The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-24
MRS. CAUDLE's last.

Of thear marriase the Duaosts have given
dinnar party, during which tho husband
has bean q little teo attentive to bis fair,
peighbor. Mime. DudQst has sm0thered
het Jealousy all through the evening, but
scarcely have they retired to the conjugal
couch, where she 10 certain that the offend
or cannot escape her, especially as she has
taken firm grip upon his nightshirt,
when she opens the foodgates Of her
wrath.
Madame-So, M. Dufiost, you have SO
little conscience that you think you are
going to 60 right to sleep.
Monsieur-I don't see what's to prevent.
Perhaps the pate might, for ate good
deal Of 10 But took three glasses Of
ohartreuse, and
Madame-You forget the remorse that
Providence sends to haunt the sleep Of the
guilty.
Monsieur-Why the deuce should Provi-
dence bother itself about mep
Madame-Oh, I know that regrets are
useless But If could go back ten years,
what happened then would never happen
again, can assure you. ! did not expect
when we came out of the church that tho
tenth anniversary of our wedding would
be like this. can see you now, dressed as
bridegroom, wearing rose in your but
tonhole, and you kept declaring the flower
was just like me.
Monsieur--Did say that II
Madame--Oh, know it's the way with
you men to forget what you said at time
like that. But l remember IT 1t seems
as II 1 could see you now as we came out
of the church. You simply devoured me
with your eyes.
Monsieur-You mistake the emotion
my eyes expressed. was wearing new
pair of tight shoes, and they caused me
the most exquisite agony.
Madame-Oh, you may talk about boots
today, but that was not what you were
thinking of then. And at our wedding
breakfast, where, In defiance of custom,
you absolutely insisted on sitting next to
me, you kept passing all the dishes to me,
and believe you would have fed me on
pearls and diamonds And to think that 1t
Is the same man who behaved so disgrace
fully this EVENING" Oh, you need not look
astonished Everybody noticed how you
neglected me. must have looked like o
bad bargain that you have thrown aside.
Our guests absolutely blushed for you for
making them witnesses to such an insult.
But perhaps that was what you intended
to do when you invited them.
Monsieur-But you made out the list
yourself. -.,
Madame (explosively) --That is not truel
Do you mean to pretend TINT invited that
Mile. Josephine DucoudrayP Oh, yes, I
know you are going to say her brother
brought her here without your knowledge!
A prattv fe1Ioyu that brothnr ia
Monsieur Qmpatiently)-O come! Are
we never going to sleep2
Madame-Well, I'm not preventing you.
Monsieur (burying his head in the pill
low)-Thanks.
"a brief interval of silenoe.)
Madame-I know perfectly well the rea-
son that Josephine came shopping about
the house. She wanted to SEQ how she
would DO fixed when you marry her after
my DEATH Oh, she will not have long to
wait. Dropping day by day as am, feel
that shall not last long.
Monsieur (irritated)-Oh, nonsensel
Madame-Oh, you may we'll wrap your
self up In the bedclothes when I speak of
her 1t only proves to me your relations
with her. don't see how you can have the
assurance to look me in the face.
Monsieur This nose in the bedclothes)-
But I'm not looking you In the face.
Madame-The more shame to you, thenl
All, II it were Josephine, you would
Monsieur (angrily)-For the last time,
madame, l beg you to let me go to sleep.
shall have plenty of time to listen to your
silly complaints tomorrow.
Madame-Very good, sir. An honest
man would defend himself 1t is only tho
guilty who keep silent for fear of betraying
themselves.
"a new interval of silence.)
Madame with sudden burst Of rage)
No, no, mol I shall not keep still You
will have to tear out my tongue first.
Just try to tear out my tongue. I defy
you to do 1t.
Monsieur dosing the last remnants Of
his pationce)-The night is for sleeping,
not for tearing out tongues.
Misunderstanding it is sacred to your
dear Josephine wish tho dinner had
ohoked her The idea of her daring to
oriticise my dinner
Monsieur-On tho contrary, she praised
it highly.
Madalne-Who wanted the impudent
hussy praises2 Oh, shall never forget
your conduct oven If I live to be q hun
dredl
Monsieur-A hundred Just now you
told me you were not long for this world
Madame-I cannot understand how such
shameless creatures can exist, daring to
lead on married man SO before score of
people. Everybody pitied me during'the
game Of cards, when she kept saying to
you every minute, with q disgusting smile,
II will take your heart" You would have
seen how shocked everybody was If you
had not been too busy incoming over tho
deceitful hussy, who was cheating YOU
for she did cheat you. You cannot deny
that she was caught with two aces of clubs
in her hand.
Monsieur-That will teach you not to
let our little son Paul touch the cards. He
mixed up two packs when he was playing |
with them.
Madame-Oh, NJ. Dudost, never ex-
pected to hear you besmirch the reputation
of your SOM So, then, to defend this |
shameless creature, you pretend that poor |
child only years old has already become |
sharper.
Monsieur lin a rage)-Oh, this is too
much Shut up, woman! You will drive
me crazyl
Madumo-So much the better. would
rather SEQ you crazy than an unnatural
father
Monsieur (exasperated to the last degree)
-Listen. Think have given you enough
proof of my patience. Yes or no, for the
last time, will-you-let-me-sle
Madame with energy)-Nover! shall
speak my mind, oven If you gag me with
the bolster IN. Duflost bounds violently
out of bed) Where are you goingP
Monsieur (who Is hastily pulling on his
clothes)-I am going to hotel to Sleep
Translated From the French For Argo-
puut