Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-05-22

sick or something.
eyes, the house might burn down
but l don't think it WILL" returned
Charley, more shortly than he often
spoke to Kate. "I'm very sorry you
won't &C." he added, as he rose from the
table, his appetite quite spoiled. "It Is
a disappointment to me"
"Why, you can go, Tmsure, Charley.
l shall not care at ALL"
"No; I'll stay with you, and we can
have our own music. have not heard
you sing foE month"
Kate hesltated a moment, then she
said
"But, Charley, l must stay up in the
nursery. Inever trust Johnnie to Sarah
of evenings"
Charley frowned, stood irresolute an
instant, and said;
ooh, well, then, 1 don't see why l
shouldn't get some pleasure, if 1 cas-.
I'll Just drop over to Johns and see if
they are going. AS have two tickets,
if Jess cares to go we might all make a
party of it."
"Yes, certainly; go, Charley. dor't
want you to stay at home because 1 have
to-"
"You know had rather be with you,
nv dear. But it's dull work sitting down
stairs alone all evening"
Then Charley kissed her, put on his
overcoat and went away. But after he
was gone Kate began to be conscious of
lonely, uneasy feeling, and to wish she
had gone, too. OF course, Charley was
as loyal and true hearted as a man could
be. But, to think of him sitting beside
that dashiu., black-eyed jess all the
evening and showing her all the little at
tentions which he knew so we'll how to
give woman; it worried her, somehow,
and she could not help it. She was not
Jealous. On, no! She had told him to
90 and really hoped he would enjoy 1t.
But-but-she did wish she had left
Johnnie to Sarah for zone evening and
made one of that opera party with the
rest.
As for Charley, as he walked rapidly
over to his brothers he wondered if he
wasn't precious rascal for wishing that
blessed baby had never come into his
house. To be sure, it was bright
little thing, sweet and cute, and he
would have loved it dearly and been
very proud Of it (as he was, after all, if
he had only known it,, but since it ar
rived, Kate had been no companion at
all for him. She was eyerlastingly up in
that nursery, and she neglected her dress
and her hair, and never read or sang to
him Or went out with him, and he was
feeling the change sadly.
"Of course, it is right to be 4 deyoted
mother" he said to himself; "but. I do
wish the mother had not so entirely dis
placed the wife. It's hard on fellow,
and don't like it. don't wonder men
get tired of their wives, if they all do
the same way"
Just then Charley ran against passer-
by, and as he glanced up to apologize,
saw his brother.
"Ah, John" was his greeting. "I'm
Just on my way to your house. "
"Wel, I'm on my way to yours" " re-
piled John, laughingly. "We want you
and Kate to go with US to hear Faust
tonight"
''No use TO 60 on" returned Charley.
81 have been trying to induce Kate to
go but she wort"
"She won'tl Why notl"
"She can't leave that precious young
ster. got her ticket, but it was no
90. So was coming over to say if you
want to hear the opera, my tickets are at
your service.
''Not unless you go with us, Charley.
OF course, you will, though. And Jess
can use one Of your tickets"
"why, I hardly know about going my
self, John. don't like to leave Kate
at home alone, you know"
"Nonsensel 1t is her own fault.
Come, won't hear a word more. For
ward, march It's time to be off,"
Charley submitted, feeling little re-
preached, for, though he had set out
with the intention of going to the play,
when he took second thought, he did
not care to go without Kate. But Miss
Jessie was very willing to be escorted by
her handsome cousin.
Kate had gone to bed before be got
home, and he would not disturb her.
But at breakfast next morning be told
her what grand time they had enjoyed.
"Ye-esl l am very glad, Charley, 4"
said Kate, rather family.
"Oh, yes. We only missed you, dear.
But jess is SO lively, one couldn't help
having good time with her. BY the
way, Kate, she says, as you are SO busy
with the baby, she will not stand on cerc-
mony and wait for you to call on her.
She is coming over with Stella to-day.
We must have her to stay here, you
know. II you can't spare time 10 enter