Connecticut western news., 1890-04-09
sweetness attracted the men about her,

It was not long, however, before they discovered that she could talk of nothing but her Arthur's perfection, and the wisdom of the ancient clergy man, her father. She was shy of ex- pressing her opinion on other topics, and she had never learned to ftirt. Her idea of matronly dignity gave her manner some stiffness, and at the lit- tie dances they discovered that she not only could not dance, but that she felt that it would be wrong to do so.
 ''It would shock papa if he should hear of it." she would answer when some more than usually gallant youth besought her to try, and declared that he would teach her the waltz in 8 few moments, ahd by degrees she be- came handsome wall flower, patron ized by elderly matrons and occa- sional grandfathers, while Arthur de- voted himself to the ladies generally, and only appeared at her elbow at the end of the evening.
 Then he would wrap her in her pret- ty cloaks, smile on her benignly, tell her how lovely she looked, and con- vey her home with all due devotion. It pleased him that his white rosebud should set herself apart for him, should choose ito blush unseen' when he did not look upon her. At first Estelle was content, less, however, as time passed on, and her blissful little air castles melted one by one, and at the ball the first protest came.
 Arthur was good dancer. He had refrained from waltzing simply be- cause he hated to dance on the carpet in a crowded drawing room. But here in this elegant ball room, where all the youth and beauty of the city were assembled, his old delight in dancing returned. He had secured a partner for every dance of the even ing. He was proud to point out that exquisitely lovely woman in the graceful and modest costume as his wife; he thought how unpleasant it would be to be the husband ot the married fiirt, Mrs. A., and that the fellow who married Miss Merle would be very wretched. But, as you see, he devoted his evenings to them and others like them, looked into their eyes, clasped their waists little closer than need be, was loverlike and senti- mental with one, whispered merry words that might mean more than lay on the surface to another, and relegatr ed his wife to the company of that su- perior but somnolent old lady, Mrs. Jackson.
 Shall I have a scene2" he asked himself as he went in search of Es- telle, after his last dance with a de- butante, who could not be prevailed upon by her chaperon to go home ''un- til it was all over," but, to his sur prise, his wife was merely a little chil- ly. He did not like the chiliness, but was too wise to reproach her with it. At breakfast she was 8 little dis trait, but by no means cross. Arthur was delighted. After all, he was to be let off very easily, and when in bid ding him adieu his wife handed him letter which she desired him to post ne was quite gallant in promising to execute the little duty. He glanced at the envelope as he walked along. The name upon it was quite new to him "Mr. Louis Romaine, - Hotel" He had never heard his wife men tion any Romaines, but the thought was only a passing one.
 g For day or two business kept him out great deal, but he found Estelle in good spirits on his return.
 One day he opened the door to hear the hum of voices, the chink of spoons, and to find his wife presiding over quite an elegant little afternoon tea. Three or four very fashionable ma irons and one heavy old gentleman oc- cupied the foreground, but bchind Es- telle's chair stood a veritable modern Adonis-one of those men who some how seem better dressed than other menlin the same clothes.
 An impromptu affair, certainly, Ar thur thought, for Estelle had always impressed upon hina the fact that what made the assembly shine was Robin Adair;" in other words, that she did not care to have company If he were not present. Still, his wife's elaborate dress, the hot house flowers that adorned the room, spoke of prep. aration. 1f 4 He said something about Ian unex- pected pleasure" ;" shook hands with those he knew, and waited. G The exquisite who sat so close to Els telle had arisen, and looked politely from one to the other.
 
 heed this, then she said, as if remem' bering very unimportant duty: "Oh, my, husband, Mr. Romaine; forgot you had not laet. What quan' tity of cold air you do bring into the room, Arthur"
 Sorry" said Arthur, barely nod ding in return to Romaine's elegant bow, and shortly took himself out ol the room.
 The flat did not give him much space to pace about in, it is true, but he took advantage of what little there was and walking into the passage that led to the kitchen he heard the waitress say to the cook:
 "Oh, ain't that Mr. Romaine just lovely! I never see nobody so stylish before"
 On this Arthur wandered back te his bedroom and looked into the mir TOT. The reflection he saw there seemed to him to be that of a rather common place young man. Certainly he had not the six feet of height, the broac shoulders and the splendid chin o1 that man behind his wfe's chair. Ro maine! Who on earth was he Where had he heard that name be foreY An! he remembered. It wa. upon the envelope directed to the = hotel, which he had posted. Who was he2 What was he7 Why hal his wife never spoken Of him be fore2 What hypocrites women were He could have sworn that he knew the name of every mortal hi wife had ever met. She had hat a boy lover, but his name wa Johnny Craft, and he was rolly pol,
 and yellow haired A rolly poly, vel
 low haired boy could never have be
 come this startlingly large and show,
 exquisite. As he thought of thispoint Arthur felt curious tingling of th'
 blood that he had never before expo