Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-12-09
HIS LITTLE DINNER.

!
he demanded eagerly, as the servant opened
the door,
"No, sir.
Thus treasured, he drew from behind
| his back q hand in which be held a hig
H nch of roses, which, if not very choice
artistic in their selection, still spoke
eloQuently of a great, loving heart His
| eyes sparkled, his fingers trembled with
joy, when, in the dining room a moment
later, he arranged his flowers in a hand
some vase, and with tender little pats and
touches set them carefully in the center of
the little round table. Then from his
pocket he drew a tiny jewel case and hid it
under one of the two napkins
f'Now," he mumured, smiling gayly,
s'now she may come imp
Now that his preparations were finished
he sat down to wait, idle, restless, fumbling
at this and that with his big, awkward
hands. How was it all going to happen?
Should he run to meet her, take her in his
arms and call her "my beloved?'' No; at
first he would say nothing. He would
seem quite indifferent, uncOncerned; then,
by accident, his arm would slip round her
waist and he would lead her-as it were
unconsciously-to the dining room door,
where he was going to enjoy the delight of
her surprise and pleasure
All, at last step outside! His joy must
be disguised lest she suspect something,
and again he caught up the paper. cit is
wired from London ''It is wired from
LondOn'-but the words danced before his
eyes, red, blue, green-he could not dis
tinguish another letter-a hand, her hand,
was on the knob!
She entered blond, beautiful but look
ing out from the SOFT luxurious warmth
of her costly furs little weary, a little
IiCIo a1O1
iting, shopping swift riding in coupe.
The Fgood day" she gave him seemed a
little weary, too, the gesture little petu-
liant with which she drew off her gloves,
threw back her furs and dropped into a
chair.
81 am very late," said she, ''and we
must dino quickly. The Daubignys are
coming to take me with them to the OPP
era"
He started, panied and surprised.
FWhat, you are going out, dearest? 1
thought we were to spend the evening to-
gether here IN our little nest"
She had thrown herself into low, easy
chair with her tiny feet outstretched to
the fire. REALLY, my dear, you are very
unreasonable, - she answered indifferently.
''It was very good of the Daubignys to in
vite me, and as l am not at all spoiled,
you know, by visits to the theater l &C
cepted with pleasure. Still, if you wish
to forbid my going, you can; you are my
master; the law is on your side. ="
He dropped the paper wearily, all the
brightness gone from his face. "There is
no need to be angry, dearest" he expOstu
lated. 81 had no thought or wish to de-
prive you of u pleasure. You reproach
me, too, needlessly. You know that L
am nearly always busy in the evenings.
Tonight, however, L am free, and 1 was
promising myself
"All right, I'll not 60"
"No, no, dear one; not at ALL Come,
We'll dine quickly. You'll go and make
yourself beautiful, and when the Daubig
nys arrive -
81 am not going, tell you! no longer
wish to 60"
She flung off her furs, her dainty hat,
and tossed them angrily on a couch.
He watched her sorrowfully, miserably,
all his innocent joy gone, feeling himself
aged and enervated by this quarrel, that
was so useless so unforeseen, so iEcom-
prehensible.
She was seated now az the other side of
the fire, her slender white hands clasped
carelessly about her knees. He sought
and sought for something to say to her,
anything, no matter what, that would
break the horrible silence, but nothing
would come.
''By the way" said she suddenly-so
suddenly that he porceptibly jumped-"I
have invited Paul Bernard to dine with uS
tomorrow. He is very agreeable. ="
"Ahr'
''Why 'ah? What do you say 'ah' for?'
"For nothing-nothing at ALL dear. i
said 'ah' just as L would say 'oh;' just as
[ would say
She had haughtily raised her pretty
itJ, Of ha
naughty head of "a little princess, but with
its beauty just then marred by the hard,
scornful curve of the red lips.
perhaps you intend to be jealous and
make scenes?" she persisted.
He did not reply; his chin dropped on
his breast dejectedly. Still this quarrel
without reason or sense! She was not
usually SO.
And suddenly great terror was born
within him, to clutch and tear at the
strings of his heart This nervous excite
ment of his wife, this oversensitiveness to
unspoken words-could it be the outcome
of some hidden pain, some secret suffer
ing, or-GOd in heaven, crush the thought
the remorse of a first fault?
No, no! Impossible! She was only tired,
fatigued by paying calls, by the chattering
of uncongenial acquaintance, by the soil
tude of her silk cushioned brougham, with
gazing out upon wan, gray sky, with the
rain beating the windows.
Meanwhile she went on, exasperating
herself more and more. ''You might as
we'll know, too, now as any time, Lucien,
that when you begin that, when you take
it into your head to be jealous, suspicious
well, 1 know but one remedy for it'd
vorcer'
He paled at the horrible word, for she
had hurled it at him cruelty, brutally as a
blow, looking him straight in the eyes,
her elbow resting on the mantelpiece and
apparently quite calm.
Eight o'clock began to ch1ne. In the
street the rain still fell slow, mournful
rain, sounding like dirge. They passed
into the dining room, she leading he fol-