Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-20

amazedly, as be stepped back. his hand on
the table beside him
She sat still, with dropping eyes and
averted face Il do not wish to talk to
you. was all she said
He started, bewi!dered
But Lottie, darling, | don't under
stand--what has come over Won so sud
denly? What have | done?"
And he could stand there and ask h5r
tnat so cool!y! Lottie was almost frantic
And then the dinner-bell rang and saved
them from a scene for that time
Ross Deane followed his wife to the
dining room, feeling very much as if he
was dreaming. When the meal vas over
he retired to the office to take smoke and
think it over. Lottie went up stairs to
wait for him to leave the house before she
began to dress.
She sat where she could watch the gar
den gate, and there she waited WITH ner-
she might follow and the first act of the
traglc-comedy be ready for performance.
Fight o'clock struck, and in few min
utes after she heard him moving about
down stairs. Then he came to the foot
VI Tie SIdlIS dnu Cdlltl. LOtlle. uSdI.
won't you come down stairs?"
But Lottie would not answer She had
no desire to receive his goodbye kiss when
she knew he was hurrying away from her,
impatient to meet that bold girl who
was trying to win him away from his
wife He had called once more, then she
heard him pass into the parlor. After that
there was a long silence, and still she sat
there and wondered what had delayed him
so.
Nine o'clock struck; then 10, and no.
body had passed out at the front gate she
watched so jealous y.s What could it
mean? Had he been so cowardIy as to
slip out by the back way for fear his wife
might see him? Sic couldn' believe that
of hin; but she didn't understand why he
waited till SO late before going away.
Half past ten; quarter of eleven. She
couIdn bear this any longer; but would
just find out what it meant. Just as the
clock struck II, she came down to the par
Tor. There lay Ross, sound asleep on the
sofa, the evening paper tossed carelessly
on the floor beside him. She went and
knelt down beside him.
Ross! Ross! Wake up! Don't you
know that it's II o'clock and you are not
dressed for the masquerade.
"Who-what?" muttered Ross, stretch
ing lazily. Eleven o'clock! Well, what
of it. dearie?"
The masquerade, Ross: don't you re-
member it is this evening and you are not
dressed?"
THE masquerade, Lottie? Why,
thought we had decided not to 60
80 we did, she answered, bitterly;
but | supposed Miss Preston had per-
suaded you to change your mind.
Miss Preston? What has she to do
with our going, one way or the other? Oh,
begin to smell a rat" he cried exultant-
ly, now fully wide awake. See here, puss;
what did you mean by having the sulks to-
night, and refusing to kiss your liege lord,
or even be civil to him, Ell.
''Oh, Ross, Thought
Yes, | know what you thought" He
had her in his arms now You saw that
note Miss Belle saw fit to send me the
other day, and you thought your husband
could care enough for a girl, who threw
herself at his head in that bold way, to
deceive his w1fe-his own wife, whom. he
loves better than the whole world beside, -
he added lower and more earnestly. Il
don't think you have very high opinion
Of your husband, pet
Il did find the note, Ross, she sobbed,
''ln the pocket of your office coat, and II
Please forgive me, deary," and she clung
to him closer while he soothed and petted
her
Never mind, little grille; don't Won
der you doubted me for minute. ought
to have burned the note and then you d
not have been so troubled. But perhaps
it's just as well. You know for certain,
now, how much influence Miss Belle
has over me, don't ycu?' And he patted
her cheek and la lghed little.
[ think Mrs. Deane managed--women
know how to do these things-in some
perfectly polite and pleasant way to let
Miss Preston know why Mr.. Deane did
not attend the masquerade, and also the
fate that notes addressed to him were
likely to meet. At any rate, the young
lady wastes no more of her time on young
women's husbands, but is devoting all
her energies to procuring one of her own.
Evening World.