The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-03

ZOE COURSE - MY HUSBAND" SHE
MURMURED.
seem of all things most incredible Ia
this icy girl? Marcia colored, looked
down, hesituted, presented every sign
of severe confusion, but she dared not
face Noel's smile and Celeste's unbe.
lieving stiffness.
"Of course-my shusband." she muir.
INJURED, in the end.
II see," observedN Celeste, and at last
she moved, sitting down in an arm.
chair and gazing into the fire. Marcia
sank on a sofa by the wall. Noel For.
Hrester stood between them, warming
ihis back and looking from one to the
other with much apparent amusement
81 hope he'll come soon," Marcia
moaned-
'Oh, hope So" said Noel. with Q
laugh.
II don't expect TO sec him Just YETI
observed Celeste, In o tone of delicate
irony.
The limit of Marcia's patience was
reached. Guilty herself of the merest
peccadillo, nay, of the merest pleasant
Ty, she was being subjected to con-
temptuons and scornful treatment and
TO the most injurious suspicious by
lady concerning whom she began her.
self to have the gravest doubts. Ignor
ing her own vulnerabiity, she deter
mined on an offensive movement.
Il haven't been formally introduced
to you yet" she remarked to Celeste.
with . lock as full Of significance and
htstrust as that which the newcomer
had directed at herself.
Her remark ELECTED only scornful
smile from Celeste. But Noel Forester
gave very low whistle as he opened his
case and took out another cigarette
Then he nodded slightly and in q rather
confidential way at Marcia. "You've
Ait it there" he seemed to say. Marcia
although not at all comforted by his de,
=sscszsr. stuck to her point and turned |
from Celeste to him. "Will you tell me
what am to cnll this lady?" she asked |
Il thought told you to call her by |
my nane." he said, in a tone Of bland |
xurprise. Il meant to say that. BY my
name, please, Mrs. Nettleton-"
Without more Marcia launched he,
bolt.
But Miss Forester or Mrs. For
rcster?"
pause followed. Marcia watcbeo
her companions closely. They glanced
mt one another, at first apparently in
some little hesitation or confusion.
Then. TO Marcia's dismay and wrath.
both burst at the same instant into
loud and merry laughter. Marcia
sprang to her feet, glaring at them
They laughed on for some seconds: the
Joke seemed 10 a,nuse them very much
AT last Caaeste controlled herself and
gasped out in An exhausted tone:
oh, Mrs.. please. We're oil Mrs.. TO
night, Mrs. Nettleton." And then. with
another glance at Noel, she went OF
anto a renewed peal of mnth which
ended as she jumped up. and, lookinu
NJ herself In the glass over the mantel
piecr, cried. triumphantly: Don't ]
make splendid Mrs. Forres,erY"
Marcia sank back on her sofa 4,
speechless horror. Who was the crea.
turc? Into what company had sb,
come?
AT this moment the door opened an,
Susan appeared. Marcia's fancy cast a
lurid light on Sussn's fair-sseminr re.
spccsaoility. A whited sepulchre, thi,
Susanl
What is it?' asked Noel. 1Iis tone
was composed, but his eyes still twin.
killed..
The carriage has returned, sir. Mr.
Nettleton had found his way to the
jnn."
"Ah, good! You must feel relieved.
Airs. Nettleton."
: III: AssilsiQa wishes tq tAsas 1sg