Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-04-01
70 come Al :. o,clock.. z and .hall do t t


ready a confidant. and he understood
that this was some further develop
ment of the plot. As to Charles. he
tricity. In the person Of his aunt. that
the only thing which could surprise
him would be rigid observance Of ell
quette. At 3 o'clock they entered the
dtning-hall Of No. 2, to find the mas
ter Of the house absent, q red-shaded
lamp. snowy cloth. pleasant little
feast. and the two whom they would
have chosen. as their companions. 4
merrier party never met, and the house
rang with their laughter and their chat
ter.
1T Is three minutes to ten," cried
Clara suddenly, glancing at the clock.
Good gracious! So 1t Is! Now for oul
little tableaui" Ida pushed the cham
payne bottles obtrusively forward. In
the direction Of the door, and scattered
oyster shells over the cloth.
'Have you your pipe. Charles?"
"My pipe! Yes"
Then please smoke it. Now dom;
argue about 1t, but do 1t, for you will
ruin the effect otherwise
The large man drew out a red case.
and extracted great yellow meer-
schaum, out Of which, moment later
| he was putting thick wreaths of smoke.
Harold had lit a cigar. and both the
girls had cigarettes.
THAT looks very nice and emanci-
pated," said Ida, glancing round. "Now
| shall lie on this sofa. So! Now,
Charles. just sit here and throw your
| arm carelessly over the back of the
sofa. No, don't stop smoking. I like
| it. Clara, dear, put your feet upon the
coalscuttle. and do try to look little
dissipated. I wish we could crown our
| selves with flowers. There are some
| lettuces on the sideboard. Oh. dear
| here he is! I hear his key" She be-
gan to sing in her high, fresh voice q
little snatch from French song, with a
swinging ira la-la chorus.
| The doctor had walked home from
| the station in a peaceable and relent-
| ing frame Of mind. feeling that, per-
haps, he had said too much in the morn
ing, that his daughters had for years
been models in every way, and that, If
| there had been any change of late, it
| was, as they said themselves. on &C.
| count of their anxiety to follow his ad-
| vice and to initiate Mrs. Westmacott.
He could see clearly enough now that
| that advice was unwise, and that a
| world peopled with Mrs. Westmacotts
would not be happy or soothing
one. 1t was he who was himself to
blame. and he was grieved by the
thought that perhaps his hot words had
| troubled and saddened his two girls.
| This fear, however. was soon dissi-
pated. AS he entered his hall he heard
the voice of Ida uplifted in a rollicking
ct, 80
bacco was borne to his nostrils. He
stood aghast at the scene which met
his eyes,
The room was full of the blue
wreaths of smoke, and the lamp-light
shone through the thin haze upon gold
topped bottles, plates, napkins, and a
litter of oyster shells and cigarettes.
Ida, flushed and excited, was reclining
upon a settee, a wine-glass at her ell
bow, and a cigarette between her fin
gers, while Charles Westmacott sat be-
side her, with his arm thrown over the
head Of the sofa, with the suggestion of
caress On the other side of the room,
Clara was Longing in an armchair,
with Harold seated beside her, both
smoking, and both with wine-glasses
beside them. The doctor stood speech
less in the doorway, staring at the Bac-
chanalian scene.
"Come in, papa! Do! cried Ida.
Wont you have glass of cham
pagne?"
pray excuse me-" said her father,
coldly. Il feel that I am intruding. /
did not know that you were entertain
ing. Perhaps you will kindly let me
know When you have finished. You will
find me in my study" He ignored the
two young men completely. and, clos
ing the door. retired, deeply hurt and
mortified, to his room. quarter Of an
| hour afterward he heard the door slam
and his two girls came to announce that
the guests were gone.
Guests! Whose guests?" he cried
angrily. what is the meaning Of this
exhibition?'
1--WE have been giving little supper,
papa. They were our guests"
"Oh, indeed!' The doctor laughed
sarcastically. you think it right. then
to entertain young bachelors late at
! night, to smoke and drink with them,
to-Oh, that should ever have lived
to blush for my own daughters! I thank
God that your dear mother never saw
the day."
Dearest papa" cried Clara, throwing
her arms about him. DO not be angry
with us. If you understood ALL you
would see that there is no harm in it..
"No harm, miss! Who is the best
| Judge of that?"
Mrs. Westmacott." suggested Ida.
! slyly.
The doctor spring from his chair.
"Confound Mrs. Westmacott! he cried
striking frenziedly into the air with mis-
hands. "Am to hear Of nothing but
this woman? Is she to confront me at
every turn? will endure it no longer
But 1t was your wish. papa
But will tell you now what my sec
ond and wiser wish is, and we shall see
If you will obey 1t as you have the first. -
"Of course we will, papa
"Then my wish is that you should for.
| get the odious notions which you have
imbibed, that you should dress and act
as you used to do, before ever you saw
this woman, and that in future you con-
fine your intercourse with her to such
| civilities as are necessary between
| neighbors."
| 1--WE are to give up Mrs. Westma-
! cott?"
"Or give me I'D"