Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-06-15
A MARITAL EPISODE.


Yes, Raoul had certainly married for
love, and he had thrown himself with
such enthusiasm into his new life that
in day all his relations with the outer
world were shattered-ike glass. He
shut himself in his sanctuary, turned the
key on the inside and tasted his happi-
ness drop by drop. When by chance
you encountered him he hardly gave you
word; he seemed to be afraid Of his
past, and took care to avoid all those
who could possibly recall it to mind.
Raoul was thus for some eight months
Toward the middle of the ninth he had
a relapse into former habits. One met
him more frequently. He had resumed
his cigars, walked more leisurely and
did not disdain to cast an occasional
glance at pretty woman.
This was not because he was less hap
py in his home or loved less his pretty
little wife. Oh, no, not at all; for when
ever I met him he assured me earnestly
''that his wife was treasure"
When a husband says this so positively
there is no room to doubt that he is still
a lover. You do not agree with me? A
man, you say, Y. ho announces thus that
his wife is a treasure is man who blows
upon tea or ashes already cold. All,
well, perhaps you are right; when the
fire flames one warns himself and gem
orally says nothing.
To tell the truth, Raoul had begun to
blow upon his fire. The sweetnesssthat
had intoxicated him nine months ago
appeared to him now little insipid, the
warm temperature about him little
heavy, and when his wife came softly
behind him and kissed him ON the brow
he began to notice what he had never
noticed before-that she ruffled his hair.
He said nothing, but was irritated, an
noyed; all the more so as the tender lit
tie woman, seeing nothing herself, after
her kiss would close his eyes with her
little hands and laugh like gleeful
child
"Come, come, Louise" said he one
morning, finding it impossible to be 81
lent longer, edo you not see that I am
reading?"
'"rhen say, My dear little wife, 1
adore your and I'll let you co." Louise
returned, with the pout of an angel.
"But have said it five hundred and
one times already, and to be frank,
Louise, decline to be forced to repeat
it every quarter of an hour" And he
stopped for his book, which had fallen
to the floor, and closing as it fell, obliged
him to lose five minutes more seeking
the place where he had left off, which so
much increased his bad humor that ten
minutes later when they sat down to
lunch he found the soup decidedly too
salt, and said so.
"Why, no, Raoul; do not finG it so,"
Louise returned innocently.
"But do, and that settles it," Raoul
declared peremptorily, pouring water in
his bouillon with determined air. "The
fact is, my dear, your cook knows no
more Of seasoning than she knows of
finance. This food is uneatable. 1t is
only at restaurant that presentable
fllet can be had" And he breathed
sort of sigh that resembled a stifed re-
gret.
"But q month ago she pleased you,"
urged Louise, who, In spite of her love
and gentleness, did not lack spirit; 81
do not understand it."
tsYou do not understand! Now, why
do you say that? And such a tone! The
very minute, it seems to me, that I OBJ
ject to anything. you jump<o the con-
clusion that lam content with nothing"
81 did not say that"
"You leave it to be supposed, never
theless."
Silence fell between them, but mean
while Raoul, still fuming, thought how,
presently, they would go to install them
selves in the sitting room, having neither
theater nor ball to attend this evening;
that he would open his paper, and, while
reading, he would see over its edge the
regular movement of his wife's needle,
plying back and forth in that eternal
embroidery; and that, after the paper,
he would resume his book, yawn three
times, look at the clock, and then, to
keep him from going to sleep entirely,
his wife would appeal to him with the
usual question: "Blue, black or red in
this corner, Raoul? What do you say
petP"
"Petw An expression that had once
brought tears Of tenderness to his eyes
and that now seemed absurd.
All these thoughts came one by one,
and gradually he felt his bad humor in
crease, till suddenly he resumed sharp
b. n do not see what there is SO extra
ordinary in wishing to have q properly
cooked fllet."
"Well, l was wrong; I'll see to the
next" Louise answered, with manner a
little prim.
Raoul laid down knife and fork re-
signedly.
"My dear child" said he, "have said
that you were wrong? You have very
singular mania for posing as an injured
person"
At heart he felt himself unjust, but
anger was stronger than he, and mount
ed to his brain.
eff only you would be calm, Raoul,"
Louise began gently.
BE calm-be calm, you say? AS if ]
were the one who has lost his temper:
But, Louise, this is perfectly childish.
What else have you for dinner besides
this filletT'
81 really do not know"
The meal came to an end in the pro