Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-11-07

'But IL - ncRued 10 ciinch the mat
.Rr No. there is no drawing back now,
Clara, or We shall ruin everything.
Papa Is sure to comO back by the Gas.
He will reach the door at TO- We musr
have everything ready FOR him. Now,
just sit down at once, and ask Harold
to come at o'clock, and shall do the
same to Charles"
The two invitations were dispatched,
received and accepted. Harold was al
ready a confldant, and he understood
that this was come further develop
ment of the plot, AS to Charles, he
was so accustomed to feminine eccen-
trieity, In the person Of his aunt, that
the only thing which could surprise
him would be q rigid observance ot etl-
quette. At o'clock they entered tho
dlnIng-hall Of No. O. to find the mas
ter OF the house abBent, red-shadcd
lamp, snowy cloth, a pleasant little
feast, and the two whom they would
have chosen, as their companions. A
merrier party never met, and the house
rang with their laughter and their chat
ter.
1T is three minutes to ten" cried
Clara suddenly, glanGlng at the clock.
Good graclousl So 1t Is! Now for our
little tableau!" Ida pushed the cham
payne bottles obtruslvely forward, in
the direction OF the door, and scattered
oyster shells over the cloth.
Have you your pipe, Charles2"
my pipel Yes"
"Then please smoke It. Now don't
argue about 1t, but do 1t, for you will
ruin the effect otherwise"
The large man drew out n red case,
and extracted a great yellow meer-
schaum, out Of which. moment later,
he was putting thick wreaths Of smoke.
Harold had lit a cigar, and both tho
girls had cigarettes.
THAT looks very nice and emanol-
pated," said Ida, glancing round. NOW
l shall lie on this sofa. So! Now,
Charles, just sit here and throw your
arm carelessly over the back of the
sofa. No, don't stop smoking. like
1t. Clara, dear, put your feet upon the
coalscuttle, and do try to look a little
dissipated. l wish we could crown our
selves with flowers. There are some
aNbNANNS Oll lllG pldGpOdlhs Ollt QGdII
here he Is! I hear his key" She be-
gan to sing In her high, fresh voice a
little snatch from French song, with
swinging ira la-la chorus.
The doctor had walked home from
the station in a peaceable and relent-
Ing frame Of mind, feeling that, per-
haps, he had said too much in the morn
ing, that his daughters had for years
been models In every way, and that, IL
there had been any change of late, 1t
was, as they said themselves, on ac-
count Of their anxiety to follow his adj
vice and to initiate Mrs Westmacott.
He could see clearly enough now that
that advice was unwlse, and that a
world peopled with Mrs. Westmacotts
would not be happy or q soothing
one. 1t was he who was himself to
blame, and he was grieved by the
thought that perhaps his hot words had
troubled and saddened his two girls.
This fear, however, was soon dlssl-
pated. AS he entered his hall he heard
the voice Of Ida uplifted in a rolllcklng
dltty, and very strong smell Of to-
bacco was borne to his nostrlls. He
threw open the dinlng-room door, and
stood aghast at the scene which met
his eyes.
The room was full Of the blue
wreaths Of smoke, and the lamp-llght
shone through the thin haze upon gold
topped bottles, plates, napkins, and a
litter Of oyster shells and cigarettes.
Ida, flushed and excited, was reclining
upon a settee, wine-glass at her ell
bow, and a cigarette between her fin
gers, while Charles Westmacott sat be-
side her, with his arm thrown over the
head Of the sofa, with the suggestion OF
a caress. On the other side Of the room,
Clara was lounglng In an armchair,
smoking, and both with wlne-glasses
beside them. The doctor stood speech
less in the doorway, staring at the Bac-
chanallan scene.
Come in, papa! Dor cried Tda
won't you have a glass of cham
paSne?"
pray excuse me-" said her rather
coldly. II feel that am intruding.
did not know that you were entertain.
ing. Perhaps you will kindly let me
know when you have finished. You wis
find me In my study" He ignored tho
two young men completely, ana, clos.
ing the door. retired. deeply hurt and
mortified, to his room. A quarter Of an
hour afterward he heard the door slam
and his two girls came to announce that
the guests were gone.