Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-04-30

by Jove, and Of Blanche W-and, rest
ing back in his chair, he laughed soft,
low laugh.
That Freda should care enough for
him to be jealous was delightful dis
covery, but why her fancy should have
lighted on Blanche Ferrars, of all
women in the world, was puzzle to
himl Why, she was at least ten years
his senior, and she had snubbed and
lectured him from his nursery days
upward.
Well, he must put this right; but first,
just to give this little wife of his a
lesson.
The days wore on, and the arrange
ments for the tableaux vivants adj
vanced apace; but there were knotty
points 10 settle, and numerous confabu-
lanons had to be held in that dainty
blue boudoir of Freda, and, of course,
as master of the revels. Won Althaus
was privileged to arrive earlier and to
remain later than the mere puppets Of
the show. Freda was getting little
frightened; the soft grass beginning to
feel very thin, and the marshy bog be-
meath seemed very near sometimes.
On the morning of the embassy ball,
Nutll all bilG GllulhGIluS NlOhh vi lN-
hearsers had gone, Karl, as usual, lin
gered 10 discuss some detail of Freda's
costume.
II shall be very sorry when these
tableaux are over" he said, drawing a
low chair near her.
"Really?" She tried to speak care
lessly, hut felt it was rather failure,
and then, almost before she knew it, he
was holding her hands and pouring out
4 wild declaration of love.
81 have frightened you" he said at
last, seeing how white and faint she had
grown. "Do not speak to me now; to-
night, at the ball, | shall learn my fate.
She sat there little while after he
had left her, her brain whirling. AT
| lunch she scarce dared to meet her hus-
bands eyes, and her curt latonic replies
made him smile under his mustache.
poor little womanl and 50 she is
jealous p
In the late afternoon Freda reclined
on the sofa in her boudoir, dreamlly
touching the exquisite orchids which
lay on the table beside her with Herr
Won Althaus' card. What should she
say to himl Should she wear his flow
ers If she did, she need say nothing,
he would understand; but then-then-
The handle of the door turned gently,
and in a glass opposite she saw her
husbands figure. She hastily closed
her eyes. He would think she was
asleep and go away. He came softly
toward her and bent down to look in
her face, then moved noiselessly toward
the door. He stopped suddenly, how
ever, and turned back then, casting a
glance at the sofa, he sat down hastily
at the escritoire and wrote rapidly. He
had carefully sealed the letter, and was
engaged in addressing it, when foot
man entered with card. Lord Aylmer
put up his finger to enforce silence, and
hastily followed the man out Of the
room.
Freda sat up What could Leslie
have written? Why did he do it so
stealthily? The letter lay there, white
patch on the sea Of dark leather.
She got up and went over to the es-
critoire.
She started Lady Fcrrars without a
doubt. No wonder he had been so anx-
ious to be positive that she slept! Freda
turned the letter over and over. A wild
desire 10 learn It's contents llleQ hei
heart. To know the worst For al
that moment she realized that it would
be the worst if she learnt what she
feared. And if she did? Why, Their
she would wear Karl Won Althaus
flowers tonight!
With a flushed face and trembling
fingers she broke the seal. A strange
light leapt into her eyes as she read
dearest Freda-You are the mos
adorably suspicious little goose in the
whole world"
The door opened and the costly
orchids were pitilessly crushed ant
MANNED by Lady Aylmer's tiny feet a
! she rushed into her husbands arms.