The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-02-07
THE ODD TRICK.
How Wilfred Endicott Got His
Letters Back.


times to give me another cup of cot
fee
Ibid you, dear? I'm so sorry and
Mrs. CORN extended slim white hand
for the coffee-pot.
May l ask what SO engrossed your
thoughts?" inquired her husband, lit
tie irritably.
Lucille smiled. "Oh, you'll only
laugh at me if l tell you"
Never mind; what was it," reiter-
ated her husband, little Modified.
Il was thinking of some lovely
Turkish embroidery they showed me
at Liberty's yesterday, and"
MY dear girl, what can you possibly
do with Turkish embroidery" inter
rupted Mr.. CORN. impatiently.
well, do you know that's what I've
been wondering ever since, and I've
just discovered"
But"
Eyes" continued Lucille, regardless
of the impertinent monosyllable, II
think it would look perfectly lovely to
trim tea gown; it could outline a sort
of crepe de Chine you know, and I'M
derneath-"
Tut! tut! l don't want you decked
out like a houri in harem."
"Gilbertr'
things women get up in to look like
figures on japanese fan"
But, my dear husband, there's moth
ing japanese about Turkish embroid-
ery!" exclaimed Lucille, as she pushed
back her chair from the breakfast la
BILE.
Never mind, l don't like this; be-
sides, you are really too extravagant,
Lucille. | can't see the necessity for
all these wonderful toilettes."
MY dear Gilbert, don't talk about
things you don't understand"
And, gathering up the small pile of
letters that were beside her plate, Mrs.
CORN made her way to the door.
''Oh, by the way" said her husband,
a little hesitatingly, do you very
much mind giving up the Claytons
ball to-night?"
Giving up their BALL Why. in the
name of all that's reasonable, should
do that?'
because | ask you"
Mrs. CORN shrugged her shoulders in
silence.
You will write to excuse your
self?'
Certainly not. Why, I've got per
feet dream of a gown to wear, and
mean to thoroughly enjoy myself"
That is to say, you intend to make
yourself conspicuous by Your firta
tions. as usual"
Lucille laughed.
II will not allow it. You shall not
go on in this ridiculous fashion"
MY dear Gilbert, don't you think
that it is you who are ridiculous just
now? You silly fellow" she continued
drawing near him, what does it mat
ter to you if half the men in the rooon
are in love with me, when you know
that I'm not in love with them? There
don't talk nonsense, and be off to YOU
ride"
Why don't you come. too?" asked
her husband, half Modified again.
ooh, no! couldn't possibly spare
the time, dear; heaps of things to do
and letters to write! Good-by for tn,
present"
And with a laughing farewell she
tripped out of the room.
The smiles, however, vanished as sh,
sank into a low chair in her boudoir
and picked one note out of the heal
that lay in her lap. Mrs. Corin's prett,
dimples disappeared, and her brow'
contracted into a frown as she read:
DEAR MRS CORN: You know, Of course
7 hJaa M,
Don't you think that, under the circumstances
1t would be better for you to return me som
very foolish illusions Of mine which you still
have? am sure you will see the advisabilit
of this, and will be good enough to give tn
packet to my friend Applegarth, who will cal
upon you at ~ this morning
Yours sincerely, w. E."
Il shall do nothing Of the sort" ex
claimed Lucille, when she had re-reat
the letter for the third time. "En
gagged to Kathleen Mayse, indeed! En-
gagged to her thousands, he ought t.
have saba horrid, plain little red
haired thing, without an idea in he
head. 1t is perfectly disgusting, tn
things men will do for money; but
did think Wilfrid was different. / dit
believe in him at least" And she ros
from her chair Indignantly. "Why
not a year ago he was ready to blow
his brains out because | would no
marry him, and now" She finishe
her sentence with a dramatic gestur
worthy of Duse herself.
dangerous little person she looke
as she paced up and down the prett
boudoir. The fact was that Mrs. Cori
was suffering acutely from the com
plant which in our nursery days w
called n-the-manger-ness."
Married before the close of her frs
season to one whose hold on life and fol
tune were alike more unsta BILE than any
one'had supposed, at twenty-one she wa
left a widow with on income which a.
lowed small margin for opera boxes O
Partisan toilettes, both of which, wit
tout &c que sen suit, were exceedingl
dear to the little woman's hear
Launched among a certain set how
ever, she was swimming with tn
stream to no very safe port when Gil
bert Corin-an elderly banker-camt
saw and was conquered.
Some one says somewhere that Their
are no wedding bells which do not rim
the kna11 of Soneh odv'S ha pninaSS. n N