The Portland daily press., 1891-08-27
AN ISLAND EPISODE.
[PIttsburg Bulletin. ]

jealous indignation that brilliant July
day. 1t hadn't begun with the day,
however, for all had been serene and
smiling as she went down to break
fast in one of her prettiest gowns, es-
corted by her handsome, genial hus-
band. And this pleasant state of things
had continued while she looked through
her letters, enjoyed few minutes rock
ing on the piazza and passed in review
the baby battalion, with their shining
morning faces and crisp ruffies. Then,
with some Of the other ladies, she had
sauntered down to the little pier to see
her husband off on his fishing excursion,
with half dozen more husbands, broth
ers and fathers in his party; and this
done, the next thing on her programme
was to see that her room was put into
that comfortable state of order which,
to the average hotel chambermaid, seems
an unknown quantity" indeed.
And just here her serenity departed
and the turmoil began in her poor little
hSotbs EOI buSIc, OH LILO AAoO SAA'AA,
flung down with true masculine care
lessness, lay her husbands flannel suit,
discarded in favor of the fishing "togs,"
and as she lifted the coat to hang it up
there insidiously slipped from the
pocket a little twisted scrap Of paper,
which, with a smiling 'Let's see what
Rob has been perpetrating nowp she
proceeded to investigate. For Rob was
blessed with keen sense of humor, and
was much given to jotting down bits of
jokes, puns and sage reflections on the
different aspects of summer hotel life,
which it was their custom to laugh over
together in the retirement of their own
room. So it was quite without suspi-
cion that Mrs. Rob UNFINISHED the inno-
cent looking scrap, and was confronted
with-not her husbands bold scrawl.
but delicate feminine writing, to this
effect:
"Yes, mon ami, don't know that |
mind giving up my afternoon siesta for
this once; and if / can evade the notice
OF the rocking chair 'Tabbies,' will slip
away about 3 o'clock That is, if you
will pledge yourself that both GOODNESS
and shade Turk on the farther side of the
big rock, and if you are sure that it is
out of window range. For it would
never do if we were to be seen there.
Yours, J. L.
"Wednesday, a. M"
AS she took in the sense of these
words, her placid smile was succeeded
by frown.
''It's that horrid Mrs. Lesson, of
course. She has just thrown herself at
Roberts head ever since she came.
Wednesday, eh9 That's today, and now
We'll see about this walk. shan't men
ton this note, but think can manage
to defeat this plan. I wonder, though,
If it would not be good idea to set up a
little counter Irritation? There's that
handsome young Dugall just waiting for
a little encouragement, and, evidently,
Rob needs a lesson"
Now all this was quite natural, but in
her Indignation Mrs. Golfer failed to
give due consideration to circumstances.
or to remember the kind Of employment
always found for idle hands"-and idle
minds as well. She and Robert were
spending a month on small island in
the sound, just off the Connecticut coast.
1t was one of the most unique and de-
Ightfully cool of summer resorts. The
nearest land was mile away to the
west, but that was only on one side, and
in all other directions there was a much
wider expanse of waters, dashing up all
day with soft murmur, and always the
most delicious salt breeze was blowing
all across the island, so that even at mid
day it was not unpleasant to feel the sun.
But it was such a little island, only
about thirty acres in all, and not build
ing on it but the hotel and offices, which
could only accommodate about $50 peo-
pie. There wasn't horse on the place,
for there was no room for driving, but
there were good fishing, sail and row
boats always available, bathing, bill
lizards and bowling alley, and long.
two story piazza for a promenade and
filtration gallery. A delightful resting
place 1t was for semi-invalids, for lazy
people who can bask in air and sunshine,
and for bookworms and dreamers, but
just wee bit dull for city man.
Robert Golfer was the possessor of a
sweet, intelligent wife, who appreciated
all the good things Of life almost in
equal degree with himself, and who was
so ready with sympathy and comprehen-
sion that it was the most natural and
comforting thing In the world to go to
her with all his hopes and plans, and
though they had been five years man and
wife he never wearied of her companion
ship. Still that did not prevent his en-
Joyment of other women's society, and
in this quiet little isolated resort he had
found certain piquancy in exchanging
light badinage or few harmless conf
dences on the moonlit piazzas with some
one else's wife-or widow. These even
ing conferences were about forgotten by
the next morning, and certainly there
was no harm in them, according to his
ideas. Why, Milly was quite welcome
to play the same little game, if she chose
in moderation, be it understood
Feeling this, and foreseeing that his
dull moments would be apt to increase
with each coming DAY, 1t was not with
total indifference he had witnessed a
new arrival the week previous, and had
noted an inclination on the part of the
newcomer to bestow upon him various
significant glances and smiles. Said
new arrival was very firtatious widow,
with red gold hair, big blue eyes and
plump white neck and arms, of which
she made rather liberal display when
dressed for dinner.
She was not a person of much refine
ment, but she had ready tongue, an
unfailing flow Of spirits and big, high
voice, with which she would call upon
"R-r-r-obert, Robert, tot que Jaime, /" and
also hold forth in various other rather
antiquated selections from the hack
neyed old Italian operas. She had also
an Unsuitable appetite for admiration,
and was never contented without some
man dangling after her. AS Mr.. Golfer
was quite her opposite in appearance,
being black eyed and dark haired, she
had at once selected him as her cavalier,
regardless Of the fact that there was a
Mrs. Golfer, who might reasonably OBJ
ject to having her husband monopolized
in this way. AS matter of fact Mis-
tress Milly had felt quite easy on the
subject, simply because everything had
seemed SO entirely on the surface, and it
was only the finding Of Mrs. Lessons
mischievous little scrawl which had
made her believe that Robert could de-
ceive her.
And now what should she do? To be
sure 1t was not, SO far, very serious
matter, but it was enough to make her
Iorrinnr inn1n,,n l,oo.A - -