Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-01-18
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THAT looks very nice and emanci
pated," said Ida, glancing round. "Nov
shall lie on this sofa. Sol Now
Charles, just sit here and throw YOU
arm carelessly over the back of the sofa
No. don't stop smoking. like it. Clara
dear, put your feet upon the coal scuttle
and do try to look little dissipated.
wish we could crown ourselves with
flowers. There are some lettuces on the
sideboard. Oh, dear, here he isl. | heal
his key" She began to sing in her high,
fresh voice little snatch from French
song, with swinging tra-la-la chorus.
The doctor had walked home from the
station in a peaceable and relenting
frame of mind, feeling that perhaps be
had said too much in the morning. that
his daughters had for years been models
in every way, and that if there had been
any change of late it was. as they said
themselves, on account of their anxiety
to follow his advice and to initiate Mrs.
Westmacott. He could see clearly
enough now that that advice was un-
wise and that a world peopled with Mrs.
Westmacotts would not be happy or a
soothing one. 1t was he who was him
self to blame. and he was grieyed by the
thought that perhaps his hot words had
troubled and saddened his two girls.
This fear, however, was soon dissi-
pated. As he entered his hall he heard
the voice of Ida uplifted in a rollicking
ditty, and a very strong smell of tobacco
was borne to his nostrils. He threw open
the dining room door and stood aghast
at the scene which met his eyes.
The room was full of the blue wreaths
of smoke, and the lampiight shone
through the thin haze upon gold topped
bottles, plates, napkins and litter of
oyster shells and cigarettes. Ida, flushed
and excited, was reclining upon the set
tee, wineglass at her elbow and ciga-
rette between her fingers, while Charles
Westmacott sat beside her, with his arm
thrown over the head of the sofa with
the suggestion of a caress. On the other
side of the room Clara was lounging in
an armchair, with Harold beside her
both smoking and both with wineglasses
beside them. The doctor stood speech
less in the doorway, staring at the bac-
chanalian scene.
Come in, papa. dol" cried Ida. Won't
you have a glass of champagne?
pray excuse me-" said her father
coldly. 81 feel that am intruding.
did not know that you were entertaining
Perhaps you will kindly let me know
when you have finished. You will find
me in my study" He ignored the two
young men completely, and closing the
door retired. deeply hurt and mortified,
to his room. A quarter of an hour aft
erward he heard the door slam. and his
two daughters came to announce that
the guests were gone.
Guests! Whose guests?" he cried an
grily. What is the meaning of this ex-
hibitionY
1--WE have been giving little supper.
papa. They were our guests.
.tOh, indeedr' the doctor laughed sar-
castically. "You think it right, then, to
entertain young bachelors late at night.
to smoke and drink with them, to-oh,
that should ever have lived to blush
for my own daughtersl | thank God
that your dear mother never saw the
day."
Dearest papa" cried Clara, throwing
her arms about him. "Do not be angry
with US. Ii you understood all. you
would see there is no harm in it."
mo harm, missl Who is the best
judge of that"
MRS. Westmacott. suggested Ida
slyly.
The doctor sprang from his chair.
rConfound Mrs. Westmacottr he cried,
striking frenziedly into the air with his
hands. "Am | to hear of nothing but
this woman? Is she to confront Inc at
every turn? will endure it no longer"
"But it was your wish, papa"
Then l will tell you now what my
second and wiser wish is, and we shall
see if you will obey it as you have the
first"
"Of course we viii, papa"
"Then my wish is that you should for
get these odious notions which you have
that you should dress and act
as you used to do before ever you saw this
woman, and that in future you confne
your intercourse with her to suoh civili-
hes as arc necessary between neighbo-s."
I'VE are to give up Mrs. Westmacott?"
''Or give up me-"
"Oh, dear dad, how can you say any
thing so cruel" cried Ida, burrowing her
towsy, golden hair into her fathers shirt
eront, while Clara pressed her cheek
against his whiskers. ''Of course we
shall give her up if you prefer it."
"Of course we shall. papa"
The doctor patted the two caressing
heads. ''These are my own two girls
again." he cried. "It has been my fault
Is much as yours. have been astray,
md you have followed me in my error.
It was only by seeing your mistake that
have become conscious of my own.
Let US set it aside and neither say nor
,hink anything more about it."