The morning call., 1891-06-14
wRrTEN FOB HE SUNDAY GIL
CHAPTER l.

pVT9midS Of sand ana now lay stretched at
fun length on the greens ward. Other chill
dren, siugly and in groups, were engaged IN
play, while their nurses, with their placid
and heilerlike gaze, or their mothers IN
more alert aud watchful manner. followed
the ceaseless movements of these pretty lit
tie human lary8.
As at that moment Banyille raised his
eyes to the face of the clock in the neigh
boring church, the look of ineffable affec-
ton which was lighting up his Cou1tenance
suddenly vanished. He rose, took hold OF
the child's arm, lifted him up, and having
shaken the dust and sand out Of his clothes
started off at a brisk pace, in order to reach
home before his wife. He suddenly became
aware that the child was having great diff
Guilty in keeping up with him, so stopping
down he lifted him in bis arms a d resumed
the same brisk gait which, together with his
burden, fairly caused him to gasp for breath.
BanyiHe was a man Of 40, rather gray and
stout. and seemed to carry the cOvpulency
which he had inherited from his Joyous
bachelor life with the startled air of man
whom subsequent events had to certain
extent unnerved. few years previous he
had married young woman to whom he
was devotedly attached, but who now
treated uilu Win q anu - my
almost unbearable. She Teproyed him alike
for what he did and what he left undone
Nothing about him pleased her. She OBJ
ircttd 20 his smallest acts, to his habits, his
innocent pleasures, his tastes. his walk, his
gestures. his StOUtGeSS and his mild manner
of speaking. Nevertheless, he loved her
still. and above ali he loved the child she
had borne him. Little George, now years
old. had grown 10 be his hearts idol, the
bright, particular JOY OF his lie
An independent gentleman, living upon
his income of 5000 Banyille led life of
leisure which, however, was a constant
source OF irritation to his wife, who had
ben a dOweTieSs bride
He reached the house at last, set the child
down on the front step Of the stairway,
m0pped ths peTspratIOn from his face and
went on uD. At the second story he rang,
aud Julie, an old servant who bad been his
uurse-0ne of those half servants, half mis-
treSses, who rule households with an iron
haud-Opened the door.
Has madame come ia yet3"
The woman shrugged her shoulders.
when did YOU ever know her 10 get home
by haif-paSt 81?
VERY well, so much the better" he replied
iu a constrained way; that gives me time
TO dress l am very warm.
The old servant cast an angry and with
erinE glance at him.
"Oh, / see it ali, she grumbled half to
herself. you're in dripping preparation.
Yen came gaiiOpiug along with George in
your arms, ! suppose, only TO be obliged to
Wait for madame until balf-paSt :. They
wont catch me having things ready fox the
time set. l arrange to have dinner ready for
S o'clock, then If they want to wait, so much
the worse. a roast mustn't be burnt"
BluvIlle pretended not TO hear. Very
we'll very well" he murmUred, "see that
Georges hands are washed. he has been
making mud-pleS. I'm going 70 change my
clothes. Tell the girl to be sure and get
George perfectly clean" and then he passed
into his own apartment and bOlted the door
behind him. He wanted to be alone, CON-
pletely alone. So accustomed was he to be-
Ing bullied and haTshly treated that he only
felt himself safe when locked IN his roo m,
Tn fact not until he was under the pr0tec-
ton of lock and key did he even care to
reason with himself to give free rein to his
thoughts. Throwing himself in 4 chair to
rest a few moments before beginning 10
dress, the thought flashed through his mind
that JuIe was beginning to be an additional
source of danger in the household. She
hated his wife, that was evident, and above
all she hated MS friend, Paul LlmOuSln,
who, as rarely happens, had become the
close ana Intimate family friend alter nay-
lug been his inSspaTable companion in his
bachelor days. 1t was LlmOuSin who served
rs oil and buffer 10 lessen the friction and
lar between Henrietta and him, who de-
Tended him yehemently; yes, even aerImO-
INTERVIEWED TO save him from embarrassing
scenes, from all the daily miseTies Of his
life.
But now, for nearly six months without
cessation, Julie had been in the habit OF
casting reflections upon and making mali
cIoUs remarks concerning her mistress. She
was continually discussing her, and twenty
times a day she cried out:
III 1 we're you, SIT, l wouldn't let people
lead NE around by the nose that way; but,
after all, anyway, every one to his own
liking"
On one occasion she had even been iuso-
lent to Henrietta, who, however, had done
nothing more than to say TO her husband
that evening. Il may as we'll tell yOu that
at the first saucy word from that woman l
shall send heT flying"
Still this wife, who feared nothing, seemed
to stand in dread Of the old servant, but
-BanYilie was inclined 10 attribute this fact
to a certain consideration for the nurse who
had raised him, aud who had closed his
mothers eyes.
But the end of the rope was now reached.
Things could not drag along in this fashion
any longer, and he dreaded TO think what
was going to happen. What should he do?
10 discharge Julie seemed to him such
desperate remedy that he didn't dare think
OF II. 10 uphold her against lllS wife would
be equally impossible, aud still before a
month could go by there must be an open
break between them.
Banville remained seated, his arms hang
ing listlessly by his side. his thoughts turn
ing hitneT aud thither in search of remedies,
but finding none. Then, with a long-dFawn
sigh, he murmuTed:
" But, after ALL Pm not utterly wretched.
l have George. | have my dear little
George" Suddenly the idea suggested itself
that it might be well to consult Limousin;
but lie had no sooner resolved to do it than
the recollection of the enmity existing be-
tween his nurse and bis friend arose in his
mind, and he was seized with dread that
Lim0usin might advise her dismissal. And
again lis mind WAS plunged into a sea Of
anguish and uncertainty.
The clock began 10 strike Z. He bounded
TO his feet Seven O'clock and lie was not
dressed yet! Then with a strange terrier
rObbing him Of his very breath he began TO
take off his clothes, battle, put on clean
linen and dress himself, all with that pre-
cpitation which man puts into his actions
when hurrying to meet very important en-
gagement.
He heaYed sigh of relief as he re-en-
tered the still deserted salon, took the paper.
walked to the window and glanced out into
the street. then turned and sat down upon
the sofa. The door opened and little George
bounded into the room, washed, e0mbed,
rosy aud smiling. Banyille caught him up
In bis arms and kissed him rapturously.
Upon the ehllds hair, eyes, cheeks, lips,
hands the fathers kisses tell in a shower,
ending only to begin again.
After this wild Outburst OF affection, Ban
VILE to the child's great delight, began to
toss him into the air, and when exhausted
by tile violence of this exercise the happy
parent bethought him of further means to
amuse the little one, such as riding cock
horse.
George was beside himself with joy, waved
his little arms and fairly screamed with
pleasure. Banville, too, shook his fat sides
in his supreme cOntentment, laughing till
the tears came into his eyes Trampled
upon, weak and resigned, his whole heart
went out to the child. His love manifested
itself in wild outbursts, in caresses that
seemed to know no beginning, no ending
He felt unlooSened within him a tenderness
which had until now drawn timidly back,
unable to break forth and expand. for even
from the first hours OF his marriage his wife