Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-02-23

To llcAsc MS iitHVr, ne kllu 10 hltneclf--
SO that Lucille was already down when hs
reached the drawing room.
Ho was quito contcnted with the indff-
ference Of his mood, though, to be sure.
his heart gave nasty throb at the sound
Of hcr voice as he was about TO open tho
door But when It was done, and he saw
her standing there In her pretty mourning
gown, tho old fever leaped In flame
through his veins, licking up his impotont
antidotcs consuming his barrlcados, and
when he took her hand. his head was
swimming
The first sounds no was clearly aware OF
were the docorous banter Of his aunts'
admiration for the new uniform. They
were appealing 10 Lucille for chorus.
"'1is mighty handsome" sho said
pleasantly, land more sallorllko thnn ours
there's no denying. But You should
both have put on your pretty now lace to
keep Il In countenance.
II was happy speech for Curtis, for IL
rudcly diverted his thoughts He looked
from one old lady TO the other with his
martinez air and made them both cough
neryousy
"Richard doesn't like lace, " said Aunt
Georgia with her faded little blush.
"IIc thinks IL docsn' suit US, respond.
cd Aunt Bellamy and pokcd the fire noisi-
ly.
~ crave your pardon" said Lucille,
with bit OF u knocking courtesy. 81 didn't
know Captain Curtis was In command OF
tho wardrobe too"
And then she could have bitten her
tongue for 1t, so hurt and humble did he
look But her old craving to revolt against
his domination OF everybody was smarting
In her again. II was intolorAblo that, with
mere look, he should rout the mnnncrly
old ladies So and all for little harmless
bit Of contraband She was chatting, II the
truth were known, under tho disappoint-
mont most women have felt at such n
time For when maid hns been thinking
long OF u man, she will begin TO forget his
to SEQ all the defects she has succeeded In
burying out Of memory rise up from their
graves and walk the moment she meets
him agalu.
Throughout the evening II was tho
samo-ho taking tho lead In everything,
and his nunts hanging ON his lips.
Lucille would not be impressed, though
tho aunts made him talk Of his hOnors
md his great friends and whit the king
had said TO him on tho terrace ut Windsor.
She seemed to have no Idea but TO lower
his throne. Her tongue was sharp to out
him at every yantnge--and Tho sharper be-
cause he yielded softly TO II and would not
resist
Whom she spoke, his manner lowered to
deepest deferenoe--not word would he
reseut-and all Instructive shame mt her
behavior drove brr to force him into retail
iation, that she might Justify herself.
But he took it all with heroic patience
aching tO tho bottom of his love TO sec
her 40, lie had not experience enough to
rejoice at her behavior Had he beon ns
weathcrwiso iu women's moods Ms he was
In reading the prcsege OF the skies ho
would have smellod fair wind. Beneath
hur forced antagonism he would have do
scriod kindliposs Tint was growing I'M
oontrollablo; no would have known her
porvorsity for ono OF tho ways that trou-
bcd woman hns OF denying to herself
what sho is striving not 10 own.
So he went to bed n very miserable man
and lay awake u prey To the gloomicst re-
Elections. Formerly he would have set his
lips in n quiet rcitcration Of his resolve
that she should he his-and so to sleep.
But now II WAS dlifercnt-there was nc
thinking OF her quietly al all. Nothing
was to be come at but tossing OF doubt,
| an lIhAtlWblN iIhNlHkt poi'h'H ~ ~
was qualsing of the heart, which would
give no solid foundation for n square pieo'
OF thought
At times he would start In alarm at hi
madness, and whistle up his old self con
troll as ho would ranging spaniel. So HI
would set out straight In quiet piece o
consideration and end again in tho SAINT
maze uf longing.
Tbnrn Nynx ntthing for Il az last but Il
confess himself mad in love and make M
more bones Of II. II WINS with some bite
derision of himself that ho made comics
sion--to think OF his former complnoency
his routed sell confidence, his idle oonoei
TINT he could never give up tho command
of the craft ho had stored 10 coolly and ~
long.
To man Of sound ambitions IL Is
shaking fall to find 1t Is not his cHroe
that Is tho thing most worth living for
But he took tho fall like the man he wn
and owned its length and breadth hand
somely, and when that was done, thor
came back a spice Of resolution. He ha'
but one night To stny--tomorrow no mus
returu-apd tomorrow, before ho set out
be would como to close action. 1t was hi
way In WAR, and why not In lover ID
would have II out with hor yardarm b
yardarm, and for good or Ill know wha
was 10 come
Lu.ilu bad her torment too. Her shar
speeohes would come back to grin at her
and A. made her hateful to herself to re
call how he had seemed to take all Oh
blame OF her Ill humor. and yet perhap
she was tho better of of tho two, for
could cry herself to sleep.