Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-12-23

gown, calls out TO her husband in his
dressing-room: Jack, dear, do yo.
know what Mrs. Edgerton wants me
to do tomorrow night?"
No, dear; what is it; not dance, i
hope?"
oh, Jack, that's Just what it is.
! am sorry Kitty. I'm afraid q
cannot allow it.
! Mrs. Randolph, who by this time is
laced, runs into her husbands dress
ing-room and puts white arm around
his neck
Now, Jack, darling, do you know
how awfully kind she has been to us,
to ask us here and all that. really
don't see how | can refuse There's
the ball tonight, you know, and to-
morrow the tableauX. | am to have a
scene all TO myself--if you could soc
the dress she has had made for me-a
perfect dream all chiffon and swans
! down and, and--but | won't tell you
the rest. will never ask you again,
Only this once, darling, please?"
Mr.. Randolph looks into his wife's
| glowing face and smiles reluctantly.
Have it your own way this time,
dear, but don't ask me again You
know how l dislike it. 1t doesn't seem
like my lily girl. | don't object to il
| for others, but it's not for you"
Mrs. Randolph kissed him on both
cheeks.
| Thanks. That's a dear old jack
and don't look so rueful and SO sad.
You'll be proud of me, you'll see"
Mrs Edgerton, alone, completely
| dressed and standing in an attitude OF
abstraction before her mirror
Tom was right The new beauty is
a real beauty, and on the whole quite
/ charming, Her manner is little too
eager, but she'll improve. | like her
husband better-why didn't Tom speak
| of m?-such good manners, although
quiet and good-looking, too and so
/ devoted to hereafter all, there are
some husbands who are still interested
/ in their wives-heigh ho! OF course
she'll dance she wouldn't dare refuse.
| Tom says she dances like Carmencita
and Lefty Lind together Tom is
really very hard hit. We shall see,
| Anyway. | shall see to it that these
women are civil to her. They were
too disgusting and insolent yester-
day--she is so awfully pretty. It's no
wonder
Twelve o'clock. The Christmas bells
are ringing the ball Is at it's height
and the house is filled with music ana
| laughter. In the ballroom they are
| dancing Virginia reel. each couple
finishing ND under the mistletoe ano
| getting past it as near as they can.
| Mrs. Randolph Is easily the prettiest
woman there, and is getting a little
excited with her compliments and the
set of cotiliion fayors she is receiving
but her husband becomes distinctly
bored with 1t all. The continual noise
and excitement has got In his nerves
and he wanders away TO the deserted
library for little quiet and repose,
Then in the ample lap of big chair
near the fire he has smoked half a
cigar and finally dropped asleep.
His slumbers have not lasted long,
for he is soon disturbed by the sound
OF voices raised in earnest converse
ton.
1t is a very high backed chair In
which he is sitting, and it is turned
towards the fire, so that he is quite
concealed from the others The muir.
muir OF their voices comes confusedly
to his ears at first, and then he IL
reused completely by the sound OF hi
own name and he realizes that 1t II
Tom Cary and Dick Townsend, AM
that they are talking about his wife.
= Il tell you, Cary, that Is an awfullN
I nice woman, and If am not mistaken
as straight as she is beautiful-do 10
l. Heavens sake take people as you fn'
. them, and stop botherlng."
Il thank you for none Of your ad
vice, Dick know what | am about
She Is q ccquette to her fir ger tips. Sh
has played me for all am worth, cold
. hearted little mink, and she shall pa.
. me for it,"
, What about her husband?'
A "Randolph-poohl | am not afrait
/ OF him He wouldns say boo to (
r goose He didn't want her TO dance
; but she's soing to. She winds hin
I around her little finger"
1 tom" said Townsend. you're :
fool; but rarely as much OF a one "a
you are this time. Randolph's thu
, right sort every time; he INDUCES hi
wife and trusts her, too. That's natu
raj; but hen look after her, neve
I fear; and any one Who tries 10 inter
, fere will get the worst Of It. mark M
J words
Nothing of the sort Look here
Dick. III prove to you that | know
. what I'm talking about You know
she's going to dance tomorrow night
and you know that little ten-house IL
the terrace next the riyer?''
Yes. well?"
We'll, / am going 10 ask Mrs Ran.