The Dickinson press., 1894-04-14

rame as shock to Ciccly Pentland.
She was the pretticst girl of Il country
family where there we're daughters to
spare and no fortunes to dover them
with and at twenty she was still dream
Ing q girls day dreams Of the tmpossl-
BILE creature who was to come to love
md marry her. And this creation OF
her imagination was as unlike the
smart young city man. with his slang
and his cynicism, as he could possibly
be. Her first impulse was to give an
abrupt refusal, and upon this impulse
she acted. Duke was unm0ved by 1t;
he asked her again. He asked her
every other day for fortnight, and at
the end of that time she, of course,
Of nothing but this persistent
upon her peace, in a sort OF
vertigo. accepted him.
After the monotonous existence to
which she had been used. her married
life seemed at first to Cicely one long,
races, balls, theaters, not con-
certs-they were too ''slow", trips to
Paris, Vienna. Venice. for the first
three years Of her marriage, during
which little daughter and son were
born to her, she lived life Of intoxi-
eating excitement which occupied
though it did not satisfy her. For Cice-
" had q full share of the seriousness
which underlics the English character
where there is any character to under
lie. And by the time her second baby
was lying on her lap she began to ask
herself more and more coherenty
whether she and her husband were
making quite the best Of life: and Q
suspicion began to steal into her mind
that Mrs. Observation-Disclosures, the
rich merchants wife, who wore such
d0wdy bonnets and was laughed at for
being her own head nurse, was really
making greater success Of existence
than IL she had trusted her bonnets
to O Paris milliner and her babies to o
nurse.
As these convictions grew stronger
within her, Cicely began to act upon
them and to stay ut home. And, hus-
band and wife having had little SYM
pathy deeper than that Of mere COM
panions in pleasure, a breach was thus
started between them without either Of
them knowing 1t. And 1t grew wider
day by day. When, therefore, Dukes
mother died, and his sister, Minna, was
left without q home, it was Cicely who
suggested that the girl should come and
live with them, and Duke acquiesced
with much satisfaction.
''She will be companion for you.'
he said.
And as he spoke he flushed and looked
ut her out of the corners Of his eyes.
His conscience was not quite free; he
knew who ought to have been the COM
panion of his wife.
But she only said. "Yes. DEAR" and
looked down upon the baby on her
knee with calm eyes.
So Aiinna's coming was at first q
pleasure and q relief to both husband
and wife. For Minna was a laughter
loving, fair-haired, plump little person
with q round, pink checked face that In
spired wish to kiss her. And the per
sons in whom she inspired this wish
most strongly clustered about Dial
House and made things lively. Chief
among these persons were Algy Hurst
q young stock broker who affected
beautifully fitting coats and q blase
manner, and Leonard Harvey, an ad
mirer Of the tragic and taciturn sort
but In every way more worthy Of Min
mn. who underyalued him according
ly.
Cicely aud llinna sat in the breakfas
room one summer morning, few
weeks after the arrival OF the latter
They were chatting In general wal
of the characteristics of married pe0
pie.
"Au married people are not like 20,
and Duke" said Mtnna.
"What do you mean by that, Min
na?"
"Only what you know quite we'll
that you are very-very-Well,t that 70,
take things in a very matter-of-fact wa!
for woman-that Is, for people wh'
have not long been married"
"We'ye been married three years,
said Cicely, looking very serious. "Yo'
wouldn't have two sensible people, wh'
have been husband and wife all tina
time, behave like young lovers!"
'"rhree years isn't much out OF
lifetime. And you never did behav'
like young lovers, you and Duke"
"Why, Minna, where are your prtnci
pies? Haven't heard you say dozel
times that the true basis Of married
happiness was money, not lOve!"
THAT is true. as far as l am con
cerped. But you are different. com'
Of city stock, and a commercial min.
is appropriate In me. You belong +
another class. neither so prosaic nor q
vulgar; and there is a look in your eye
which suggests capacity for r0mant,
devotion; 50 that to see YOU settle dow
into just commonplace good house
wife is a disappointment. There, IN
been frank enough, and rude enough
haven't IT,
Cicely laughed, but she looked puz
Eled and rather panied.
She was about to answer when the
:. were interrupted Ey the entrance Of
h,usemaid.
If you please. 4ma'am." tue girl bt
gan, there's q person In the hall VIII
says he comes from the Office, and tha
masters sent him for his dret
Clothes"
Who is it? Any one you kncw?"
mo. uia'ala. He se.,nls rather
strange-Ooking sort of a person. Fl
Gays his name is Radstock."
"hadstock!' echo:d Minna in q rat
:, eT started voice. What is he like?
r. he q mildle-agel MANI"
sr "Yes, n.a'iln.. mkldle-aged and We
shabby; and his hands shake and
smells of spirits. Not at Ill a respect
= q BILE sort Of person. Shall give hi
n the things, ma'am?"
Cicely hesitated. She saw that Min
" had something to soy about the mt
senger.
J, 'Tell, him." she said, that "
come out and speak to him." VIII
l. y