The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-14
HIS LITTLE DINNER.

Dnck hand In which he held n big bunch
Of roses, which, If not very choice or artis
tic in their selection, still spoke eloquently
of n great, loving heart His eyes sparkled,
his fingers trembled with Joy, when, in
the dining room a moment later, he ar
ranged his flowers in a 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 o tiny
jewel case and hid it under one of tho two
napkins.
Now" he murmurcd smiling gayly.
"now she may come inl''
How was 1t all going to happen? Should
he run to meet her, take her In his arms
and call her "My belovedf' 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 IL were
unconsciously-to the dining room door,
where he was going to enjoy the delight of
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. "It is
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 knobl
She entered, blond, beautiful, but look
ing out from the soft, luxurious warmth
of her costly furs little weary, little
dishevcled, after an afternoon spent in Wis
iting, shopping, swift riding in coupe.
The good day" she gave him seemed a
little weary, too, the gesture a little petu-
liant with which she drew off her gloves
threw back her furs and dropped into a
chair.
~ am very late" said she, land we
must dine quickly, the Daubignys are
coming to take me with them to the
opera. "
He started, panied and surprised
what, you are going out, dearest? l
thought we were TO spend the evening to-
gether here in our little nest
She had thrown herself into n low, easy
chair, with her tiny feet outstretched to
the fire. "Really, my DEAR you are very
unreasonable, - she answered indifferently
cit was very good of the Daubignys to in
vite me, and as ! am not at all spoiled,
you know, by visits to the theater, &C
cepted with pleasure Still, if you wish
master The law is ON your side"
He dropped the paper wenrily. all the
brightness gone from his face. "There is
no need to be angry, dearest" he expostu-
lated. IL had no thought or wish to de-
prive you of pleasure. You reproach me,
too needlcssly. You know that 1 am
nearly always busy in the evenings To-
night, however, am Free and was prom
Using myself
''All right, III not CO."
''No, no, dear one; not at all? Come,
We'll dine quickly. You'll go and make
yourself beautiful, and when the Dau-
bignys arrive
81 am not going, tell you! no Ion
ger wish to CO."
She flung off her furs and her dainty hat,
and tossed them angrily on u 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 claspcd
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.
"Ahr'
"Why 'ah?' What do you say 'ah' for?''
"For nothing-nothing at all, dear. I
said 'ah' just as l would say oh just as
l would say
She had haughtily raised her pretty
head, with its crown of golden curls, 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
make scenesf' she persisted.
He did not reply. His chin dropped on
his breast dejcctedly. Still this quarrel
without reason or sensel She was not
usually SO.
And suddenly a great terror was born
within him to clutch and tear at the
strings of his heart This nervous excite
ment of his wife, this oversensitiyeness 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, impossible! She was only tired,
fatigued by paying calls, by the chattering
of uncongenial acquaintance
Meanwhile she went on, exasperating
herself more and more.
"You might as we'll know too, now as
any time, Lucien, that when you begin
that, when you take it into your head to
be jealous, suspicious-well, 1 know but
one remedy for it-divorce!"
He paled at the horrible word, for she
had hurled it at him cruelty, brutally as a
blow, looking him straight in the eye, her
elbow resting on the mantelpiece, and ap-
parently quite calm.
Eight O'Clock began to chime In the
street the rain still fell, slow, mournful
rain, sounding like dirge. They passed
into the dining room, she leading, he fol.
lowing like one in troubled dream.
In the interval the oozy 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