The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-25

nroun c,,ulu vpnl- ar enc principles II hos
pitality by dining alone. Now, h. fancied,
they had taken on more genial, compan
onabIe expression. To he sure the sun
poured in through the oper blinds IN unusual
brightness. but il was the light IN Berthas
blue eyes that changed everything for him.
IL was the beginning Of his own home. This
woman. who seemed too lovely 90 b. other
than caller for an hour, had come 60 stay,
Ia sit with him rs she did now. whenever he
breakfasted or dined or SIppod- always
The world might heap wrongs and outrage
on him. his factories might burn and his
wealth diSOlve-she whose presence in itself
was a perfect existence to him, had come to
him To stay forever.
Rcrtha's face was bent over the table
studying the odd device on her napkin ring
The sunlight hickored in her golden hair rs
tendorly as il il we're giving her kisses Of
welcome So she would sit before him al
WAYS But the sudden cracking OF "a mans
boot made him look up The waiter had
come in almost noiseiesSly and stool at the
sidcboard carving a bird for their second
course Philip was glad be- had not said one
Of the hundred careSsing words tina; had
couo a. his lips But how slow he was AZ his
carving: was the canvas back 50 tough. then,
Ughl There was glass on the sideboard.
ami Philip happened 10 glance into H. The
NAV held the knife and fork in his hands yet
he was not carving at all. but was still star
ing a, Bcrtha's bent beautiful face IA the
mirror. with his evil swinelike eyes. lie
seemed 10 b. studying her features, as II 10
recall some association. Oh. he had sue
ceeicd A hideous grin distorted his mouth
and whole face Then Philip rose and pushed
hackhls chair His servant recognized his
masters wife. Apparently she had played
some very inharmonious part in some pre-
vioas scene he had witnessed And be- was
but one OF the world she had dsgraccd her
self before. What could his evil eyes have
seem Which miserable pace in this lovely
womaus history that her husband was try
ing % bio; out Of memoryl II he could for
give Der, might not the rest' Must she he
subject n insult ia her own homei Was he
not powerful enough 10 protect her agaius;
the shame Of such looks ~ this fellow gave
her.
lie s;eppod 70 the s1cboard and touched
his servant on the shoulder and heckoned
him 10 the door The malicious grin had
hardly time to vanish from the frightened
face
"Gor the words came Kissing from his
masters Inns. "and If | ever see your face
again. or II you ever breathe a word against
the woman / have made my wife The
man Sunk mp stairs like a whipped dog.
"Why, didn't notice YOU had been out
said Bertha 10 mild surprise as Philip re-cn-
tered the dining room. Were you ILL How
pale yon arc.'
But she did not rise in her soiicitude and
come to him Instead he. came TO her, ana
beading very gently over her tried To Kiss
away the lines OF care con beer white forehead
which lc bad nevo- caUscd. iic did Bis bf-t
90 smile cayiy, and Succeeded Wc.i enough 90
deceive her,
II viii be your servant to-lay Doe said,
"with u0 prliala eyes 10 locS ou.
Then De- shook ol Dis unllrru@, hg sheer
force az ,yiu. and L. -an % tails lovers uon-
sense o. tiscOiI mttr-so hi, home iu more
perfect abandon than ever, even in thc eX-
uhcrauc, oi bis 51uu lie must he happy
while be- could. he dared not stop talking. lest
be- should think too much But She only
looked at HIM Ia far on surprise with ROW
and then "a curious, not quite pleased smile,
al his absardities. At last, all TOO SoOu, sne
arose
II pust 20 and dress and try and look q
little prcttier, for today at least Sne
touched his shoulder kindly as she passed oU
into the hall, leaving him sitting still al
table
Il was only then that he discovered Il letter
that had been concealed by plate. What
did he care for business todayf Still Il might
serve 70 pass little OF the time till his wife
should return How tho thought Of her
warmed his heart In a few moments the
door behind him would open, and he would
turn to scc her graceful form on the thresh-
Old She would be- dressed in some new color,
or perhaps IN the black that gave her the air
Of a dethroucd queen. BY this time she must
have thou h: OF some kind thing TO say to
him, but first 10 would be-;