The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-08-31
"AS A DAY In JUNE"
BY MAY ID. HATCH.

Mrs. Horace Hubbard hesitated
moment before answering, and the
color which fiuttered SO easily into her
cheeks flushed them now while she
vainly tried to subdue it and look
calmly across the daintily-appointed
table into her husbands face.
The shaded candle-lamps gave most
becoming and Elusive light, but the
hazel eyes of Mr.. Horace Hubbard,
famous among his friends for their
marvellous keenness of vision, detected
the sudden pinkness and the unsteady
gaze of his wife, and he laughed softly
as he waited.
81 wish you would not laugh so. l
withdrew the order" She tried 20
counteract the effect of her momentary
wavering by the dignity of her tone,
but, conscious of failing, she smiled
back at him little shamefacedly.
"And in its stead"-she had quite re-
covered her composure now gave
an unlimited order for another"
This statement, though it surprised
her husband, did not startle him. I'm
ruffied, he went on with his dinner,
which was nearly at an end. 1t had
been a very good one, ordered with
care by Mrs. Hubbard, who was an
artist in many ways, and the salad
they had come to had IAN epigram-
matte crispness to finish off this poem
of a dinner" Mr.. Hubbard had said,
just before his question about the pic
ture.
1t would have taken great deal to
disturb him that evening, it was such
relief to be at home again. He had
been off for a couple of weeks with a
party over the railroad of which he was
q director, and the restfulness of his
own house and the presence of his wife,
who had managed to keep herself
always interesting to him, brought
him that content which is very near to
happiness.
II thought. my DEAR he said, his
handsome eyes twinkling just as when
he had rung door-bells as a youngster
~ thought that Cain was the one
thing in the world you needed to give
You a happy home; and now, just like
a woman, you change your mind"
well, what would you have me at
thirty?" she asked. "a bigot?"
He knew she was only avoiding the
main subject, and slipped his Burgundy
meditatively while the salad was taken
away.
ssDid you get the other the one for
which you gave the unlimited order?"
HI. 81 1...s<
him. "Yes, and it really is lovely;
not quite like the Cain. but would
rather have it."
He looked at her puzzled. There
was some mystery here, which time
would solve, but which his wife did
not seem disposed to clear quite yet.
She looked so charming, however, in
her pale-blue evening gown-he had
always preferred her in blue-that he
was willing to wait; in fact, he rather
enjoyed it, for the opportunity it gave
him to rally her about one of her few
weaknesses.
II thought you had put on that
gown in honor of my coming home"
he said, as if he were hurt; but sup
pose it is the picture. Or perhaps you
want me to go somewhere.
mo, l want to stay at home to-
night. The Dudiey-Billings asked us
there to card party, but declined.
thought you would rather did,
man," he cried, Il don't care what
you have paid for the picture, if you
have saved me that"
Mrs. Hubbard laughed gayly. II
really did not want to go myself; SO
you need not thank me for refusing
you're improving" her husband an
swered, and looked SO admiringly at her
that the pink color came flying back.
He would have gone over and kissed
her, if the little English butler, whom
she was training to~be an old family
servant some day, had not entered Just
then with the dessert.
Whom is the picture by?' Hubbard
asked, meekly-''if am not too curl
GUS" He was as curious as most men
about the affairs of his wife, although
he never bullied her into telling him
of them.
1T is very good Inness." lie gave
a sigh Of relief. Zone painted some
years ago." she went on, ''but in his
best manner, think"
II am glad it's an Inness. was
afraid, my dear, that you had been sac
rificing your desires to help some
struggling young artist, and would in
sist on not only buying the picture, but
on hanging it, too, no matter how bad
you really believed it in your heart"
"iou were afraid OF no such thing,
Horace. You never knew me to en-
courage bad work in your life
'Well, perhaps not; but am graft
fled that at last you are getting broad
enough to break loose from French
prejudices and take what is just as
good in an American way"
II have not changed my mind at all
about the merits of the two men, Mrs.
Hubbard rejoined. II suppose shall
have to find another Cain some day to
fill the aching void the loss of this one
has left" She rested an elbow on the
table, her head on her hand, and gazed
a moment drcamily into the memory