The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-11
NOT UNUSUAL.

"Are you going out tonight, Phil'"
Eyes"
"And you will be late coming in. I sup.
pose''
"A wise superstition, thati Yes, shall
DO rather late. What do you want 30
know forf"
Phil Greyille glanced across the dinner
table at his young wife somewhat curl
ously, and she, meeting his gaze, shrugged
her shoulders without answering his ques-
ton.
"You needn't sit up for me" her hus-
band remarked carelessly
"Thank you. suppose I can please
myself"
"You generally do that, and you know
we'll enough that never lay down any
special laws for you"
She looked at him, with little smile
curving her lips.
"And were you to do So do you think
should obey themP' she asked.
my dear child, I have never given the
subject thought.
"But do your" she persisted.
"Don't bother"
"How very like a man to avoid answer
ing question by saying don't botherP
she returned, laughing
"And how exceedingly like woman to
plague one with senseless questions!'
"You called me child just now," his
wife remarked, rising from her chair and
reaching across the table for box Of Gig
arettes.
"May ask what you are going to do
nowP" Greville asked.
"You may ask certainly, but can please
myself about answering" she said and
proceeded to light cigarette with her
back turned toward him.
Excuse my smoking before you've fin
ished your DESSERT" she said as she blew
Whit of smoke from between her red
lips and turned and faced him.
He looked at her with a puzzled express
sion in his eyes.
''Since when have you learned that very
charming accomplishments" he inquired
sarcastically.
She drew her pretty brows together per-
plexedly.
"I'm really sorry can't tell you, but
I've forgotten how long ago it is"
He gave short laugh and watched her
as she daintily f1icked the ash off her Gig
arctic, and he wondered why 1t did not
anger him to see her smoke, since usually
he abhorred to see a woman do so.
1t struck him also that had she done the
same thing few months before 1t would
have called down upon her head his wrath
full indignation, but now he felt totally
Indifferent as to what she might choose to
do. 1t mattered to him less than nothing
since he was utterly and indescribab'y
tired Of her.
"You don't object to my smoking
Philip his wife inquired, watching his
face keenly. ut can't really matter much
what do--at least to you"
"What sensible remarkm
"The truth is often that" She threw
the cigarette into the fire and turned and
looked ut his handsome face half wistfully.
"What q pity 1t is we ever got married.
she cried with little break In her voice.
"What an awful, awful pityi" Then she
ran quickly out of tho room in an exceed
ingly undignined manner.
Phil Greville looked rather astonished.
II wonder II she meant it?' he solilo-
quized
"She said 1t as though she did. And
how jolly pretty she looked smoking that
cigarette! l wonder why she did it2 If
she thought 1t would annoy me she was
mistaken. All the same, hate to sec any
woman smoke-it's vulgar and low,
though I'm hanged II sho didn't make the
thing look downright we'll bet Jim
Taunton would think so. Poor fool! He's
desperately in love with her What a
thousand pities he didn't marry her! I
believe wish he had. Still If she WASH t
so confoundedly soft hearted she wouldn't
DO half bad, and she's uncommonly pretty
at times Jim Taunton told me he thought
she looked i'll, but, then, he's SO far gone
that there's no accounting for what he
does or says. Poor devil 1t must be
; rather hard lines being in love with an
other mans wife--not that 1t matters
much nowadays, for it seems fashiona-
bio complaint" Here his reflections
ceased, and no rose and left the room.
The sound of his wife's yoiso, singing
an old fashioned song reached him as he
crossed the hail. and he paused for few
seconds Mt the drawing room door and lis
tened.
He hardly knew what prompted him to
enter tho room, but when the slender,
white gowned figure at the piano turned
round he was standing by the fire, looking
down at the glowing embers, and his
wifes face flushed with pleasure as she
came toward him.
It was something new for him to join
her after dinner, and her heart gave glad
leap, and hope seemed born within her
afresh.
As she crossed the long room, with the
soft, subdued light of candles shining on
her fair face and dusky hair, she made
picture beautiful enough to gladden. any
mans heart, but tho time had gone by
when her beauty had held Phil Greville
spelbound and fascinated him as no other
woman's loneliness had power to do. He
looked at her now with even pulses and
COOL critical eyes and rather wondered
why he had been SO mad about her. After
all she was not any better looking than
dozens Of other women, he argued, and
yet how Jim Taunton raved about herl
But, then, Jim was in love with her, and
he well, he was not. A oompla-
cent smile stole over his face as he pom
dercl thus for he knew how utterly and