The Van Buren press., 1898-12-10

lion. oAPT. PLUNkET and his
wife had been entertaining some
friends 10 dinner in a small furniehed
house in Mayfair.
The last guest had departed and the
captain. well pleased with his success
at cards, INDUCED in some airy castle
building. as he lounged back n com
Portable armchair His Yifess tail fig
ure was visible in the background. she
was putting away the songs With
which she had been entertaining her
husbands eard-playiug friends
Il must really congratulate you, my
dear. on the way everything went OF
this evening The captain removed
his hands from behind his head and
plunged them into his pockets There
upon the music his ears loved bes4 the
tinkling Of gold coin against each
other, could be distinctly heard in the
silent room. Mrs. Plunket crossed the
room. leaned one beautifully-shaPed
arm on the man1elpiece. and fixed her
flashing eyes full on her husbs nd's
face, wiih the fearless glance which
put her hand up TO her throat as if the
violence or her repressed emotion were
choking her.
From under his lowered cyelids, her
husband stole a furtive glance al her
face by Joye. she's primed for an
outbursil There's no escaping it this
time was his inward comment.
Jack, how long is this kind OF thing
going TO go on?" she asked in vibral-
ing eontralto voice, so intense that it
sounded like a moan Of the wounded
animal. i cannot bear it any
longerl 1t is killing mel"
This kind of thing is a vague ex-
preston" drawled her husband. May
/ ask you to express yourself more in
telligibly?"
"Oh, III be ineligible enough, never
lear" she retorted, bitterly. What ]
complain of is the degrading. dishon-
est life we lead. What right have we
TO give dinners when the landlord. the
servants, and the tradespeople are all
clamoring for their money? You know
right well you never intend to pay
them. When things become unbear-
able Hon. Capt. Plunket and his wife
will do as they have done before, disap-
pear from one place 10 reappear in an
other. What are We, you and l. but two
dishonest Gdventurers2 / for one am
resolved to break with this degrading
life and / ask you TO give il up
And il refuse to do so. what then ?"
Then we part forever" she replied
drmly-
Part" repeated her husband with
sneer. I'm afraid, my dear. you're
forgetting that very interesting eere-
mOny which bound Us 10 each other for
better OF worse, richer or poorer.
i ask for nothing better than honest
poverty was her quick reply. i could
live in two rooms and work from morn
ing 70 night for yOu and the children
without . murmur-
Unfortunately, ny dear. I've not
been blessed with the early training
and inherited instincts which alone can
render such Life endursble"
HIS wife drew Up her fine form 10 its
fullest height as she east a glance Of
Eitherlng contempt al her husbands
EeryeIsss figure: . tide Of warm Grim
son dyed her cheek; a cutting rejoindsr
trsnbied On her lips; but the earnest
ness of her purpose inspired her with
self-ooutroi. and, allowing his insoIenee
10 pass unchsllenged, she proceeded TO
pat before him the plan she had been
maturing for several weeks.
have been renewing ny connection
with The theatrical world. and this very
morning I vas offered & good engage
ment in q London theaier. by an old
friend q ny mothers: Eiu you allow
ne 70 accept itg- she asked.
Impossible, ny deari It's bad
nough for ne 70 have taken a wife
from the stage certainly can't al
low you 10 drag ny name into such
undesirable notoTiety--
Moving closer 20 her husband. she
sank On her knees beside him. laid her
hand On his arm and raised her eyes.
full Of appealing esnestnezs. 10 his
face. III take another name. Jack .
For the sake Of our baby boys, do let