Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-29
The MaTtIGt Seal.
BY JEANETTE H. wALwoRTH.
CHAPTER TX.

= CdABTER TX.
Flowersl flowers everywhere! The
most expensive sort at the most expen-
sive season! But expense was never
taken into account in the Norcross es-
tablishment. Did Mrs. Norcross desire
a thing? And was that thing the very
best of its kindP Those were the only
two questions worth the asking or the
answering.
Friday was Mrs. Eugene Norcross'
day. Not that every day was not en-
tirely ut her own frivolous disposal, but
even butterflies are subject to exhaus-
ton, and if Mrs Norcross had not set
apart one day out of the seven for ''spe-
cial observances," the gayest butterfly
of fashion that all Esplanade street, in
the city of New Orleans, could boast,
would have succumbed to the burden of
It's own popularity.
On Friday, therefore, one was sure Of
finding Mrs. Norcross at home, clothed
in one of those marvels of French cos
tunes that all her ''set was raving
over" One was also sure of finding the
house converted into q bower of roses,
while from every corner of the spacious
lower floor, during the regulation
hours, foated the mingled aroma of
English breakfast tea and feminine
gossip.
Apparently no one enjoyed Mrs. Nor
cross Friday afternoons moro thor
oughly than she did herself. No child
freshly admitted into fairy-land could
have outdone her in joyous gayety, as
she flashed from group to group of the
tea-drinlers, moving her 1.-THE form
with it's glistening satin train, and her
jewcled arms and hands, with an effec-
tive grace not altogether unstudied.
All of those who drank her tea were
not good-natured towards Eugene Nor
cross young wife. Some of them, per
haps, had not yet got over the secret
smart of his detection from the ranks
of their own possible suitors. Some of
them, perhaps, would have preferred
his marrying a woman whom 'some-
body knew" Among these was his aunt,
Mrs. Mellicent Norcross, who conf1den-
TALLY assured his married sister, Mrs.
Delaney Delany, on the Friday in ques-
ton, that
IF Norcross had not brought her di.
rect from Paris, one would be tempted
to accuse her of gaucherie."
mot gaucherie! Anything but that
For a woman in her first winter here
she is the most absolutely self-pos-
sessed young thing I ever saw"
"Wcn, then, provincialism, If you
prefer. l imagine she has seen very
little of this sort of thing. Her enjoy.
ment of it is too undisguised, too alb
surdly genuine"
cit is rather patent. She is pretty
creature, though, Mellicent. One car
scarcely blame Eugene for becoming in
fatuated so late in life"
''She is exquisitei Chic from the
crown of her blonde hair to the tips OF
those little twinkling yellow satir
slippers. 1t Is her ELUSIVE gayety
condemn. 1 should prefer more repost
of manner"
"Her costume is daring. No woman
less sure of her complexion would have
ventured so much yellow at once. She
does laugh too much"
Miss Delaney Delany lowered hel
long-handled eyeglasses, and sighed
| Mrs. Mellicent NorcrosS lowered hers
| and smiled:
"Aftcr all, why should she not Taught
Life must be an altogether pleasant
| thing for her. The adored wife of Eu
| gene Norcross, no children, assured 20
sition, old family, wealth, beauty
youth, health!-I envy her, my dear
| positively"
"And-yet-a slxeleton!'
Mrs. Mellicent shrugged her plump
shoulders and lowered her voice:
| You mean Eugene himself2"
"As jealous as n SpaniardP'
What would you have? Perfection?
imagine her Friday afternoons are fire.
from his espionage only because h
knows that no men ever come here be
fore gas-light. He will appear with tn
lighting of the first jet"
'Doubtlossl 1t is an ugly serpent il
this pretty Eden!'
'She walks too rapidly. She lack
| repose."
cism was lost. Mrs. Norcross was com
ing towards them, followed by ira
bearer. She swooped down upon Their
smiling:
"You are neither eating nor drink
ing! This is abominable."
"No; we were gossiping, and abou
you"
"About mc?"
| She clasped two jeweled hands to he
| pink ears. The diamonds that hashe
| upon them were priceless FAMILY gems
cit is the left one that burns. You wer
saying naughty things about me-"
ION the contrary. We were sayin
that Eugene was always most fortN
nate man. But-Bennett Is trying
catch your eye. He has a card Their
One does not need cards to-day"
Mrs. Norcross turned towards til
butler, who was standing behind h
t extending u card and wearing his mo-
impassive facial expression. She fushe
under this implication of social igno
ance, and made no motion towards tai
ing the card:
ST am at homo to all my friends t
day, Bennett"
Z "This is not friend, madam. 1t is
o person"
"Then 1 am not at home to her."
"She insists upon seeing you. 81
J would not go. She has written som
thing on tho card 1 have shown h
into Mr.. Norcross' study"
Mrs. Norcross lifted the card from Il
, | ea1yar II WINS ono Of tho sort RenDe