The record-union., 1897-07-16

seemed TO notice me the IlOluenl L sat
down. Not disagreeably and brazen-
ly, but with such a beautiful delicacy,
just as if he had dear mother and
sisters at home whom he would love
to see respected as he respected me and
all women.
As I was debarred from cOmmunica-
ton with my husband, either by speech
or sight, there was nothing for me to
do except to look occasionally at the
handsome stranger, but it was always
with George in my mind, and l could
ina gine the dear fellow was even then
devising some one of his cute ways of
kissing and making up which were in
variably successful.
Once I thought l saw him peep shyly
over his shoulder, but at the same time
the other handsome fellow distracted
my attention, and I could not be sure.
Wondering if 1 should speak to him
again before he came home in the even
ing when | knew there would be a
fond reconciliation-some quarrels are
perfectly delightful, don't you Think
l noticed the darkening in the train
as we ran into the cut before going
through tunnel which was nearly two
minutes long, and darker than Egypt,
because the brakeman never did think
it worth his while to light the train
lamps for such little time.
1 smiled to myself now, for 1 knew
| what George would do, and | had come
to the conclusion that if he did, 1 would
be safe in making him wait till even
| ing for our reconciliation.
Well, into the tunnel we dashed at
eighteen miles an hour, and just as
had expected, in a few second 1 could
| feel that some one was bending over
me, and I was on the point Of catch
| ing George around the neck and Civ
| ing him a good,
BIG HUG RIGHT THERE.
| But no; I was to teach him a lesson,
and this was the time, if ever so I
never let on, though I will confess that
when 1 felt the warmth of his face
| close to mine 1 did unbend just
weenty teenty little bit, and did not
| freeze him with my firm set lips.
| Dear George!
| But I was cold-faced and hard as
| iron when the train ran out into the
| sunshine again, and although George
| looked over at me and half smiled, l
| did not see anybody over his way ex-
| cept that good-looking man opposite.
L was still as firm as ever when we
reached the building where George
'officed," as he called it, and I merely
bowed as we parted.
1t was a dreadful thing to do, for,
as the poet says, "in every parting
| there is the image of DEATH" and there
are so many chances for a person not
| to escape with his life in the city. And
| still L was determined, and I intended
to carry my purpose out for once, come
what might come.
| At 3 O'Clock l went home, and by
had the incest dinner ready for George
| that | think [ had ever prepared for
| him since We had been keeping house.
/ Not only was the dinner an unusually
| good one, but his mother had given me
| some new pear-handled knives that
| day, and my own mother had contri-
| buted a cut glass salad dish and a bot
| tie of champagne.
| Everything was just too lovely for
| anything, and there wasn't the slightest
| hitch anywhere All went merry as a
marriage bell or a fairy dream, or any
| of those things that only happen in
| poetry and song, and 1 couldn't have
been happier if I had been in heaven
I'm quite sure 1 couldn't. Really, don't
you know, 1 wouldn't have wanted to
| be-
1t was simply perfect.
Wasn't it funny, DEAR I said. as I
put him down carefully in his big
chair at the foot of the table that
L should have known what you We're
| going to do on the train And how l
punished you for not giving in, didn't
1, you darling old George"
l was on the point of dancing around
to that end of the table and kissing
him again, but I had taken my place
at the head of the table, and I felt that
as Sarah had entered the dining-room
1 must be more staid and decorous
Wasn't what funny?" he responded,
in a tone that sent a cold chill down
my back.
why, your kissing me as the train
went through the tunnel this morning, -
I said so fast that the words fairly
| sized through my lips. but I could
not have said them slow to have saved
my life.
l would have cried. I know I would,
! just from the horrible suspicion that
began to force itself upon me.
And George didn't do thing to pre-
vent my going into Mysteries, the pro-
VolIing creaturei
On the contrary, the horrid wretch
sat there and laughed at me in the
most shocking and cruel manner
"S'help me Bob, Kitty, DEAR he
roared, Il didn't kiss YOU
After that it was simply awful, and
had to tell him everything, and even
Sarah Uttered as she went out into
] the kitchen.
But it wasn't my fault, and I'd dis
charge Sarah tomorrow if mamma
would let me. The very idea of SER
want laughing at such a moment!
| George was bad enough.-New York
| Sun.