The Washington times., 1894-10-28
Mr.. W6bSf6r.

Nj Nj explain. She was pretty, young look
ing and graceful. She had lovely blue
eyes and black lashes, and dimple in her
left cheek that had made many men abject,
and still retained ITS power. She was thirty
two-old enough to take care Of herself. And
with her own people, when she lived with
them at Chelsea. she had always done much
as she hked-had her own sitting-room,
given her own teas, occasionally even little
dinner, and had liberty to her hearts con-
tent When they, rather unexpectedly, took
it into their heads to so and live abroad,
there was no reason why she should not have
taken a little fat on her own account and
gone on living the life that she liked best.
Spinsterhood would not have mattered to
her, since she was one OF those women who
would be attractive at any age, and could af-
ford 10 pick and choose among men OF GER
tain standing. They always enjoy talking TO
her. most Of them liked her; with certain
amount OF encouragement good many
would have loved her-did, as matter OF
fact, or had done so, without the encourage
ment She was interested in so many things,
and could talk easily and brightly about any
thing, or almost anything, on earth;
she had written once or twice Tor
magazines on some easy topic OF
the dav: could draw q little, rather
badly il must be owned. ana painted in oils
lshe despised water colors) even worse. She
mad coutrived 10 get hung at one or two
minor galleries. chiefly because most OF the
hanging committee wen. 10 tea with her on
show days. and admired the dahodlls with
which she decorated her little studio. She
was so nice and her paintings were so small,
Il would have been unkind not to find room
Tor them Besides what her father called her
Intellectual ACCOMPLISHMENTS, she was clever
in household matters-could order dinner
b.. riectlv had a definite taste in clarets and
had been known when with only two or three
0i her most intimate friends TO smoke cigar
cite with her coffee.
Dickson Warner had been devoted to her
FOR vears-people had always thought it
would come TO something; quite suddenly he
went TO the Cape to look after some diamond
mines and write a book about them Rfter-
wards: and ii came to be understood that
-yerythng was over between him and Emily
rlerways. Then it was announced that her
geople were going 10 live abroad; and she
married Dir Webster.
Now Mr. Webster was a widower Of forty
Eve with two children. boy and a girl aged
eight and ten. called Gilbert and Maria. He
lived in the Adelaide road, and had little
house at Broadstairs. to which he frequently
ran down from Saturday to Monday. he
was something in the city, something con-
uacted with engineering and railways; she
never quite knew what, and Mr.. Webster was
not a man easy to question. He was grave
and sOlid-looking. rather tall, with firm, we'll
developed features; his manner Of speaking
was slow. his clothes were usually black and
ms manner rather masterful, especially with
women. he unbent to Emily Pierways
great deal before marriage so that perhaps
she did not sufficiently grasp his character,
bevOud seeing that be was a truthful worthy
s.9. 10 1N l-aHr Fa
run away from his creditors, nor to do any
other dishonorable action. The lively, half
intellectual society into which he strayed by
accident when he made acquaintance with
her was wholly new to him. The women in
il were bright and chatty. aud had individu-
aiity. they knew ABOUT things. and were com
paniuuable; in short, they had NOT the sup
pressed manner Of women in his own set.
vino were. as a rule. the usual sort Of middle
class wives dull and uuimaglnatlve, without
keen interests Of any sort OF which his sex
cared TO hear. He had been an excellent
husband OF the kind well suited 10 this type
OF woman, and intended. given the chance,
TO be one gain. When he came across Miss
Pierways he fell in love with her; so much
tHat for a little time. he humored her and
caye way to her and struggled TO be compan-
I0nab.e told her that he was very lonely and
al about his children. In some strange way
be touched her. She was lonely and heart
sore. though she showed il little enough, and
thought he was the same. She thought they
might care for each other In quiet, unexcit-
ing way, and that she could be content with
him. She even thought. with happy. day
dreamy feeling that she would make him the
cOsiet home In the world and that he would
take care of her and love her. and life would
prove pleasant time after all.
IL was all done very quickly; neither OF
them considered the matter enough perhaps.
lie had long come to the conclusion that he
must take second vile; he was rather pleased
With himself for having persuaded Miss Pier
ways 10 accept that proud position. So he
married her, and meant, after his own fashion,
20 settle down and be happy ever after, in
sensible. unrOmantic manner Che was too old
Tor nonsense. he rehected), doing his duty,
while she was doing hers, in the Adelaide
road.
That Iugubrious abode fairly frightened
Emily when she arrived at il; then she had
visions of making it more cheerful. prettier,
and just a little artistic. The first Mrs. Web
SER had evidently taken things a good deal as
.ley came. There was photograph Of her
the family album, with a white tie round
ter neck and a large brooch fastening il into
n,ace. Emily desired TO think OF her with re-
spectiul compassion. seeing that she was
dead: but she felt that woman who wore a
large brooch would revel in ugly furniture.
Aud in truth there were many terrible bits
with which to struggle. such as the round Ia
-.t in lue lfaNlLE-fOOm ana L0e console
sable with the gilt legs and looking-glass.
She gave him hint about that table one
aay but Mr.. Webster answered, with firm
ness in his voice. ''That is an exceedingly
wel.-made piece Of furniture, Emily. I like a
GOOD. su stantial thing and could not live in
6 room furnished with the gimcrackery that
ls fashionable nowadays
There was one Illuminating day. too, when
she had draped the large gilt frame Of the
looking glass over the chimney piece. my
Gear. said lIr. Webster, as he walked round
The drawing-rOom after dinner, what is that
tling over the mirror. Is il a dusting-sheet?"
Frederick, - she said, and put her hand on
lis shoulder coaKingly, it's only a little bit
0j Indian draperv. It's fashionable to cover
p loOknQ-glass frames nowadays. Don't
lou remember ours at home we're all draped?'
Yes. my dear, quite so, . he answered.
r.easantly, but with decision. "At the same
lme. we will not drape ours. Be good
anough TO have the Indian drapery taken
down tomorrow morning"
Let il stay up over the dinner party; if is
lovely bit Of stuff, - she coaxed.
But Mr. Webster, though he was half in
clIned 10 give in to her coaXing. being terri
a'y afraid lest woman should henpeck him.
answered firmly, "Well have it down before
ne dinner party. See that it disappears to-
morrow morning, my dear"
So II was taken down.
The diUner-party- first one-gaye En-
Fly Webster a sensation of being handtied and
a0r, and TO every dish that she proposed he
a. II u