Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-04-29

few miserable chrysauthemums, and some
green leaves. are worth asking for. are
they not ? At all events / took them open
ly. and when she comes up by and-by !
will show them L. hcl.
"She is coming them How:good of herT
Sylvia started up in rage.
'Good of her! And why, pray7 Do
not go every Wednesday to her rooms
where 1 am bored to death by her afecta-
zion and rubbish p
Mrs. Florence omitted to state that
these same Wednesdays had been of i'm
mense service to her; that they were like
weekly fashion-book, where she had
been taught how to enter and leave a
room, how to receive and dismiss guest.
where to place her flowers. Nor did Syl-
via say that Annie's friends, of whom
she had spoken SO disdainfully, were the
people whom she had begged to come to
her on her lat home" day.
But would tLcy Gomez That remained
to be proved. And would young Mrs.
Speed herself make her appearance3 SyI-
via grew more ana more disturbed and
anxious as the time went on.
make hastew she cried impatiently;
show long you are to-day over your
lunchw
One of Florence's old-fashioned habits
was to eat SLOWLY and take few whitfs OF
his pipe at the table. But to-day ne was
robbed of these little comforts. His pipe
must not be taken from its case, on ac-
count of its villainous odor, and his last
mouthful was swallowed in violent hur-
ry, as he must change his clothes. so as to
present himself to the ladies in his wife's
drawing room later in the day.
What a sensation in the factory, when
Florence was seen to enter on a weekday
in black coat and white waistCoat.
"Are you going to wedding?" asked
Job Denman, the cashier. And Florence
answered, not without pride:
"Oh, dear no! 1t is my wife's Fat home
day"
Seated at his drawing board, under the
high window, Florence had thrown aside
his coat, and turned up his spotless cuffs.
But the consciousness that his wife .ex-
pected company unsettled him, and oc-
casionally he puts on his coat and mounts
the private staircase to ascertain how
things were going on.
mo one here YETI" he asked timidly.
"NO one, sir"
In the red drawing room-fOr they have
adrawing-rOOm furnished IN crimson rep
Sylvia is installed on low couch, several
easy chairs in front of her. a small table
at her side. on which are placed q book or
two, a work-basket, and bunch of violets.
All this arranged exactly as at theSpeed's,
on the floor below. But the indefinable
good taste which characterizes al Annie's
belongings is lacking in Sylvia's rooms.
The mistress Of the house is too elaborate
ly dressed; she had rather the air of pay
ing visit than Of receiving one. But in
Flocence's eyes. everything is beautiful.
He began to say so as he entered the
room. but his wifes frown intimidated him.
"YOu see," she said. pointing angrily to
the clock. sit is four o'clock; no one will
| come now. But Annie's impertinence is
objectionable: she is at home, for heard
her come inl'
In fact, ever since noon Sylvia had
heard every sound in the house; the
child's cry, and the lullaby of the nurse.
Not door had opened or shut without
Mrs. Florence perceiving it. Florence
wished to retreat. and thus avoid hear
ing the old complaints, but his wife OBJ
iected.
..vnn at least" she said. ..1night re-
main, since all the rest of the world shun
mem
60 the poor fellow, miserable and ner-
vous, stood glued to the window, feeling
very much like a person who dare not
move during q thunderstorm lest he
defenseless head.
Sylvia moved about restlessly, shifted
chair and finally pulled the bell vio-
lently.
ask Tom if no one has called to see me
to-day"
AS the servant turned to obey her, Mrs.
Florence continued to her husband:
tom is so stupid, and so hateful, that
he has probably told people that | am
out"
But no; Tom said that no one had been.
Silence and CONSERVATION fell on the in
mates of the pretty, fower-scented room.
Sylvia followed her husbands example,
and took up position at another window.
Both looked down on the garden, dimly
seen through the gathering twilight. Job
Denman's lamp was already lighted, and
his long shadow wavered on the ceiling of
the counting house.
Suddenly a brougham drove up to the
door; from it emerged a mass Of lace and
velvet. let and furs; and Sylvia recognized
one of Annie's most fashionable friends. a
visitor at last! So the little household fell
into position. The gentleman leaned IDLY
upon the mantle-piece, and the lady in her
low chair carelessly turned over the
leaves of new book.
The attitudes were thrown away; the
visit was not for Sylvia; the lady's cali
was for the floor below!
All! If Mrs. George could but have
heard the denunciation of herself and
her f1iend
At this moment the door was thrown
open, and Miss Denman was announced.
This man was the cashiers maiden sister;
a sweet and gentle old lady, who came as
a matter of duty to pay visit to the wife
of her brothers employer, and who was
overwhelmed with the warmth of the well
come she received. Sylvia was most
gracious, happy to show herself in her
glory to a former acquaintance. She
talked and laughed gaily, that Mrs. George
might know that she had visitors. And,
when the old lady went away, Sylvia &C
companied her to the head of the stairs,
with great rustling of fiOunces and
sharp click of high-heeled shoes, and
called out loudly that she was always at
home on Fridays.
1t was now night. In the next room
the table was being laid for dinner. Mrs.
Speed evidently was not coming, and Syl-
via was white with indignation.
I'VE are too insignificant for your idol to
visit" she said; 'but will revenge my
self somehow"
AS she raised her voice angrily, her in
tonation lost its refinement and betrayed
Miss Pixley's apprentice.
"Who canten what the reason may be Z"
murmured Florence. perhaps the child
is ILL.,"
She turned fercely upon him.
1T is all your fault" she cried; "you
have taught all your friends to neglect