The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-11-17

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the eyelids.
Come, what will you give to- pre-
vent it?" she asked.
Nothing" responded Edith quietly.
HE would be of different opinion!
observed Arbuscula.
Hardly" said my wife. He is not
fool"
You are the first woman who ever
said that of him." retorted Arbuscula.
Il do not doubt it" replied my wife,
with much significance, and the other
Redeemed slightly. Under the guard"
thought l.
''All women are the same to him,
continued Arbuscula, recovering her
self. What is the difference between
you and me? A wedding ring
s.And all it symbolizes," rejoined my
wife softly.
That's a house on fifth rate ter
race, with only one stopcock for eight
of ye. and the lady next door cuts off
the water when she has had few
words with you over the hedge know
it," sneered the other.
"Oh, it symbolizes more, said Edith,
but her tone was weaker. The thrust
had gone home, for the study of hydro
states had been forced upon us OF late.
And what is that, pray?" demanded
Arbuscula insolently.
"To explain would be to insult your
intelligence-an yourself" replied
Edith. Beat in carte, lunge in tierce!"
thought l.
"Oh, am not thin skinned" laugh
ed Arbuscula.
Il made allowance" repoined my
wife.
Arbuscula's lips became thin line
of scarlet They parted, and she
smiled / knew that she had always
possessed a most unfeminine sense of
humor, but | was not prepared for its
assertion at this supreme moment.
The two women stood looking at each
other across the table. Arbuscula's
dazzling smile lighting her face, my
wife's pale, yet never so beautiful,
thought, thoughnow, enlightened by the
contrast, | noted the lines of anxiety
which had been creeping there during
the past months, and violet shadows
under the sweet eyes. The other gath
cred up the letters and began to shut
fe them as one would pack of cards.
You are dying to read them!" she
said.
My wife's voice SAID, NO" Her face
was not so explicit.
Here's one-it's poetry" continued
Arbuscula. 1T was written for astays
/ invented, the Arbuscula busk--you
might have heard of it?''
mo, it must have been before my
time, . said Edith innocently.
Possibly you came rather late in the
day" retorted the other.
"But come to stay answered my
wife.
Arbuscula laughed. Edith put her
hand upon the bell.
tYou surely will not compel mel"
she said, II have been very patient 2
you'll want ali the patience you
have in the good time coming" rejoin-
ed the other.
"And you, what will your future be
without patience?" asked Edith.
MY future can take care of itself"
cried Arbuscula, laughing laugh short
as the snap of a breaking sword blade.
"I'm woman with past, the sort mo-
rality humbngs chatter about, but if
I had future like you, by -, I'd try
to get something better than the butt
en- of a roue."
Using the Hit" thought l.
MY wife laughed gayly now You
know the old adage," she said, the
best husband is reformed rake.
Mems follies often serve as beacons to
guide them past the other shoals and
shadows of life. Experience enables
them to appreciate things-it is a good
light for a man.
"And a useless one for woman"
answered Arbuscula, with a sudden
change of tone, Its like the poop light
which shows the foam upon the reef
that has just torn the poor ships side
out-much good, when the masts are
going by the board"
She gathered the letters together
Whatever had been her puprose in COM
ing, I could see her grasp upon it was
gone. Catching at that moment the re-
fection of my own face in a mirror op-
posite, was so i'll pleased by the sight
that l stole down stairs, hearing an
other hacking laugh and the tinkle of
a bell as | went.
l returned to the garden and COM
menced to patiently dig up the border.
Presently Edith came out also with an
armful of plants she began to sort.
singing a cradle song much admired
the while.
went over to her Il got those car
nations up, | said, "but for the life of
me can't say which is which,
She ran to the border. "Ah, you took
far too much trouble, dear" she said
softly. "And after all your labor, too.
I'm so sorry!D She pressed my arm,
and the touch covered more than the
words
But the line was not straight,
4 answered. averting my eyes.