The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-06

hard.
He took . turn up and down the par
lor. "You never have had the expert
ence, Louise, Of fighting for the last
word You don't know what delight
ful, exhilarating exercise IL is"
Fortunately Helen had stepped into
the dining room to order dinner served,
and now. in few minutes, they were
seated at the table. Mabel, the young
daughter, was allowed to take her place
at the family board. She was very large
for her age, with no trace Of her moth
er's delicate beauty. merely healthy,
romping girl with well developed ap-
petite. *
Mr.. White noticed that Mabel was
holding her spoon in her left hand and
conveying 1t 10 her mouth in an awk-
ward manner.
"Mrs. White" he asked, with great
gravity, why don't you teach your
daughter to eat properly? Have you OBJ
served that she is spilling her soup all
over her aproni'
And why don't You teach her, Mr..
White? She is quite as much your
daughter as mine, and think little
more" returned Helen, with bright
spot burning ON her cheek.
isn't it the mothers place 10 teach
the children manners, Louise?"
II don't know anything about it,"
returned Louise, putting bit of bread
into her mouth.
"For person of your positive char
scter," returned Monte, you have few
er opinions than any one / ever knew.
There is one thing of which am per.
fectly certain-it is that the cook has
scorched the soup. Helen, can't you lay
by the pursuit of the good, the true and
the beautiful for little and look after
that woman? Can't you give her few
hints about how things should be done?"
"She is your woman," returned Hell
en-, with biting calmness. "You selected
her at the Office in town; you brought
her out with you on the train and have
steadily refused to have her dismissed.
though have more than once pointed
out her incompetence
Il have always said, Helen, that she
would do very well with little instruc-
ton, and say so still By Jove, what
a pleasant dinner we are making for
Louisel And here is the beef cooked to
death, and know she likes it rare"
"On the contrary, said Louise, has
tening to tell white lie In the inter-
ests of peace, lit is cooked exactly as
like it. Do give me that outside bit. F."
Louise, you must acknowledge 1t is
the duty Of the woman Of the house to
look after the kitchen department."
II am not so sure Of that" returned
Miss Lancaster as she cut her meat in
little bits and pretended to eat. ''In
Italy the man manages the kitchen, and
it seems to work very well"
"You always go against me-, T" poutsd
Monte, invariably. believe You and
Helen are in conspiracy to contradict
everything say"
Mrs. White beamed on her friend II
was this kind Of moral support in re-
bellion that made her invaluable to
Helen.
The dinner well over, they set of to
the theater, Mrs. White wearing the be-
coming gray bonnet with pink plumes.
Monte, in spite of all disagreements,
was very susceptible to his wife's
charms, and as soon as they had got
fairly into the street he turned to Lou
Use with boyish impulse and whisper
ed, Isn't Helen looking well tonight?"
"Yes; she is lovely"
"Whst are you two saying?" asked
Mrs. White, turning back.
"Oh, nothing, dear! Monte is only
admiring his wife.
Mrs. White took her place in the par
quet with quite beaming face. In spite
Of her great aims and high aspirations
she loved to be admired, like school
girl Monte placed himself between his
wife and Louise, and at first divided
his attentions quite impartially. He
noticed, however, that Miss Lancaster
was inclined to be pensive and distrait.
They had good seats in tho middle Of
the house, where pretty toilets told for
their full value. Monte, in evening coat
and white chokor, his face beaming
with grateful pride, looked like one OF
the most prosperous Of men. There was
u Iull DlOWu JuNeucsctuCo uuout Ihoiitc
in spite of his bald head and portly per-
son that made it impossible for people
to believe in any sort Of misfortune ever
coming to him.
The play was one Of those tender, pa
thetio little domestic dramas that touch
the chords of the heart and awaken old
memories 1t was the story of an aged
married pair overwhelmed by misery
and with only their mutual love for
help and support Monte was a very
soft natured man in spite of his love OF
horseflesh and the unsympathetic air
he could assume at home when at times
he seemed hard as nails. He had ten
der heart, easily moved TO compassion
and touched and melted by sad tale.
Now, as the play unfolded, Monte felt a
suspicious rising in the throat and mois-
ture about the eyes. He tried hard not
to betray his emotion to Louise, feeling
it to DO unmanly, afraid as he was Of
her critical eye. SO ho edged round to-
ward his wife, drew out his pocket