The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-03
HIS LITTLE DINNER.

his fingers tremblsd with Joy, when, In
the dining room q moment later, he ar
ranged his flowers In q. handsome vase
and with tender little pats and touohee sol
them carefully in the center Of the little
round table,
Then from his pocket he drew tiny
jewel case and hid 1t under one Of the two
"Now," he murmured, smiling gayly,
NOW she may come IMP
How was 1t all going to happenf 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, unoonoerned; then, by
accident, his arm would slip around her
waist, and he would lead her-as 1t were
unconsciously--to the dining room door,
where he was going to enjoy the, delight Of
her surprise and pleasure.
All, at last a step outside His Joy must
be disguised, lest she suspect something,
and again he caught up the paper. st Ia
wired from London''-"It is wired from
London"--but 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 tho soft, luxurious warmth
Of her costly furs little weary, little
disheveled, after an afternoon spent in Wis
iting, shopping, swift riding in a coupe.
Tho good day" she gave him seemed q
little weary, too, the gesture little petu-
liant with which she drew off her gloves,
throw back her furs and dropped into a
chair.
~ am very late" said she, land we
must dine quickly; the Daubignys are
coming to take mo with them to the
opera"
He started, panied and surprised.
"What, you arc going out, dearestP Z
thesSht We were q spend the evening to-
gether here In our little Icc ....
She had thrown herself into low, easy
chair, with her tiny feet outstretohed to
the fire. Really, my dear, you are very
unreasonable, she answered lndiffereptly.
at was very good of the Daubignys to in-
vite me, and as am not at all spoiled,
you know, by visits to the theater, ao-
cepted with pleasure. Still, If you wish
to forbid my going you can. You are my
master. The law Is on your side.
He dropped tho paper woarily, all the
brightness gone from his face. "There is
no need to be angry, dearest" he expostu-
lated. II had no thought or wish to de-
priye you of pleasure. You reproach me,
too, needlessly. You know that I am
nearly always busy in the evenings. To-
night, however, am free, and was prom
Using myself
can right III not CO."
mo, no, dear one; not OF allp Come,
we'll dine quickly. You'll go and make
yourself beautiful, and when the Dau-
bignys arrive''-
II am not going, I tell you'll I no lon.
ger wish to CO."
She flung off her furs and her dainty hat,
and tossed them angrily on couch.
He watched her sorrowfully, miserably,
all his innocent Joy gone, feeling him.
self aged and enervated by this quarrel,
that was so useless, so unforeseen, so in
COMPREHENSIVE.
She was seated now at the other side of
the fire, her slender white hands clasped
carelessly about her knees He sought and
sought for something to say to her, any
thing, no matter what, that would break
the horrible silence, but nothing would
come
"By the way" said she suddenly-so
suddenly that he perceptibly jumped-"I
have invited Paul Bernard to dine with US
tomorrow. He is very agreeable"
"Ahi"
"why 'ah'' What do you say 'ah' forP"
"For nothing-nothing at all, dear. I
said 'ah' just as would say oh just as
would say
She had haughtily raised her pretty
head, with Its crown Of golden ourls, the
naughty head Of little princess, but with
its beauty just then marred by the hard,
scornful curve of the red lips.
Perhaps you intend to be jealous and
mako scenes2" she persisted.
He did not reply. His chin dropped on
his breast dejectedly. Still this quarrel
without reason or sense! She was not
usually SO.
And suddenly o great terror was born
within him to clutch and tear at the
strings Of his heart. This nervous excite
ment of his wife, this oversensitiveness to
unspoken words--could it be the outcome
Of some hidden pain, some secret suffer-
ing, or-God in heaven, crush the thought
the remorse of first fault?
No, no. imposslblel She was only tired,
fatigued by paying calls, by the ohattering
of uncongenial acquaintance.
Meanwhile she went on, exasperating
herself more and more.
"You might as well know, too, now as
any time, Luoien, that when you begin
that, when you take it into your head to
be jealous, uspicious-wcll, know but
one remedy for it-divoroel"
He paled at the horrible word, for she
had hurled 1t at him cruelty, brutally as q
blow, looking him straight in the eye her
elbow resting on tho mantelpiece, and ap-
parently quite calm.
Eight o'clock began to chime. In the
street the rain still fell, slow, mournful
rain, sounding like a dirge. They passed
into the dining room, she leading, he fol-
lowing like one in troubled dream.
In the interval the cozy little nook
seemed all at once to have grown chill
and formal. Discomfort, bitterness, sup
pressed irritation, lurked in the air.
Dinner, which had been served, had
grown cold on the pretty white table, the
crisp little rolls had lost their tempting
look, and there, in the midst of it ALL the
poor, forgotten bunch of roses hung its
head with look Of woe, as II it felt itself
stranger, an unlimited, an unweloome
guest.
She glanced at the flowers with q little
careless absent air.
"Ah, rosesl" said She
Then he replied, the sadness Of his heart
making his voice shake:
"Ycs, dear, roses. 1t is the anniversary
Of our wedding day. "-Waverley Maya
zine.