Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-12-22
library lamp, very crestfallen and very


a little hand, with very long life line in
its palm, waving a handkerchief from u
dormer window, he made no sign.
The girl with the red plume? Did she
marry the man with The curly hair? Alas
for Cousin Richard's soothsaying Before
he came back from school they had laid
her away in the graveyard by the sea, and
over her grave they put "A craven tablet,
saying, "May, aged 10"
And the very old gentleman signs again,
and rubbing his glasses as though they
were damp he rises from the settee in front
of the picture and goes into the portrait
gallery forgetting for the moment that his
wife is with him.
Madame, his wife, hears his sigh and
echoes it, and down in her heart she feels
throb that hurts. From the other gal
leries there comes the sound of laughter
and of women speaking as women laugh
and talk in the playhouses between the
acts.
He has not forgotten her, " says ma
dame to herself, land that was 40 years
ago. He never will forget her" and she
draws her lips together tightly.
From the street is heard the music of
strolling hand organ player, and to madame
it recalls one night-a night that she has
never forgotten, although it was 40 years
ago. 1t was at the play that she first saw
the woman with the red plume. She was
an actress, tall, 1.-the graceful and beauti-
full. Her voice was low toned and soft, and
she purred like cat as she took off her
hat with it's sweeping plume and caressed
the face of her lover. She took off her hat
so that she could kiss him, the shameless
thing, and she told him she loved him
Then it was that she frowned. There was
something about this woman that she did
, not like, and the madame herself was
young 40 years ago, tall, slender and beau
tiful. Perhaps it was her voice, maybe
her large black eyes-luring eyes-or
possibly her lips-a sirens lips, full and
rose red, or the wantOn plume 1t made
no difference which. She disliked her in
tuitively. Some persons do not believe in
a wOman's intuition.
And madame smiles grimly as she thinks
of this incredulty.
Her husband liked this red plumed
woman from the first-this very old gen
tleman then young and straight. He
watched her every gesture. He sighed at
her distress He reioiced in her triumph,
and be it said to his discredit he almost
enved the curly haired man whose face
she purred over and caressed This very
old gentleman was n very human young
man a long generation ago, and she was
only an actress.
Madame would have forgotten this first
night, however, had it not been for the
supper. That she never has forgotten nor
forgiven and never will. 1t wasn't his
fault-so he said. This was the way it
happened They gave a supper to Marie
that was the name of the actress-the
members of his club, and he was forced to
go. 1t would not have done to have staid
IL
to make excuses; he had business to at
tend to; he bad another engagement; he
had promised to dine with madame at
home, but he was laughed at, - lpoohed.
And so he went, This much he has con
fessed humbly and penitently.
1t was harmless supper. This he has
asserted boldly and with emphasis. There
were other actresses present and also the
curly haired man who was Marie's hus-
band. 1t was supper such as madame
might have sat down to herself. There
were music and wine, some stories, a few
songs, and then he went home. He never
saw her afterward
And when she thinks of this madame
smiles again more grimly even than be-
fore.
She would not have cared so much about
the supper, however indiscreet that might
hhNC DSCl, udNl IL lOO DttH lOT iuc lclitI
which she found years afterward in the
old desk where the very old gentleman
keeps his papers-a little faded letter tied
round with IA lock of coal black hair and a
bit of scarlet ribbon. 1t was this letter
that made her heart throb as it has not
done since the morning that he had made
his confession and his peace
This is what the letter said:
MY DEAR, Foolish DICK-So you went away
: without bidding me goodby. How sillyl AS il
minded your rage at the man with the curly
hair. You know always liked straight hail
the best. And you vexed Well i
serves you right, for you very rude, clum
sy boy, and my hand hurts me still. shall
never forgive you. Be good boy aud write
soon to your loving MAY.
That is the letter that madame found il
; the desk She will look for it again to
morrow-tOnight-a if she finds it still
she will speak her mind
And again madame smiles unpleasantly
care you ready, my lover" asks the yer!
old gentleman.
"Quite'
"a very pretty face, don't you think so
: 1t reminds me of some one ! used t
know"
81 don't like the face It's bold. lie
{ US go home"
u And az they go down stairs, arm il
: arm, the very old gentleman wonders q
her taste, and thinking of the plume o
autumn naples, the craven tablet by tn
sea and the little faded letter in his desl
he signs once more.
"What lovely facen'
A very young gentleman and madame
- his wife, stand before the picture.
= ''What II beautiful plume George,
- wish you'd buy me hat like that. vii
: you, DEAR"
eyes, dear. "-Benjamin Northrop i
= New York Mail and Express.