Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-05-01

only nSeueO the WlIcHeTN OF music 70
Inspire it with romanticism. And
music there was for the passengers on
the boat. a harp and two violins were
touched by the fingers of Italian wan
dcrers, and the air was filled with mel
ody.
Miss Wilberforccs face showed that
she fully enjoyed the beautiful thoughts
natural to the occasion. Mr.. Under
hill, too. was pleasantly impressed, but
he was not free from sadness. He re-
membered when a young woman as
fair as the one beside him had been his
companion in happy days of courtship,
and he sighed 'as he contemplated the
wreck of the romantic dreams he had
then entertained.
Raising his eyes, he encountered the
gaze of naughty and angry woman,
who stood about twenty feet from him.
Completely thrown off his guard, he
exclaimed: Great heavensl there is my
wife"
Much surprised, Miss Wilberforce
looked first at Mr.. Underhill and then
at his wife. Miss Wilberforce blushed
deeply as she bowed to Mrs. Underhilrs
y
guished appearance, who gracefully
raised his hat in recognition.
After brief, fierce gaze, Mr.. and Mrs
Underhill, without bowling, turned
aside their heads.
II did not know that you were q
married man, Mr.. Underhill," said
Miss Wiiberforce, in tones which
showed that she was displeased, be-
cause the fact had been concealed from
her
Feeling deeply the awkwardness of
the situation, Mr.. Underhill stammered
out:
"I-I am not exactly married"
"What do you mean?"
"Why, II mean that am trying to
get divorce"
''Do you not love your wife?'
"Well, did love her; but she always
wanted to have her own way, and II
did not always want her to have it."
perhaps you desired to have your
way, too, and would not respect her
wishes"
Mr. Underhill moved nervously in his
chair.
II would not be my wife's slave. 1t
is humiliating for man to be ruled by
a woman"
81 presume it is; and it is also humil-
iating for woman to be deceived by
man"
MY dear Miss Wilberforce, can as
sure you that / meant no harm, as /
have intended to show you no more
than friendly attentions. 1 thought It
would be unnecessary and just as pleas
ant not to mention the eisagreeable
fact that was seeking divorce"
."Undoubtedly it seemed better to you
to take such a course"
A long silence ensued, during which
Mr.. Underhill, man both honorable
and sensitive, felt as the saying Is,
''complctely used up"
Mi NI,5crforce's important reason
for being disturbed was not known by
her companion. For Henry Maitland,
In whose conversation Mrs. Underhill
appeared to be much interested, she en-
tertained tender feeling which she
had believed was fully reciprocated. At
first she felt provoked that Henry
should be with woman about to be
divorced, but soon her fairness of mind
caused her to think that Henry might,
If he knew the fact, justly criticize her
for being in the company of the woman's
husband.
Miss Wilberforce possessed, in re-
markable degree, the quick intuition
peculiar to her sex, and, after watching
the countenances of Mr.. and Mrs. I'm
&c md
lecting that what Mr.. Underhill had
said showed that he still loved his wife,
she came TO the conclusion that they
really desired reconciliation, but that
each was too proud to make any over
lures 1t was pc culiar situation, in
which three, and perh APPS four, persons
were uncomfortable. The circum-
stances threatened to widen the gul
between the estrange magied couple,
and to draw the lovers into a serious
misun derstanding.
n ow, Miss Wilberforce, as &as been
mentioned, did not possess an unbend-
ing will; she could yield to the wishes
of others or make concessions for the
benefit of her friends, when by so do
ing she neither transgressed moral
rule nor compromised her self-respect.
She was sensible, and did not believe
in endangering the happiness Of herself
and acquaintances by maintaining a
barrier of false pride. In reality her
character was broader and stronger
than that of persons who plume them
selves on the possession of unbcnding
wills. She believed that it only re-
quired little judicious maneuvering
TO harmonic the relations of four per-
sons who were either jealous and
angry or in some way dissatisfied and
uneasy. Accordingly she resolved to
act, if possible, as a messenger of peace.
Her method was simple. Turning her
face toward Mr.. Maitland, she waited
until she caught his eye, which was
rather difficult to do, and then be-
witchcd him with an enchanting smile,
at the same time deftly beclsoning him
to come to her. He hcsi tatcd, spoke to
Mrs. Underhill who frowned but ex-
cused him, and with an uncomfortable
expression on his face wendcd his way
slowly TO where Miss Wilberforce sat
The young lady greeted him cordially,
In spite of his evident embarrassment,
and introduced him to Mr.. Underhill,
who nodded coolly, and did not offer to
shake hands.
How happens it that you are with
Mrs. Underhill to-day?" the fair maiden
archly asked.
Mr.. Underhilrs countenancc flushed
with anger and he bit his lip. On the
contrary, Mr. Maitland looked relieved,
and eagerly answered.:
''It is easily explained. She is my
cousin. My father was her mothers
brother. AS she has lived in the south
and | in the north, it has happened
that we have never had the pleasure OF
nnAAtin1 aanh Other until Ah1nt q wael