The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-08
WHICH WAS GUILTY.

WHICH WAS GUILTY.
Il do think John. you might let me
have I, little more money"
Victoria Hale was sitting at the
breakfast table. pout upon her cherry
lips, an ominous wrinkle between her
brows. She looked very pretty. in her
moruing dress Of fluted white lawn.
with breakfast cap OF Swiss muslin
and rose-colored ribbons, that We're
peculiarly becoming to her olive skin
and large, velvety black eyes.
More money. Victoria?" he repeat-
ed with scarcely perceptible knitting
Of the brows-
Are YOU not getting unreasonable?
Do not keep you literally supplied
with all that have TO sparee"
But it's so mortifying TO 20 a-shop-
ing with Mrs. Hyde and Mrs. BonniGg-
ton. and lave to stand by while they
are purchasing the sweet things at
such bargainsi
Don't go shopping with them, then;
that's my advice.
You would shut me up, then. from
all amusement and societyem
Nonsense, Victoriai You know
better than thati Here are your pret-
tily furnished house, your garden. your
little conservatory to amnse you?"
I'm tired of them ALL" said the
pretty bride. .'One can not be con-
tented with the same thing forever
.,If you wanted a perpetual change.
a continual whirl of excitement YOU
should have married rich man.
Don't be cross, john, said Victoria,
coaxingly. But You know all our
neighbors about here are toierably
well off, and don't want to be left be-
hind. | shall be mortified to death if
1 can't have croquet party in July"
u have no especial objection to
that said her husband. II suppose
it need not necessarily be expensiyean
Not so very" said Victoria "Of
course we must have a band. aud the
sweets and ices from the confection-
erss.
..WouldnaI Your piano and little
homemade cake aud iee-cream do?n
What nonsense. joint Do you
suppose l could ask our stylish neigh
bors to such r two-penny sort of affair
as thatPn
..Thev would know it was as good
as we could afford"
And need lace parasoi terribly.
Aud ah. John. had forgotten about
Mrs Lacy's eream-cofored ponies"
II hope. for goodness sake. she don't
want You to buy theman
No, of course not. But she says
may use them while she is at Scarboro.
Isn't it kind of her?'
Il dare say it's verv kind said
John Hale, ruefully; '-but do You
chance 10 know how much pair of
ponies costs in the keeping-to say
nothing of the expense of the groom?"
20. if you are going to stoop to such
petty considerations as that"
We'll. well. use them if you like 1
.f,r-.
And the croquet partyf Only
thirty or forty people-just to pay our
social debts. It's so shabby to be be-
hind hand in such a thing
IF you'll be as economical as YOU
caa about it"
.sAnd the parasol? And the summer
silk that is such bargain at Peter
Robinson's-"
Yes. yes, yesi Only remember.
Vic. that there is limit to our funds-''
Mrs Hale was satisfied with the
grudging assent SO reluctantly wed
out of her husband.
She gave the croquet party and had
the satisfaction of hearing on all sides
that it was the most elegantly gotten
up little affair of the season in Hollo-
way road She whirled down to the
parks and along the Bayswater road,
with the cream-colored ponies. She
bought the lavender summer silk. with
sloven of lace shawl to wear with it;
paid Nine. Fringe Furbelow four
quineas to make it up. and had it
ruined by glass of lemonade the first
time she ever wore it. She accepted
an invitation to visit Yarmouth with
aartv of gav friends. and cried all
night before she could induce her hus-
band to consent
.sVic. you don't understand" said
John, with careworn look on his
brow. I'VE must study economy or
we shall go to ruin"
.,Economy.n sharply retorted Vic
toria; Il am sick of the very word. -
Her husband turned silently away.
1t was hard. just when he had most
need of sympathy, counsel and advice
thus to be repulsed:
..They tell me- said old Mr.. Hardie,
the senior member of the firm of
Hardie. Blocke & Co., that Hale's wife
dresses the most elegantly of any one
at Yarmouth this season"
What. Hale who keeps Denny's
booksP Young Halep"
THE deuce she doesI How can he
afford itP"
-.Aht' said old Hardie, taking snuff,
..that's a different matter. l don't
knev how he affords it. If 1 were
Denny should keep an eye to thingsT
They've had some serious lessons
already, Tn told" said the other.
That burglary last week cost them f1,
oo0."
ANY trace of the burglars as yet?''
No. The safe must have been
opened by skeleton keys. Denny
thinks"
.sHup,nhf,i crruntad old Hardia 4aIf
the cashier was anybody but Hale. that
Denny trusts as he would trust him
self
20. nonsense nonsense! cried the
other gentleman. There's such a
thing as being too suspicious, Hardie!
You'll be saying next that Hale is at the
head of gang of burglarsr'
He may be, for all I know said
Hardie dryly.
Meanwhile Mr.. Reginald Denny be-
gan to be strangely mistrustful. Not
r - 4. = L.