Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-10-17

But " ID neeueu TO clnCn I've lLleAbA'
ter. No, there is no drawing back noW..
Clara, or we shall ruin everything.
Papa Is sure to come back by the. 9s45.
He viii reach the door at TO- We must
have everything ready for him. Now,
just sit down at once, and ask Harold
to come at 9 o'clock. and shall do thu
same to Charles"
The two invitations were dispatched,
received and accepted. Harold was al
ready confidant, and. he understood
that this was some Further develop
ment Of the plot. AS to Charles, he
was so accustomed to feminine eccen
triclty, In the PERSON of his aunt, that
the, only thing which could surprise
him would be a rigid observance Of ell
quette. At o'clock they entered the
dining-halI OF No. 2, to find the mas
ter Of the house absent, red-shaded
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 ia three minutes to ten" cried
Clara suddenly, glancing at the clock.
Good gracious! So it is! Now for our
little tableauW Ida pushed the cham
payne bottles obtrusively forward, in
the direction Of the door. and scattered
oyster shells over the cloth.
Have you your pipe, Charles?"
my pipe! Yes"
''Then please smoke 1t. Now don't
argue about 1t, but do 1t, for you will
ruin the effect otherwise -ii.;,;,,
The large man drew out a red case,
and extracted a great yellow meer-
schaum, out Of which, a moment later,
he was putting thick wreaths Of smoke,
Harold had lit a cigar, and both the
girls had cigarettes.
THAT looks very nice and emancl-
pated," said Ida, glahcing round. "Now
shall lie on this sofa. Sol Now,
Charles, just sit here and throw your
arm carelessly over the back Of the
sofa. No, don't stop smoking. 1 like
It.. Clara, dear, put your feet upon the
coalscuttle, and do try to look little
disslpated. wish we could crown our
selves with flowers. There are some
letbices on the sideboarda Oh, dear,
here, he is! hear his key" She be-
gan to sing in her high, fresh voice a
little snatch from French song, with a
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, II
there had been any change of late II
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 unwise, and that q
world peopled with Mrs. Westmacotts
would not be a happy or a soothing
one, 1t was he who was himself tc
blame, and he was grleved by the
thought that perhaps his hot words had
troubled and saddened his two girls.s
This fear, however, was soon dissl'
pated. AS he entered his hall he heard
the voice OF Ida uplifted In rolllcking
ditty, and very strong smell Of to-
baeco was borne to his nostrils. HI
threw open the dlning-room door, and
stood aghast at the scene which me
his eyes,
The room was fun OF the blu,
wreaths Of smoke, and the lamp-llgh
shone through the thin haze upon gold
topped bottles, plates, napkins, and I
litter Of oyster shells and cigarettes
Ida, flushed and excited, was reclining
upon a settee, a wlne-glass at her ell
bow, and cigarette between her fin
gers, while Charles Westmacott sat be-
side her, with his arm thrown over thu
head Of the sofa, with the suggestion OIL
a caress. On the other side of the room
Clara was lounging in an armchair
with Harold seated beside her, bott
smoking, and both with wlne-glasse:
beside them. The doctor stood speech
less In the doorway, staring at the BAG.
chanallnn scene.
Come in, papa! Dol" cried Ida
won't you have glass Of cham
pagne?"
Pray excuse me-" said her father
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 will
find me in my study" He Ignored the
two young men completely, and, 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.