.
 Il will help you Archibald,' she said sweetly. We will retrench, dear" "But," with a charming little smile, ' don't want to begin until after next Wednesday, because because, dear, Mrs. DeSnigsbys bal poudre takes place that night, and-and-I must have new dress. Now-now-hear me, Archibald," (The cashier of the matrimonial partnership showed symptoms ofimpatience.)
 "It will not he a very expensive one-a mat ter of, say, S150-but know you do not want your wife to compare unfavorably with the other guests. I ask this for your sake, dear, a great deal more than for my own." ..
 Mrs. Bockaby became almost seraphc as she turned two blue ever-astonished eyes upon her husband. Hitherto that look had always melted him, but perhaps he was growing SC accustomed to it that it was losing it's effect. At any rate, he was quite unconquered just now by either Mrs. Bockaby's eyes or tongue.
 "You are disgracefully extravagant, Mal- vina,' he said, with unusual asperity, ''and you ought to begin the work of reform to-day, and not wait until after next Wednesday, You had $500 evening dress in London last year. You have never worn 1t in New York. No one could recognize it. I've got no money to waste on bals poudres, or any other non- sense of that kind.
 Mrs. Bockaby was disagreeably surprised but not in the least angry. She was too gentle andwell bred ever to indulge in anger, which usually finds vent in rudely unpleasant words. s ts.,. ..,.s .s-...
 "This bal poudre," she says, s'is excep- tional. Besides powdering our hair, we all wear dear little black satin lace trimmed dominos until midnight, and am so anxious to look well when remove mine. Archibald, !, dear, do not be so mean. It is unlike you. My London dress is too soiled to wear, too rumpled'
 "Nonsense," interrupted J. Archibald Rock aby testify. "Black satin and gold do not soil. The dress is very handsome one-the finest ever saw. do not often notice your costumes,' scornfully, "but that one always remember because it was so uncommon and pretty" "o~r-- -.t
 "I cannot wear it." murmured Mrs. Bock- aby softly. Those who knew the lady would l have recognized that statement as irrevoca- ble. MT. Bockaby did not, however. He la bored under the deiusion that he was master of his house-a most egregrious error.
 "Archibald" pursued the fair Malyina, | presently, "you talk of my black and gold | dress. assure you Letitia Ruggsmith will have something far more elegant" "Is Mrs. Ruggsmith going?" asked Mr. Bockaby gently. He had Oncc-long ago 1 wasted 5. great deal of boyish affection upon the unloving Letitia, and the remembrance he was glad to say, was pleasant, simply be- l cause it amused him. Letitia had married a supposedly wealthy man, and was now an all l most penniless widow, and an adeptin the ar1 of how to keep up appearances on nothing 8 year. Mrs. Bockaby hated Letitia in her owr negative way. She disliked to hear the purr ing tone which her husband always used ir alluding to the lady.
 "Yes, she is going said Malvna, malicious l ly, .'and I've no doubt she will appear il l something particularly startling"
 "It will, indeed" assented MT. Bockaby ! rather too rapidly.
 l And you refuse ne the means of looking I nice, Archibald. Well, dear, you know best I shall go to Mrs. De Snigby's bal poudre, 1 will tell you that much will also let yo, know that do not intend to be disgraced. presume you will not be there?" rather anx l iously. - @
 Probably not. have a club meeting whicl l I must attend"
 'sI would not like you to neglect your dutie
 for my sake" chirruped Mrs. Bockaby, as sh left the room.
 She went directly to her bedroom, and Sit
 ting down on the easiest chair she could find devoted herself to meditation. For ten min
 utes she remained in deep thought. She wa
 evidently at work upon some very obstrus problem Presently she rang the bell am
 ordered the maid to bring her a daily pape1 She ran diligently through it's advertisin
 columns until she apparently found what sh
 wanted. She read it carefully at least half
 dozen times. Then, unlocking the heavy oal
 wardrobe which stood at one end of the room
 she took from it a black and gold dress, an
 laid it rather impatiently upon the bed. Mir. Bockaby had certainly been correc Il when he had characterized 1t as unoommo wno A GnIIinc