The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-19

SeeiDeu TO De AFRAID OF MS past, "uu looh care
to avoid all those who could possibly recall it
to mind.
Raoul was thus for some eight months. To-
ward the middle of the NINTH he had q relapse
into former habits. One met him more fire.
quently. 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 happy at his
home or loved less his pretty little wife. o,
no, pot at all; for whenever met him, he as
sured me earnestly that his wife was treas
ure."
When husband says this so positively,
there Is room 10 doubt that be is still lover.
You do not agree with me? man, you say,
who announces thus that his wife is treasure,
Is q man who blows upon tea or ashes already
cold. All, well, perhaps you are right; when
the fire hames one warns himself and gener-
ally says nothing.
To tell the truth, Raoul had begun to blow
upon his fire. The sweetness that had intoxt-
Gated him nine months ago appeared to him
now a 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 ruffied his hair. He
said nothing but he was irritated, annoyed
all the more so as the tender little woman, see-
ing 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 silent longer, g do
you not sec that l am reading?"
Then say, My dear little wife, l adore
you and I'll let you co." Louise returned,
with the pout of an angel.
But l have said it five hundred and one
times already, and to be frank, Louise de-
cline to be forced to repeat it every quarter OF
an hour" And he stopped for his book. which
had ia n floor
obliged him to lose five minutes more seeking
the place where he had left off; which in
creased his bad humor that 10 minutes later,
when they sat down to lunch, he found the
soup decidedly too salt, and said SO.
'Why, no, Raonl; l do not find it so" Louise
returned innocently.
But / do; and that settles It," Raoul de-
clared peremptorily, pouring water in his
bouillon with determined air. The fact is,
my dear, your cook knows no more of season.
ing than she knows of finance. This food is
uneatable. 1t is only at restaurant that a
presentable fillet can be had" And he breathed
sort of sigh that resembled stfed regret
" But a month ago she pleased yon," urged
Louise, who, i'll spite of her love and gentle
ness did not lack spirit; 81 do net understand
it."
"You do not understand! Now why do you
say that? And such a tone The very min
ute, it seems to me, that / object to anything,
you Jump to the conclusion that am content
with nothing"
Al did not say that"
"You leave it to be supposed, nevertheless"
Silence fell between them, but meanwhile,
Raoul, still fuming, thought how, presently,
they would go to install themselves 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
it's edge tho regular movement Of his wife's
In yly baeI md fnrth in hat
embroidery, and that, after the paper he
would resume bis 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 tho usual question "Blue, black, or red
in this corner Raoul? What do you say,
Pet?"
"Pet!" An expression that had ouce
brought tears of tenderness to his eyes, and that
now seemed absurd.
All these thoughts came one by oDe and
gradually he felt his bad hnmor increase, till,
suddenly he resumed, sharply: 81 do not see
what there is so extraordinary in wishing to
have properly cooked fillet."
"Well, L was wrong; I'll see to tho next"
Louise answered, with manner little prm.
Raoul laid down knife and fork resignedly.
My dear child" said he. "have said that
you were wrong? You have very singular
mania for posing as injured person."
At heart. he felt himself unjust; but anger
was stronger than he, and mounted to his
brain.
If only you would be calm, Raoul -
Louise began, gently.
Be calm-be calm, y0u sayp AS If / were
the one who has lost his temper But, Louise,
this is perfectly childish. What else have you
for dinner besides this fillet?
81 really do not know"
The meal came to an end in the profouudest
silence. Immediately afterward Raoul took
his hat.
You ars going out?" hazarded Louise,
softly.
"If you will kindly permit me?"
And out he went, but not with an assured
STEP On the staircase he stopped to listen.
"Sbe did not ask me, even," thought he
| wonderingly, If l were going to be late. How
| strange! But it proves what believed-that
| | have been too weak with her in the first
| months Of our marriage"
! Once in the street, he paused again. irreso-
lutely not knowing where to go; but finally
| strolled on at random, buttoning his gloves and
| still uneasily refecting. His wife was the best
| little woman in the world, bnt--he had been
| too weak with her. there was no doubt of it,
| At the tobacconists OIL the corner, he stopped
| to light his cigar On the boulevards, all the
cafes were open, a crowd filling the chairs.
| All how good il was! To stroll at ones ease
| in Paris one must always stroll alone.
| He passed before his old club, blazing with
| light and aStir with men, nut he dared not en-
| ter, though he had great desire to do so; he
dreaded the smiles that would greet his appear
| ance and crossed to the opposite side.
Then, too how irritating it was, when he
gave his arm to his,wife to have her make those
long stops before the jewelers. and mlliners'
that always made him so furious. Yes, he was
right-to stroll agreeably in Paris, one must be
alone. AHIaai
Nevertheless two hours later, flied with
remorse, he turned his steps homeward, to find
his wifo with red eyes
.'Cryng!" though he; actually crying, as
if couldn't leave the house a moment without
her behaving as if had really deserted her"
And, instead of embracing her, as he really
wished to do, he calmly mounted the stairs,
with an icy little Good night, my dear!"
Louise on her side, was far from stupid; her
husband was bored when with her-she felt it;
she felt, too, that even the rustic of her skirts
rritated Raoul What should she do? The best
she could at all events; by thousand and one
little wifely efforts and attentions. she sought
to re.establish the tender little chats and jokes
| and JOYOUS laughter in tho corner by the fire.
But the very restraint that she imposed upon
herself mado the effort abOrtive. Time and
again she opened talk with him in the old,
| ligbt-hearted fashion. only to be thrown back
upon herself by cold OK nOnchalant "yes " or
mo" from RaOul, accorded without even rails
| ing his eyes, More than all, too. she was
| wounded in her self respect, when trying on
dress or hat before him. on the effect of which
| she had counted, to receive only an indifferent
"No. it isn't bad, that dress-or hat-but, had
been you, I'd have taken yellow in place of
that blue"