Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-07-24
HIS LITTLE DINNER.

the door.
"No, sir.
Thus treasured he drew from behind his
back hand in which he held big bunch
of roses which, if not very choice or arts
tic in their selection still spoke eloquently
of a great loving heart. His eyes sparkled,
his fingers trembled with joy, when, in
the dining room moment later, he ar
ranged his flowers in handsome vase,
and with tender little pats and touches set
them carefully in the center of the little
round table.
Then from his pocket he drew tiny
jewel case and hid it under one Of the two
napkins.
Now" he murmured, smiling gayly,
"now she may come in"
How was it all going to happenY Should
he run to meet her, take her in his arms
and call her 'My beloved" No; at first
he would say nothing. He would seem
quite Indifferent, unconcerned; then, by
accident, his arm would slip around her
waist, and he would lead her-as it were
unconsciously-to the dining room door,
NLol q lo Woo SoiIS5 w N''Joy WIZ NNAAS~'o ~
her surprise and pleasure.
All, at last step outside! His joy must
be disguised, lest she suspect something,
and again he caught up the paper. 1T is
wired from London'-"It is wired from
London" the words danced before his
eyes, red, blue, green-he could not dis
tinguish another letter-a hand, her hand
was on the knob!
She entered, blond, beautiful, but look
ing out from the soft, luxurious warmth
of her costly furs little weary, little
disheveled, after an afternoon spent in Wis
iting, shopping, swift riding in a coupe
The "good day. she gave him seemed 6
little weary, too, the gesture little petu
liant with which she drew off her gloves
threw back her furs and dropped into {
chair.
II am very late," said she, ''and We
must dine quickly; the Daubignys are
coming to take me with them to thu
opera"
He started, panied and surprised
"What, you are going out, dearest?
thought we were to spend the evening to
gether here in our little nest. "
She had thrown herself into a low, easy
chair, with her tiny feet outstretched t.
the fire. Greatly, my dear, you are very
unreasonable, she answered indifferently
1t was very good of the Daubignys to in
vito me, and as l am not at al! spoiled
you know, by visits to the theater, nc
cepted with pleasure. Still, if you wisl
to forbid my going you can. You are IN.
master. The law is on year side. "
He dropped the paper YEARLY, all TIN
brightness gone from his fnce. ''There il
no need to be angry, dearest" he expostu
lated. 81 had no thoug or wish to de
prive you of pleasure. III reproach me
too, needlessly. You w that 1 an
nearly always busy in the evenings. 10
night however, 1 am free, and was prom
Using myself
'All right, I'll not CO."
"No, no, dear one; not at all? Come
We'll dine quickly. You'll go and maxi
yourself beautiful, and when the Dau
bignys arrive
II am not going, tell you'll 1 no lon
ger wish to CO."
She flung off her furs and her dainty hat
and tossed them angrily on a couch.
He watched her sorrowfully, miserably
all his Innocent joy gone, feeling him
self aged and eneryated by this quarrel
comprehensive.
She was seated now at the other side o
| the fire, her slender white hands claspe,
carclessly about her knees. He sought ant
| sought for something to say to her, any
| thing, no matter what, that would breal
the horrible silence, but nothing woul'
come. A..
"By the way" said she suddenly-s
suddenly that he perceptibly jumped"
have invited Paul Bernard to dine with u
tomorrow. He is very agreeable"
"Ah"
"Why 'ah?' What do you say 'ah' forS'
"For nothing-nothing at ALL dear.
said 'ah' just as l would say oh just a
would say
She had haughtily raised her prett,
| head, with it's crown Of golden curls, tn
naughty head of little princess, but will
| its beauty just then marred by the hard
scornful curve of the red lips.
Perhaps you intend to be jealous ant
make scenes?" she persisted.
He did not reply. His chin dropped OF
| his breast dejectedly. Still this quarre
without reason or sense She was no
usually so.
And suddenly great terror was borl
| within him to clutch and tear at tn
strings of his heart. This nervous excite
| ment of his wife, this oyersensitiveness t.
| unspoken words-could it be the OUTCOME
of some hidden pain, some secret suffer
| ing, or-God in heaven, crush the though
the remorse Of a first fault?
No, no, impossble She was only tired
| fatigued by paying calls, by the chatterins
| of uncongenial acquaintance.
| Meanwhile she went Oh, exasperatin.
! herself moro and more.
"You might as we'll know, too, now a
any time Lucien, that when you begil
that, when you take it into your head t.
be jealous, suspicious-well, l know bu
one remedy for it-divorceW
He paled at tho horrible word, for sh
had hurled it at him cruelty, brutally as
blow, looking him straight in the eye, he
elbow resting on the mantelpiece, and ap
parently quite calm.
Eight clock began to chime. In tn
! street the rain still fell, slow, mournfu
rain, sounding like dirge. They passe
into the dining room, she leading, he fol
lowing like one in troubled dream.
In the interval the cozy little moo
seemed all at onse to have grown chill
and formal. Discomfort, bitterness, SUI
pressed irritation, lurked in the air.
Dinner, which had been served, ha
grown cold on the pretty white table, tn
crisp little rolls had lost their temptin
look, and there, in the midst of it all, tn
poor, forgotten bunch of roses hung 1t
head with look of woe, as if it felt itsel
stranger, an unlimited, an unwelcom
guest.
She glanced at the flowers with littl
careless, absent air.
"Ah, roses p said she.
Then he replied, the sadness Of his hear
making his voice shake:
Eyes. dear roses. 1t is the anniyersar