Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-04-13

and ABSORBED after they did speak to
me oy delightful uncertainty as to
what the future might bring forth.
| That, of course was before I met YOU.
| dear.
when go to dances now, I seem
to lose remembrance of the fact that
am married, and with woman's van
1ty begin to be painfully aware that
the very men who would have stood
on their heads had I asked it in the
past could not count on now to take
the least interest in me or to talk
other than the dreariest platitudes.
They were painfully polite, would adj
vance toward me with few common
place remarks, and when they favor
ed me at german with some glitter
ing trinket, for which I used to be
crazy, felt as though it was an ex-
preston of charity, portraying that,
having made my choice, must abide
by it and not expect any very great
exertion on their part.
81 drifted from bad to worse till [
reached a state of desperation, and
when [ saw Mrs. SweetIy gazing fond
ly into Dicky Robinson's eyes the
other evening I said to myself, There
is woman who really lives, and the
reason she does is because she forgets
she is married.
''Then it was, Godfrey, dear, that I
tried to force myself to forget that
you had ever crossed my path-that
is, Of course, only when I went to
some social gathering. You are so
fond Of your cigars.
"Next to do was to find some suit
able one on whom could bestow my
affections. Finally thought I would
try Malcolm Wharton, whom knew
to be of excellent family and who
three years ago would have given his
head to have stood No. in my eyes.
'It was at Mrs. Beckman's recep-
ton that determined to make my
flirting debut. So, about D. M,
when l knew you would be smoking
with the gentlemen up stairs, I pur
posely placed myself in the path of
my erstwhile acquaintance, Malcolm,
with such gracious manner that at
first he was puzzled, and then, being
of gallant nature, he soon approach
ed me with an air Of attention. I as
tonished myself by the sprightly, not
to say hippant, style Of my converse
ton. My heart went pita pat from
excitement, and I was consta ntly re-
hearsing to myself, Now must for
get Godfrey and SO ] went on and
on, deceiving myself into the belief
that [ was enjoying myself.
"He became more and more con-
fdential and fascinating, treating me
in the fashion that men who are de-
voted to other mems wives ordinarily
and really thought that the way he
twinkled his nose in bunny fashion
was quite interesting. He persuaded
me to indulge in champagne several
times, and | even took his arm to the
supper room. There he was devotion
itself and complimented me in the
most approved style. After staying
some time in the supper room [ pro-
posed We should go and hear the
music, but he had evidently had too
much champagne or something else
to be reasonable, and so, to be con-
sistent, could but follow him where
soever he led. We at last found our
selves in the conservatory and were
seated behind clump Of palms when
his conversation, which was COM
monplace enough, had ring to it
that sent the blood flying to my face.
His voice sank almost to a whisper,
giving me to understand how miser
able he had been in his later life and
how l could fill that gap of woe. Now
and then he would look up in my face
to see if there was any evidence of
sympathy that he thought should be
there.
CAT last I had accomplished the
very thing I had ionged for-here he
was at my very feet-and now that I
possessed it [ shrank from il in dis
gust. Each word of his felt like ice
being forced down my back, I could
not find expression to my thoughts,
words froze on my lips and [ felt as
though the eyes Of the entire room
were on me. The feeling of disgust
changed to one Of mockery, and he,
seeing the change in manner, doubt
less considered me serious and be-
came more ELUSIVE in his remarks
nd fot ionc Of 1ouo
"T'he words what a fool you are
seemed to haunt me, but still l had to
sit there in cold blood and let him go
on making an hitter fool Of himcoIf