The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-28

his hand was so unsteady he could hardly hold
the pen. and he looked so III that AT last the head
of The finn eSpled MS cOnultiOn ana kindly III.
sisted on his going home.
Feeling as If either the rattle of an omnibus or
The jar of The train would be intoerabe, lie de-
termined TO walk; and as lie drew nearer the
outskirts Of The metropolis the dull throbbing in
his temples began to subsde; the fresher air
cooled his burning head, ana, though still Ian
guild lie felt considerably better long before he
reached the pretty suburban road In which his
house was situated.
her voice behind the carefully closed blinds of
the break ast.room. He heard her laugh family
as she made some remark, 10 which the voice Of
Admitting himself with his latch-key he found
In tile entrance nail Jennie, the maid. She was
STOPPING al the door Of the preakfast-room, APP
parently listening a. the key-hOe.
His fierce " What are you doing lhere?" made
the girl start and scream.
He repeated his question; but she shrank
back, her distended eyes fixed on hun In alarm
100 overpowerng 10 allow oil words.
He strobe toward the door. but ere be could
reach ii. May, who had heard Jennie's Shrek,
appeared AT II, aud, seeing her husband, flew
toward him.
But not 10 throw herself into his arms, greet
ing him JOyfully. Her first feeling had been as
constituent at his early return; her next was
terror for the anger depicted on his face was
unmstakable.
''Oh ! forgive me, Cyril; l have been very
foolish, l know; but forgive me %
"Wbat have you been doing with 'yourself?"
asked tile your husband, when. dlIner over, they
sat together watching the moon rise over the op-
pOSile houses
F." Hundreds of things" was the laughing re :.
ply. " Teaching my little maid-she Is dread
fully stupid, but so goodtempered and willing
us impossible to scold her-arranging the pict-
ules, busting the rooms, making that pudding
you praised, hemming your new nandKerchieis
and learning The song you bought me- IL is so
pretty snail l sing it to you?'
This done, ana May costly nesting again be.
side her husband, lie resumed his Questions.
" Haven't you found 1t dull?"
-" / DO miss you -dreadfully," she confessed,
and often find myself watching the clock; but
was too busy TO he dull. Besides had visitors"
q Indeed"
Eyes; lie dearest old woman In the world she
told me she had been your nurse, and made her
stay 10 lunch, aud we talked about You ali The
! lime. On! and later IN tile day had a call from
Mr., Mrs. and the Misses TodhuuJer. They
came in such Il smart Carriage that they created
quite sensation III this quiet road"
"And frightened my poor little wfe?"
mo. felt nervous at first and the two girls
staie at one most rudey, bnt when Mrs / cd.
| hunter said she envled me for having only one
| servant TO look after. and such quiet happy
| home, took courage 10 agree with her | am
very fortunate young woman"
For this she was rewarded with kiss, and
there was silence I'LL she raised her head from
CyriPs shoulder 10 say;
II almost forgot 10 tell you, they left US card
for an evening party; the dansante, Miss julia
TOdhunter called H."
You would ike 10 go to it?"
May said Yes" and Mo- in the same breath.
81 could wear my wedding dress, couldn't {?
| but"
| gu SDdll 20; love, sllu tyTll, UeclUeQly, III
would enable him to triumuh over Mrs. Mccarthy
II the Todhuulers took up his bride, for they
lived in considerable style, and even The redOubt-
able Aunt Pen found 1t good policy To be civil 10
them. Give me Tie card and will write an ac-
ceplanee Did you have any more calers?"
NO." said May but II was with such nesita-
tion that he regarded her lnuuiringy. But she
did not see it; with her head bent forward she
was playing with the lace of her apron, as if size
dd not cafe 10 meet his eyes.
Somehow Aunt PeuelOpe's warning flashed into
his mind. WeIe The LeitsomS intrudlug already,
III spite OF his having given Them to understand
pretty plainly that young men whe fIeQuenIed
music halls aud billiard saloons would never be
welcome at his house?
"DaIling," and lie kissed Nays forehead OF
am sorry TO be Obliged TO remind you that there
must be no intimacy with The Lelts0ms. They
| repaid themselves out OF your small property Tor
giving you Tie shelter OF their roof so there is
no question Of gratitude due 10 them."
May WINGED lille.
IL had not forgotten; but | thought we agreed
that the subject was painful one and should
not be discussed again? IL hurts me TO have to
seem unktnd to their motheri she was always
good to me-"
This was so true that Cyril had no answer to
make. lie would nave Wllndldwu The embargo
as lar as Mrs. LtttsOm was concerned il IL had
not been for Aunt PENS caustic speeches.
No; lie could not have his May eassed with
such people. He had rescued her from their
clutches, and she should have no more to do
with them.
lie was dOubly caressing 10 his bride that
evening, because lie knew lie had panied her,
and ON the morrow lie committed Tie extray-
agauce OF purchasing her dozen of gloves 10
u pretty, fancy box, Just III Tor lady's toilet
table.
Tbiiher he went on tptoe TO place 1t while she
was experimenting the dlShIng Of "A blanc-mlnge
IN the kttcnen. ii would be one OF those de-
llghtiul surpr-es young wives appreciate; and
alter placing ii where II would attract her atten-
ton by-aud- by, lie was leaving The room when
his eye fell upon pair OF walhing-boOts by the
side OF the wardrobe.
They were Mays, and they had been worn that
day, for there was mud-iresh mud-On The
shapely heels.
How odd that she had not mentioned having
been out She always ayerred that she would
rather lose a walk than have 10 take IL aione
aud would Insist on waiting for MIN.
But she was calling him 10 dinner; and In
carving fowl ana giving her the details Of a
great ire that had occurred in the city lie was
fully occupied for the next half hour.
Then II was MAYS turn TO To talk of the gar
den, on which, with The occasional help OF Il man,
she was enecting improvements; but stu she
said nothing about having been out.
Did you do some shopping THIS morning?"
b6 asked, careessly.
''Oh no. l sent Jennie for the binding of that
cbaiI-eover, and worked hard 10 finish 1t. Does
IL not look very nice?"
a. thought you had been Out"
Putting her aside, he would have entered the
room TO comfort her companion; but she chung
10 HIM, entreating that he would moi degrade her
before another person.
Ill is the nrsl time he has been here; II is, In
deed"
land it shall be the last" was the stern
reply, rs, shaking off her gasp, lie strobe on,
May following meekly.
Why. this was NOT a Leitsom! He found him.
sell in tue presence OF stranger, VINO, with
bow aud smk presented his caro-:
MONSIEUR DE WILLOW,
professor OF Dancing and Department"
II was very silly OF me. | Know" sObbed
May, when Monsieur de Nlllon, being clvllly dis
missed, had taken his departure. but 1 had
never learned TO dance, aud When you decided
that we were 10 90 to Mrs. TOdbunIers, my ig-
Dorance troubled me- l could not bear that you
should b. ashamed OF your little wife, aud see
her eilher standing by or making clumsy efforts
TO imi'a more fortunate girls. so went and
saw This professor, and he agreed TO give me SO
many lessons Tor guinea That is how had
spent the money you had aske me TO refund. |
have practlced quadres twice with m0nsleur's
pupils at his house, and Vasc, aud had
nearly mastered The scbutlscb when you ="
" Made brute and an idiot OF myself !" ex-
Claimed her husband, clasplng her 10 his heart.
ION, my best oil ddflnEs, don't hate me, don't
desplSe me Tor II, aud III be your partner at
your next lesson, and the old flencbman shall
teach US together"
When May-now the happiest Of the happy
was taking oil her wraps at Mrs 1odhunIer's, a
majestic old lady In black velvet sailed up TO her
noddlng approval OF the delicate gray SILK so
modestly made, high in the neck and unorna.
mented save by exquisite point Lace of her own
making.
elder matron she saw the bride blush under
her scrutiny. al am Major MacaIthy's widow,
and a klnswOman OF your husband. / am also
when troubled WITH neuTalgla-such a disagree
able, slanderous, back5illug old woman, that
Cyril veiy properly refused TO accept for you Il
little gilt l wanted TO send by him. He said
did not do you justice, ana lie was quite right;
but since then I've been 10 see Mrs. Lettsum,
poor thing Her husband was a sub alteru IN
Major Maeartby's regiment; aud she has told me
how she must have Sunk under her troubles but
for you. shall assist her SONS to emigrale, aud
she Will come and live with as my house
keeper; and, il you are pleased with the arrange
ment, you'll wear the cross old woman's gift
ana make Cyril forgive me-
May was too pleased TO say her nay. She went
Into the drawing room OH the arm OF aunt Pen,
hnrn "A
wrists. She Is sill in favour WITH the eccentric
giyer and IS proving herself the most sensible of
wives by never having another secret from her
adOTlug husband. L. C.