The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-02-24
CHAPTER III.
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Some demon OF ~perverSity seemed to
have got hold of Duke on this night.
Because he saw unusual solicitude ON
his wife's face, because instead Of the
habitual calm and placid look in her
eyes there was excitement and anxiety,
he refused her m~inistrations and would
let no n but Minna bind up his in
jured wrist. a
The guests went away early, Rad
stock remaining last, in order, so he
said, to thank Mrs. Darlington better
than he could in the presence of straug-
ers for her kind reception of him.
THAT man is not sincere said Min
ma to her sister-in-law, as they stood
in the hall when Radstock had shuf1ed
away. He knows you were kind to
him, he doesn't feel it."
Duke, who was standing near enough
to overhear this, rebuked her sharply
for her heartlessness In turning the
cold shoulder to a man just because
he was down in the world. Minna lis
tened very quietly, and then turning
her eyes, which she had kept demure-
ly down, asked:
Haven't you anything to say to
Cicely then, who treated the old ruff
fan as if he had been a prince?'
DOn OASNOA4SSAS CO jill "
a moment. Then he said quickly:
Il don't expect my wife to insult her
husbands guests"
And with these words he walked
straight into the library without an
other look at either Of them.
Duke having shown such a strong
Partially for Joseph Radstock, n Of
his wife's first cares vas to conciliate
that unattracetive old gentleman by in.
viting him to dinner and to tea, and
doing her best, with gentle courtesy,
to mitigate the effect Of Minna's reso-
lutte GOODNESS toward him. But this
treatment fortunately only proved the
shrewdness of Minna's estimate Of
his character. From alternately SER
vile and familiar, his manner rapidly
became familiar with only occasional
lapses into servility, and thereafter
familiar and jocose. This development
was hard to bear, but Cicely bore it.
C%oincident with this gradual change
In Radstock's demeanor, however,
Cicely noticed an alteration for the
worse in Duke also. He grew not only
irritable, but morose and taciturn; his
wife and sister saw less and less Of
him, and the short time he spent in
their society grew daily more unendur-
able to all three. At last, one day
when she suggested inviting Radstock
to lunch with them on the following
Sunday, Duke turned upon her In a
sudden outburst Of fierce anger.
What on earth can you see in that
old scoundrel that you must be having
him here morning, noon and night?'
he asked in a shaking voice. Isn't
it enough for you that he's going to be
my ruin?'
Without another word, without an
other glance at his wife, who fell back
in speeches. horror, he dashed out Of
the house, leaving her to put what con-
struction she pleased upon this out
burst. She said nothing about 1t to
Minna, hoping for an explanation from
her husband. That evening, on his re-
turn from the city, he did, indeed,
try to laugh of the effects Of his
hastily uttered words, but this attempt
only reused in Cicely the certainty that
they had some serious meaning.
OF course Mr.. Joseph Radstock got
no more invitations to Dial House.
But he was not to be shaken off &c cas-
lily.
One evening, shortly before the time
at which Duke was expected home
from the city, one of the housemaids
came to inform her mistress that Mr..
Radstock was outside, but that she
didn't like to let him in, as she was
sure he was tipsy.
And he's behaving in such a way,
ma'am, not civil like he used to be,
but says he will come in, and he's as
good as anybody here, and If he's not
let in It will be worse for everybody.
And he's pulling away ut the bell AMI
making q disturbance. Shall l send
to the stables and get Latham to send
him away, ma'amy:
mo" said Cicely, very quietly, rising
and coming to the door, Il will go and
speak to him."
The lady thought, rs we'll she might.
that the constant kindness she had
shown him would give her influence
with, him, But Joseph kAdstoek law
in gentlehess and courtesy only weak
ness, and In truth he felt a much great
er contempt for Cicely than for her
patronizing and occasionally bullying
husband. At the first sight OF him, on
opening the front door, ahe doubted
her powers. He had been drinking
and there was q confidential swagger
in his manner and a surly insolence
in his tone which recalled Dukes
alarming words, and with which she
felt unable tte eeps.
Good evehing, Mr.. Radstock," 3
began, trying to be conciliatory. II
you want to e my husband, he
mo, I don't want to g your huss>
of him ut Thu. Office. I want q dinner,
NV NV u hayso one: YoqI excuse my Ilaks
Iyu = fraA2 Hut You and WERE