The Bessemer indicator., 1894-07-07
THE WAGES OF SIN.
Being the Tragedy of Dinner
Party.

bcns, and orchids. Imagine n most who
tns sprang from nothing and grown
into so much gold. and hostess who
has come OF good stock and descended
into diamonds. Among sprinkiihg OF
politicians and society butterflies. si1
q certain Capt. Power and a certain
young heircss, rs beautiful as she Is
rich. On the mans other side Is the
daughter Of the house, a pale-fnced girl
with the manners of duch .ss, and
n brain that has been crushed Ivy the
weight of gold.
ii think" she says, gently, that We
must try and persuade you to come to
us for Henley. Capt. Power. We arc
intending TO decorate the houscboat In
quite new style
How"
"Oh. papa has some artist with a
wonderful scheme of color" says the
girl, with n puzzled, doubtful express
Aon. Il suppose 1t will be NIL right"
You know nm always engaged"
the man commences, when the heiress
breaks in.
"Oh, yes; but this year you must
come. / am to be there, too, and we
can have such fun"
The soldier fiushcs.
At must think about It," he answers.
The pale girl notes that the hedress
has flushed, too; and sighs.
IT suppose" the heiress goes on,
that you have seen Loie FullerT
Yes" he answers, at random, With
his blue eyes watching her face.
''She fnakes a beautiful. artistic pict-
ure," the pale girl says.
"a picturer'
"The color effects are wonderful. She
reminds me of the flames we can dis
cover In a wood fire"
The heiress murmurs Charming"
and Capt Powers seems little at a
loss how to continue. The hciress
notes the crestfallen appearance Of the
man on her other side. who Inns taken
her into dinner. and filings him word
or two in order to restore his appetite.
In n pause In the conversation. the
man that is all gold Is heard anlounc-
ing tho fact that he hns bought Lord
So-and-So's yacht; young man, who
seems too tired to do anything, sudden
ly rouses himself enough TO discuss
ibsen with q juvenile old lady on his
right, and In another pause makes an
awkward remark on Ghosts. Inc
lady Of the house, with some tact.
browns his voice and his stupidity by
asking her neighbors II they will have
some burned almonds, and pass her tho
olives; while the captain, who has COM
menced pretty speech to the heiress,
breaks of and looks at anything III
the room but her face.
Then the conversation, which Is trtv-
ial and uninteresting, recommences.
u. thAr nr.A- a
still fewer clever women-crishcd by
the weight of gold. 1t surrounds them
In every form; 1t flows to ihem even
In the voice of their host, and they
cannot struggle ngainst 1t. Their only
retaliation will bo their remarks the
next day to a sympathetic circle Of
friends.
In the midst Of 1t all. the captain tells
the heiress that perhaps he will go
to Henley, and she muir nurs foolishly,
but prettly:
"oh, don't go merely to please me-"
"But 1t will be q pleasure"
"You have always refused before"
II refuse nothing now that takes
me where you are"
ut Is sweet of you to say that-but,
of course-I-"
"You can quite believe it-and you
know you do believe 1t. That reminds
me: VIII you let me come and see you
tomorrow"
A she bushes and wells her eyes
with their long, dark lashes. ne breaks
Of, One of the men-seryants has v'his-
pered that he is wanted, and will he
come into the hall?
Puzzled and much surprised, he mur-
nurs an excuse and rises. The heiress
leans across his empty chair and tells
the palefaced daughter of the house
that she has persuaded the captain to
come to Henley.
How good of you," answers the 9TH
er, with a glance that is anything but
good, for the heiress has n triumphant
smile which is maddening.
The captains footsteps echo on the
parduet, then there is pause and the
Intervening doors are huxriedly closed.
As he comes into the light Of the hall
he stands amazed, and for one instant
looks like man in n dream. A wo-
man, gayly nttired In cheap fnery,
comes forward and prefaces her words
with drunken laugh.
Thought l was dead, jim. didn't
yer?"
"Yes," he answers stcrnly, and grow
ing very white.
"Weli, amt. Where do you hang
out?"
"Why did you follow me hereT
saw you drive this way and came
In. Knew you used to dine here in
the old days, when the girl Of the house
was 4 mere kid. 'Spect you intended
to make up to her now, ns you thought
I was out of the way"
There is a pause. The ladies nre
heard leaving the dining room. but they
ascend by another staircase, and do
not pass this way.
Capt. Powers whole face hardens.
what do you want with me?" he
asks.
well, you're my husband, amt yerT
yes"
"Tben I wnnt money, and I'll not
worry you again"
Il must CO." he speaks with an eff
fort, "nnd make my excuses UP stairs.
Wait for Inc outside; don't stay here"
kick up pretty row."
You cnn trust me. Nov, 20. I
will be with you in ten minutes"
The helress meets his eyes rs lie
comes into the large drawing room
and notices nothing; she greets him
with a smile that In enchanting, and
waits for him to join ner. The daugh-
ter Of the house rises hurriedly, and as
quickly resumes her seat.
The captain speaks to her mother,
explains that lie has had bnd news
to that fact lis white lips testify
and IL called away. The Dllze of the
diamonds flashes In his eyes for mo-
inent, and she says something politely
sympathetic. He moves on, dazei, per-
haps. by the sparkle. 10 where the
heiress stnnds.
II am obliged to go away" he says,
In broken voice.
And not come to Henley"
1T L. quite impossible now"