The herald., 1893-12-31

Still musing, l turned to take my
hat, when loud, merry laugh from the
parlor woke me to my senses. Laugh
ing! They were laughing over it. 1
could stand it no longer. Pain and sor-
row fled, and only the wound to my
honor remained.
Surprise and astonishment gave way
to resentment and anger. Anger became
hatred. Dashing my poor hat upon the
floor, / rushed to the door. My blood
seemed to boil within me. Unconscious
ly clinched my fists.
Again that gay laugh. Surely my
name was mentioned that time! They
were laughing at me, were they? All,
trifers, bewarel He laughs best who
laughs last.
Thought upon thought rushed upon
me and drove me nigh to desperation.
What an ass, what dolt had been!
And hereafter-curse it all!-I would
be laughing stock for all the busybody
gossipers of the city.
II wonder what George will say
when he finds it all out?" heard Ma
bel say, and then she laughed again,
even heartier than before.
"Oh, fancy he will be the most as
tonished man in the city, - answered
her companion, joining in the laugh.
/ have often read the old fable about
the last straw breaking the camels
back, and this last jeering allusion to
myself, that heartless laugh, exasperat-
ing in its mockery, was the last straw.
Unable further to restrain myself, /
flung open the door and rushed into the
room. Without word sprang toward
that man, and not even pausing to
glance at his face caught him fiercely
by the nape of the neck and dragged
him to the center of the room.
'George" shrieked Mabel, regaining
her voice.
Let go, I sayi" cried the fellow at
my feet, shaking me off after mighty
effort. George Froham, are you era
zy?''
"Tom Holbrook" exclaimed, recog-
nizing prominent member of my own
set. ''You scoundreli PIP
George, Georger' cried Mabel,
grasping me tightly and trying to hold
me back. ''Are you mad? What's the
matter?"
"The matter!'' almost yelled, re-
leasing her hold. "Can you dare to ask
me such question:"
"Can dare? What do you mean,
George? don't understand you.
II mean,'' replied, that L have
been standing by that door and have
heard the loving words
what" interrupted Mabel, "you
Yes" continued, II heard the
tender names and loving words you
whispered SO affectionately to one an
other. You, Tom Holbrook, rascal that
you are'----
A sudden idea seemed to strike the
fellow, for, disregarding my hot words,
he actually smiled. "Ah, laugh!" I
yelled. "I'll teach you to laugh, sirl
AS for this girl here''---
/ turned toward Mabel as l spoke,
when to my utter CONSERVATION l saw
that she, too, was smiling 1t was too
much. With loud cry raised my
hand to strike the fellow, but Mabel
clutched my arm so suddenly and close
ly that the blow was checked
George, George'' she cried, let
me explain this to your
'Explain?'' | queried. "Do you
mean to say that you will try to clear
yourselves in my eyes?'
'Of course | will, she answered,
still smiling. "I had no idea you were
such an Othello. Tom and are to play
lovers parts in the performance at the
Odeon next month, and we were merely
rehearsing the lines. Don't you see?''
"You take in amateur theatricalsl
Why, thoroughly debut you never
told mo word about it.
mo, George. They had all agreed
not to mention it to you, and I was go
ing to surprise you the day beforehand.
But" she continued teasingly, "Mr.
Othello No. has spoiled all the fun.
Now don't you see, dear?"
And saws. J. Block in Philadel-
phia Inquirer.