Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-05-26
A THORN IN THE FLESH.
NJ. 81.

'."HNe was n ueNotce or the wheel
AZ first, upon their summer flight into
the country. she had smiled on the
sirrs little fad" but, as the season
wore away and Marie grew "fonder
ana yet more fond" OF her two-wheeied
friend. the lady grew to look with dis
shtsiaction on the trig, girllsh figure
III white flannels, sklmming like
swallow over the country roads. Lit
ne squids" OF her growing disfavor
sne vented on Toms devoted head
whleh he duly resented. feeling a won
dering sort Of anger that his mother
should consider any act OF Marles In
aught by favorable light.
The little innaendoes ranked. how
ever. and gradually he fell to wonder
ing II. after ALL his mothers words
were not more truth than poetry. and
mat Marie should spend more OF her
time at tennis, golf or any Of the
amusements OF the smart set OF the
of that bicycle"
Not but what he was fond OF q wheel
anu OFTEN accompanied her ia her
IalnDiesi sun her fervor was quite be-
yond nun at times. and OF date she
nhu neglected him a trine, he imagined,
ior her new fancy. And So bit by bit,
ne grew into his mothers way Of
thinking, though he never appeared 10
agree with her.
he had been on the point OF airing
nls dlspleasure many times 10 Marie,
put she always PARTED his little
.hrEsts with such charming naivete he
sTIuiu never ma the heart to tell her
pialnly her actions displeased him,
Not she, indeed: for his eyes would
,,,i her 1.-THE form admlringly, but
That beRstly wheelr'
me families had met abroad, Jour-
heylng honeward in company.
x,betore the steamer reached New
iS,, ,he young folks were aclSnowl-
vukeu lovers, with the glad consent of
both parties.
ANA what more natural than these
tWo should fall IN love with one an
otherF The announcement OF their an
g9gement had been society event
whleh the Fairbanks had followed up
by several Of their own inimitable So.
cial affairs.
Al in all, everyone seemed suited;
ana most OF all, the young folks them
selves, who had taken very little con.
sideration Of the money part into the
Marie was barely twenty; sweet
fresh and altogether as charming
nttie person as one could meet In
days journey,
She was withal truo.hearted. and
adored Tom with all her giriish ardor.
While he was much older, stlll the
freshness of youth was upon him,
ana he mingled delightedly IN her frol-
les, though they We're not always con-
duclve to dignity.
All had gone merry as Il marriage
belI' until this little rift, but already
the silver lining was shining through,
Tor .he, In his honest-haarted way, be-
lieved his little flance would, OF course.
mould her ways 70 please him as soon
us shc found them disrnsteful,
Fourth of July IN this mountain town
was much celebrated day.
Tom accompanied Marie on whiri
through the country. With the one de-
termination IN view: he would ask her
for Ills sake TO abandon her new love"
and trust to him for entertainment.
But the day passed, and he found no
opportunity to break In upon her light
hearted joyousness.
Il WIN wait until evening" he
thought moodily.
The evening found a gay company on
the Fairbanks piazza.
Chinese lanterns festooned the coll
umns and arches; Bantel the gardener.
kept the lawn illuminated with culored
lights, set off sky rockets, fountains,
etc, to the delight OF his patriotic au-
dience.
AlAIlt UtNtN lAuhFh more utWlNtiluEt
with silken flag druped about her
graceful shoulders MS protection from
the night air; her yellow hair piled
high on her head. her eyes shining like
twin stars as she oheered Bantel on
The evening passed, and again the
desired opportunity was gone. lie
babe her reluctant goodnight at her
own door, the carriage full Of girls
whom he was driving home. preventing
him from taking his usual tender fare
well.
He picked up the reins to drive OF.
when she called out In her clear. young
voice, Toni l am coming to luncheon
tomorrow. have surprise for your
and with a merry laugh disappeared
into the house Miss Amesbury Is
very devoted to her bicycle" COM
mented Miss Gym, who, by the way,
was Toms especial detestation. She
had way Of surprising one into com
fessions sometimes detrimental to one
self.
quite So" said Tom. tersely.
"a pity. 1 should say" went on Miss
Gym, sweetly, Otherwise she is very
interesting 4
"How dare she speak OF Marie as In
terestingW
Tomorrow I'll have It out with her"
he vowed savagely on the way home.
Tomorrow" dnwned fair and bright,
Tom was in n ferment between his
inclination to go after her as was his
custom, and an overwhelming desire TO
retain his anger long enough TO settle
the question when she should arrive.
Luncheon was served on the broad
yeranda.
Mrs. Fairbanks had picked up Miss
Gym on her morning drive and to-
gether they sat In dainty summer trap |
ping in the cool shade of the trees
awaiting Marle's arrival.
Suddenly. around the curve in the |
driveway swung Marie on her favorite |
steed, this time clad In a silYery gray |
costume.
Her sweet, flushed face broke into |
smiles as she jumped lightly down and |
stood before them, n dainty, girlish |
figure above the waist, but, horror OF |
horrorsi below, something was very |
much the matter.
Two dainty tan-booted feet stepped |
out boldly from the very smartest pair |
OF trousers girl ever sawl
Mrs Fairbanks gave a gasp OF hor- |
ror. Miss Gym smiled quietly, and |
said. How very eccentricV'
Tom gnashed his teeth, never re-
moving his gaze from the offending |
trousers. The girl looked from one to
another in surprise.
No word OF welcome. no coming TO |
meet her, no word Of endearment.
Just n horrid painful pause.
The sweet face grew white. and n
little CULVER came about the lips. while |
into the eyes crept a defiant CLEAN
quite foreign TO them.
Then with digpined little. bow she