The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-26

Edith did not meet him at the gate as
usual, and that irritated him more As
he neared the little porch he heard the
sound Of animated voices. Ono was Edith's.
The other sornded strangely familiar.
Whore had he heard IL beforeP He rncked
his brain, but could not determine. As
he opened the door to the cool, dariened
sitting room Edith met him.
"Maude has come, Jack, F" she said and
dragged him into tho room whero seated
en- the divan with the big cushions, was
white form which his eyes, unaccustomed
TO tho dimness Of the room, could not make
out.
"Maude, this is my husband, jack
said Edith. "You remember Jaokp'
"I believe that we have had the pleasure
of meeting more recently, MIR. Strong
said Maude, with q roguish smile.
"Er-ah, yes, yes, Of course" he man.
nged to gasp. "Delighted"-- And he sank
down upon the nearest chair with the per-
spiration standing ont upon his forehead.
His wife stood like q statue of leo and
looked from Maude, who was smilingly
self possessed, to Jack, who looked like
melting molasses candy Image.
81 do not quite understand, she began.
Maude said nothing, but kept her calm,
roguish smile. Edith turned to Jack and
almost caught him In the act Of making a
He wilted further.
John" said Edith--and when she said
"John" she meant what she said, and
Jack know it--"John, whnt does this
meanf'
"Er--my dear--it means 1.-The fact is
oh, dash It'll saw her yesterday in
the car. That is what it means" And
Jack blurted 1t out In q voice which was
combination Of groan and shout.
"Met her in the carr Well, 1 see no
reason why you should be so confused
about It," Edith had become very naughty.
Jack said nothing, He was swearing
he was swearing to himself. Maude saw
that 1t had gone far enough, and that 1t
was time for her to speak.
"Come, Edith" she said, "I'll CONFESS
When I entered tho car yesterday after
noon, recognized your husband at once
and was going to speak to him, but I saw
that he did not recognize me. I-well, I
do not know why did 1t, but you know
my fault Is liking fun and practical Jokes
and all that, and just thought that 1t
would be fun TO play q trick on him and
f1irt with him and then tell you all about
1t. He kindly helped me''-here she smiled
at Jack, who CURSED mentally-"to raise
the window, and then he talked very nice
ly to me. And nearly died with laugh
ing and having to keep 1t to myself. When
! left the train at Alton, intended to tell
him oil about 1t, but the thought OF see
ing the expression on his face when he met
me today kept me from 1t. That's all,
Edith. 1t was Just one of my awful prac-
tical Jokes. Forgive me, dear, but really
I could not help it."
Jack had Strengthened up when she be-
gan her tale, and when she had finished
added emphatically: "Yes, by George,
that's all, Edith. was going to tell you
all about 1t tonight myself"
Edith looked from one to the other
doubtfully, and when she thought of the
unutterable WOO depicted upon the face of
poor Jack and his bad quarter of an hour
her sense of humor came to her, and she
was forced to smile and was Joined, by
Maude, who had had great difficulty keep
ing her face straight for the last 15 min
utes, and by Jack, upon whom the smile of
Edith had produced reaction. They all
laughed loudly and long, and Edith kissed
Maude, and then everybody went into one
Of those delightful little dinners for which
the Strongs are SO justly famous.
But that night, after Maude had gone to
her room and Jack was smoking his last
pipe Edith looked up from her book and
gazed at Jack long and earnestly. He met
her gaze with fond smile.
"Jaok, Maude Is a dear girl, Isn't she?''
"Why, yes, Of course she is"
"She's an old friend of mine, too, and I
think O great deal of her. She and went
to school together. She was always so
Jolly and SO fond Of practical jokes and
that sort Of thing, you know"
She paused and fingered the cover of
her book. She was deep in thought.
Jack, don't you think that p4eple who
are that way carry things q little too far
sometimesY'
And Jack smiied.-Rochester Post Ex-
press.