Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-12-26
LA BELLE AND lie BEAU.

Late hours" said Mr.. Pendleton,
'are very, very wrong. l shall not per
init Mrs. PendIeton to do this sort of
thing often.
II was Mr. Pendleton's fault that he
was sitting up for his wife, for she had
urged him again and again to go with
her, but as he would not, and the oc-
casion was a cousins wedding party,
she had gone alone.
During the twenty years of their mar
riad life she had kept vigil often enough
for Mr.. Pendleton; but it is curious
TACT that people who think nothing of
remaining abroad until the "wee sIna'
hours" themselves are overwhelmed
with drowsiness long before midnight
when they are called upon to sit up for
any one else, Mr.. Pendleton had sent
the servant to bed at IL o'clock, and
seated himself before the fire in the
back parlor with newspaper and a
cigar and decanter of port wine. But
the paper had been read through, ad-
vertisements and all, and good deal
of the wine had vanished and 'stiil she
came not"
Mr.. Pendleton had just aroused him
self from a state of oblivion to find the
roses which his wife had embroidered
on the toes of his slippers singeing, and
the soles curling upp and his wrath was
growing great.
II am afraid Amelia Ann, is becom-
ing frivolous" he said. as he filled a
bumper with port wine and swallowed
It slowly. "This is not the way my
mother used to behave, or my grand
mother, or my aunt Penelope; they
were stayers at home. | am afraid
Amelia Ann is losing the domestic vir-
tues and getting Frenchy," Heglanced
about him and shook his head.
"Frenchy, he repeated. "Frenchy.
don't know that ever noticed before
how FrenchiAed my house has become.
French china everywhere" He turned
and gazed about the room. Couple
of Cupids, very French. Jeannette
and Jeanot' in china, cushion
with something about 'Dormez' EN-
broidered on it, and ON my respectable
mantslpiece a French belle, and a
French beau, just unmasked after a
ball, suppose, exchanging glances.
It's dreadful thing fort mans wife
to become FrenchiAed at the age OF
five and forty, very dreadful thing
Here Mr. Pendleton emptied the de-
canter.
La Belle and lie Beau" he re-
peated, 'Frenchy, very Frenchy," and
tumbled into his armchair again, with
his eyes fixed upon the figure of the
belle, whose blue eyes, pink cheeks and
powdered hair, pale cream tinted robes
and pale blue mask, together with heI
coquettish pose and alluring smile, made
her most attractive.
Upon my word, she is very pretty
though, I" said Mr. Pendleton, "a lovely
creature. II / were not married mar
| should fall In love with her. She Il
delicious, adorable"
Monsieur fiatters, said a small wet
voice very near him. "Oh, l am surt
monsieur flattersl"
Mr.. Pendleton gazed about him.
"What a remarkable Imagination
must haver he said. II really though
some one spoke, Imagination" re
peated Mr.. Pendleton, tumbling bacl
into his chair. "What immense imagin
alton l must have"
Pardon, Monsieur" said the small
sweet voice again. 'Tt was not u
imagination--it was l. "
"Ehln roared Mr.. Pendleton. He "a
staring at the china figure, La Belle
who had apparently left her place oI
the end OF the mantelpiece and stooc
f. kissing her hand to him In It's center,
"IIello" said he.
"'Ello," replied the belle, wavinI
her mask at him.
"whyl Good graeiousl You an
aliyel" kried Mr. Pendleton.
Ave 70 'orrlble look of one VIII
Is dead, Monsieuri" asked La Belle. n
/ proachfully. "Non. l am sure"
Not dead, m'm--not dead, Nam
3 selle." said Mr. Pondleton, "but7-bu
-inaniinate, don't you know in fact
thought you were made OF china
80 am" said La Belle "Ah
Monsieur, are you also OF ze people VIII
believe Eat lady Of china ave no SOU
no esprit no atfecaions. no romance
You are very much mistaken"
La Belle was No evidently aflecte
= that Mr. Pendleton was touched; b
a drew his handkerchief from his pocke
> and wiped his eyes. II am the las
q person 10 hurt lady's feelings, sal
he. "I3ut how was ] to knowr
Vote ozers belief. every Won belis
also. said la Belle. mo mattel.
forglfI you grief but forsiftf
That's kind Of You. said M Per
dloton. "Wont you come down an
take chairf'
=; Ia moment Ia Belle had skippo
from tho mantelpleoe 10 the arm Of ii
chair she wns even prettier on clos
- l1I.MNNIII1