Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-13
HIS LITTLE DINNER.

| NllO NOOTs
mo, sir"
Thus treasured, he drew from behind
his back a hand in which he held big
bunch of roses, which, if not very choice
or artistic in their selection, still spoke
eloquently Vt great, loving heart. His
eyes sparkled, his fingers trembled with
| joy, when, in the dining room a moment
later, he arranged his flowers in hand
some vase, and with tender little pats and
touches set them carefully in the confer of
the little round table. Then from his
pocket he drew a tiny jewel case and hid it
under one of the two napkins.
CHOW" he mumured, smiling gayy,
'nOw she may como inl'
Now that his preparations wer0 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 fis
arms and call her "my belovedP" 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 a step outside! His joy must
be disguised lest she suspect something
and again he caught up the paper. at is
wired from London at 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, little
disheveled, after an afternoon spent in Wis
iting, shopping, swift riding in a coupe
The "good day" she gave him seemed n
little weary, too, the gesture little petu-
liant with which she drew off her gloves,
threw back her furs and dropped into a
chair.
II am very late" said she, land we
must dine quickly. The Daubignys are
coming to take me with them to the OPP
era"
He started, panied and surprised.
"What you are going out, dearest? 1
thought VIC 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
NllTBhSOuuDlG, Blu alloN0It
at was very good of the Daubignys to in
vito me, and as 1 am not at all spoiled,
you know, by visits to the theater, l &C
copied with pleasure. Still, If you wish
to forbid my going, you can; you arc my
master; the law is on your side"
He dropped tho paper YEARLY, all the
brightness gone from his face. "Thero is
no need to be angry, dearest, no expostu-
lated. 81 had no thought or wish to de-
prive you of a pleasure. You reproaCh
me, too, needlessly. You know that I
am nearly always busy in the evenings.
Tonight, however, L am free, and WAS
promising myself
"All right, I'll not CO."
"No, no, dear one; not at ALL Come,
We'll dino quickly. You'll go and make
yourself beautiful, and when the Daubig
nys arrive''-
II am not going, tell you! no longer
wish to CO."
She flung of 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 incom-
prehensible.
She was seated now at the other side of
the fire, her slender white hands clasped
carelossly 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"
"Ahp
why ah?' What do you say 'ah' for?"
"For nothing-nothing at all, dear. 1
said 'ah' just as would say oh just as
1 would say
She had haughtily raised her pretty
head, with its crown Of golden ourls, the
naughty head of little princess, but with
it's beauty just then marred by the hard,
scornful curve of tho red lips.
"Perhaps you intend to be jealous and
mako soonest" she persisted,
He did not reply; his chin dropped on
his breast dejectedly. Still this quarrel
usually SO.
And suddenly great terror was born
within him, to clutch and tear at the
SbrluRS Oh his HGdfU. InlS nervous eAClUS-
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 first fault?
No, mol Impossiblel 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 moro and more. "You might as
we'll know, too, now as any time, Luoien,
that when you begin that, when you take
it into your head to be jealous, suspicious
well, l know but one remedy for it'd
vorcer'
He paed 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 chime. In the
street the rain still fell, slow, mournful
rain, sounding like dirge. They passed
into the dining room, she leading, he fol-
lowing like one in troubled dream.
In the interval the cozy little nook
seemed, all at once, to have grown chill
and formal; discomfort, bitterness, sup
pressed irritation, lurked in the air
Dinner, which had been served, had
grown cold on the pretty white table, the
onion littla rOIIg baJ Loot +hnir