Middletown transcript., 1892-01-21
were enjoying life.

For nearly an hour the gas blazed
unheeded while they sat over the
remnants of their little feast. They
talked of almost everything. The
clock striking twelve reused them.
Mrs. Dalberg rose, and began putting
away the dishes.
"It will make much less work in
the morning." she said, cheerfully.
Dalberg himself was slower to
move. He feared to break some
pleasant spell that had mysteriously
changed his house into a home.
Finally bis wife took glass from
the cupboard, and went out to fill it
with water. Returning she placed it
on the table and tenderly took the
vioiets from her dress.
Carefully clipping each stem so
that it might sooner recover its fresh
ness, she again speculated on the
sender. She suggested every name
except the one constantly in her
mind, and at last that too found
voice. "You don't suppose that it
could have been Macready, do your "
she asked.
For the first time since their mar
riage Dalberg's heart was pierced by
jealous pang. He bad paid for that
evenings pleasure hiuself. Why
should Macready have the credit? /"
"No, I don't suppose he did," he
said. with the air Of one who knows.
His wife looked at him suspiciously
" Do you know who sent themf" she
demanded.
He waited moment before reply
ing, wondering if it were wise to tell
her. Would she reproach himS he
fancied she could not after such an
evening. 1t had been like a revival
of their youth.
"Do you know who sent them .
his wife repeated.
/" Well, what if dot" he answered
with a half smile.
Don't keep me in suspense. Tel
me now," she urged, excitedly. "Whc
was it,"
"Oh, if you must know, I sent
them," he said, shamefacedly, for il
not easy to confess it, after all.
"The color rushed to her face
:" You sent them," she cried. :" Where
did you get them 2"
He was impatient at the question
Why. at the florists, of course" hs
replied.
"At the florists +" she repeated
wonderingly. Why, how came yor
how did it happenf"
She had grown pale as she stood
there before him, and looked older by
ten years than she had seemed halt
an hour before.
-r
Dalberg fell the chill Of the change
His heart sank as he looked at her.
al saw them in the window" h
explained, in a labored way. ! re-
membered that you liked them. Tha
is ALL"
She looked fxedly at him as though
she could not believe him. Her fac'
showed great distress.
:" But the expense, she said. "Yot
must have spent a great deal o
money"
He did not answer.
She seemed determined upon wiring
ing the truth from him. "How muct
were they 2" she demanded.
Dalberg rubbed his fingers bach
and forth above his closed eyes. Hi'
face was darkly flushed. "They wer'
two dollars" be replied, and his voic'
sounded hard and strained.
Her expression was painful to lool
at. Through her mind there undcubt
edly foated the remembrance of th'
innumerable wants which that money
would have filled. The children
always the children were needing
1annels, hose, everything in fact. Th'
spending of fifty cents for two bach
seats in the balcony was an unwar-
rantable extravaganza for which sh'
was sure to upbraid herself. But twt
dollars for violets
You should not have done it," sh'
said, after a pause. You know W.
cannot afford such things" Hel
| voice was cold, but without anger
The children need shoes" she wen
on; 9 they are almost barefoot snt
Jack must have new coat, or els
he must leave school. don't know
where the money is coming from t.
pay for all these things"
Her husband did not reply. H
| still sat with his eyes closed, rubbing
his forehead with his fingers as thougl
he was smoothing away a pain. Hi
face had a peculiar expression. Sh
ha6 never seen him like that before
and felt a little fear OF him.
81 suppose I ought not to say this,
! she said, after moment, but yo'
know how hard it is to keep food il
the children's mouths"
The words seemed to start her hus
band. He rose and arranged th