The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-06-12
TIT FOR TAT.

And because I am married my lib
erty is to be curtailed. am never to
speak to an old friend if she happens
to be woman. My wife is to tie me
to her apron strings at ball." said
Mr.. Drummond, sarcastically.
II seldom wear aprons. Certainly
never at ball, said Mrs. Drummond.
You know that is a figure of
speech, " said Mr.. Drummond But
now that we have spoken of the mat
ter, Estelle, l will give you MY view
of tho subject If married people go
out to sit in corner with each other
they might as well stay at home"
You used to be very glad to sit in
mond.
Vow" gasped MIR. Drummond de-
spalrlngly, nov you arc going to
cry. Your eyes will be swollen, your
nose red. For heavens sake, Estellc,
remember that you are at a ball"
Mrs. Drummond summoned up all
her courage, swallowed her tears,
drew her hand from her husbands
arm, and began to fan herself furi-
ously.
Now you are in a temper, my
dear said her lordyand master. 60
into the dressing room and powder
yourself a little. Usually l object to
it, but now you are,fushed, and l will
take you to that dear old Mrs Jack
son, who has chaperoned her four
grandGAughtcrs, and is quite alone in
the corner. SheiS most superior wo-
man, | understand. Come, my love"
Il can do without the powder,
Thanks" said Mrs. Drummond; land
you may take me to Mrs. Jackson,
while you, l presume, waltz with Miss
Merle
Why, good heavens, .Estelle, you
would not have me break my engage
.Cent 70 dance with lady, would
ycug" asked Mr.. Drunrmond, in a
tone of desperation.
"Oh, by no means,w said Mrs
Drumnlond; fulfil your engage
mCnt.
The music began again. The hand
some young couple stepped from the
Hover screened corner into which they
had retired to have their unpleasant
talk, and Ill q moment Mr.. Drummond
was whirling around the room with
iis arm about the pretty Miss Merle's
waist, while EStelle sat.on the sofa be-
side that superior old Mrs Jackson,
who, having aroused herself to re-
ccive Mrs. Drummon6s introduction,
had nodded off again, and was snor-
ing behind her large black feather
iau.
And this was Mrs Drummond's first
ball. The daughter of d Clergyman,
brought up, as people say, very strict
ly, she had never in all her life taken
dancing lesson; she had never been
i'll fashionable society, and retained
her simple, countrified ideas of what
married people owed to each other
At the parties at her mothers house
Hrs. Smith and Mr.. smith, Mrs
Brown and Mr.. Brown were scrupu
lousy placed side by side. So at the
lawn parties or excursions.
In this way she supposed they must
pass through all the festive occasions
of life, arm i'll arm. exchanging their
opinions on things and people, view
ing a startling panorama, themselves
the only really Important parsonage:
of the scene.
The awakening was sudden ant
startling. Her husband had compiled
with popular opinion while they still
remained among her kinsfolk, ant
indeed he had no temptation to leav'
her, for she was the sweetest, pretties
and most charming person whom h,
ever met Besides, the glamour o
the honeymoon was still upon him
Z In those rural scenes the girl he hat
: called his white rosebud seemed sweet
CT and purer than he could express IL
f words For three or four months hi
= life was a sort of idyl, and SO wa
hers.
Not until the last red leaves of au
:, tumn were upon the trees did h
: transplant his blossom to the city
There, in one Of those tiny but ele
giant flats which young couples mos
l affect, Estelle began her new life
Her husband was fashionable man
free from what he spoke of as ''the pre-
: JUDGES of the past"
:. For the first time in her life Estell
!, went to the opera, to the theatre. Sh
was dressed by French modiste,
:. whose dictum she bowed. She we
called upon and pronounced awful
sweet" She went to afternoon tee
and to receptions; she had breakfast
IS giver her by her husbands friends an
If connections little parties wiscir dan,
" ing was il orle-. She cajoyc,l is al
Il for at first the position Of recent Lril
is and bridegroom caused Mr.. ard Nr
l. Drummond TO be paired off togeth,
y very much as they had been in the Vi
w lage society.
( However, as tine passed Oh new'
brides appeared on the scene Estel
'c was merely Mrs. Drummond Poop
took no special pains to bring her fo
ward. Il remained for her to do Il
, best she could for herself And no
~ Arthur slipped away OCCASIONAL
u She saw him talking to this one or
or that one, and at first her beauty al
y, sweetness attracted the men about be
Y, 1t was not long, however, befo
they discovered that she could talk
nothing but her Arthur's perfectio
% and the wisdom of the ancient clera
>. man, her father She was shy Of
10 pressing her opinion on other topic
~ and she had never learned to I'll,
'"' Her idea OF matronly dignity gave b
manner some stiffness, and at the
:. tie dances they discovered that she =
| only could not dance, but that she +
that it would be wrong to do so.
-, ut would shock papa if he shou
on hear of it" she would answer VIII
VI some more than usually gallant you
besought her to try" and declaI
that he would teach her the waltz Il
few moments and nv degrees shA