The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-08

cOulQ OEly. serve up all neT' DlttorHeSS,
MI the poIson swallowed drop by drop!
II 1t could be the laGt OF their lifei to-
gether! II she could muster the cour-
nge TO bring about the tardy realization
OF the project SO often planned. OF shak-
Ing Off her chains. and going away and
leaving him alone, OF spending her last
days far from him!
III.
In the expectation of his little dinner,
"as his wife knew how to cook them"
and as he liked them. NJ. Walter was in
good humor on his golden wedding day.
To tell the truth, his good lhumor was
scarcely worth more than his other; It
manifested Itself by jests of special
flavor-sour venomous. which he en-
phacized with u little grinding, rattle-
like laugh that was the exact express
sion, of his soul. Three or four times in
the course OF the day he said to his wife,
in that tone and in terms he thought
select and witty, that he had not loved
her, that to watch the broth boil was all
that she was good for, and other tender
nesses that stung like the coarsest In
suits. AS usual, she only answered with
n broken look, whose sorrowful re-
proach he had never understood. And
the hours passed.
At last the old Empire clock that had
followed them about everywhere, scan-
ming their days with It's feeble old tick,
struck O'Clock, and at the last stroke
NJ. Walter. who returned from his con-
stitutional with the regularity of one
whose palate abhors burnt sauces,open-
ed the door Of the dining room. The
table was not spread.
Nothing Is more disappointing than to
no. 81,
nursed beforehand. and at the sight of
the empty room which threatened q
long walt NJ. Walter at once began to
rage. Wrought up. his cheeks injected,
ready with oaths. he rushed to the
kitchen. but stood stupeiied to find Mar
lame there alone.
Madame?"
- Madame has gone out"
"What-gone out? Where? What
did she say?" E ~
Madame said that dinner would not
be until o'clock to-day"
q Seven o'clock! An hour to wait! And
gone out! Why?
1t was long hour. NJ. Walter had
never felt 70 put out. He walked up
and down his study in all directions,
struggling with the insoluble riddle that
possessed his mind: why had his wife
gone out. on that day particularly. and
changed the dinner hour? The riddle
grew complicated and serious, until he,
the least imaginative OF men, finally
conceived absurd alarms. The idea &C.
CURED to him that his wife had sudden
ly lost her reason, and he foresaw the
troublesome consequences of such n
misfortune. When the clock had struck
Z, and the hands continued their on
ward march. his study became too
small, he walked about all the rooms In
the apartment opening and shutting
the doors, counting his steps as means
Of distraction, and ended by returning
to the kitchen. He reckoncd on Mar
lame telling him something. She took
good care not to. She glanced at him
surreptiously,wlth rather jeering look,
which happily escaped him. for he was,
too self-concentrated to be observant.
At length he asked her:
well, then, she Is not comIng?"
"Oh! forgot to tell monsicur-Ma-
dame told me to say to monsieur that
monsieur was not to be anxious If ma
dame was little late"
A little late. An hour later than
usual, and more than twenty minutes
later than the hour specified! And this
dinner. this anniversary dinner, this
golden wedding dinner-left to n house.
Keeper. whose cooking he had never
tasted! He inquired gruflly:
what is there for dinner?"
Upon which Marianne, still hooking,
replied:
Madame told me not to tell monsieur,
because there we're surprises"
Surprises-that word was lightning
flash; of course his wife had gone out to
buy something dainty. choice, that came
from afar, that arrived by the after
noon train. that could be had no sooner
A good woman, all the same: And his
anger melted Into vague softncss,
which his keen appetite increased.
".
A footstcp on tho staircase, the door
opens, Madame Walter has arrived,
somewhat pale and out of breath after
the four flights of stairs. She comes
empty-handed; there are no surprises.
"Ahi There you are at last. It Is
nearly S. What does this mean?"
Nothing. l preferred a late dinner
to-day. You may bring 1t on, Mar
lanne."
He had assumed his most formidable
air Of the angry despot. The unwonted
calmness Of her answer disconnected
him. They sat down In silence. Mar
ianne brought In the smoking soup
turcen.
Pumpkin soup! Pumpkin! Ard you
know I lothe IT,"
II like 1t very much, and have tasted
none for over thirty years"
This Is said In the same quiet, decided
tone. which admits OF no rejoinder. and
NJ. Walter. astounded. remains OPEN
mouthed. without n word while his wife,
with an effort. supped n few spoonfuls.
"And here Is the fish,"
Nov, look here. You are making fun
of me. A pike! In Holland sauce, into
the bargain! AS II you didn't know
only like saltwater fish"
And II only care for fresh-water
fish,"
Yet she did not touch what she has
helped herself to. With wandering eyes
she stares at space. the great empty
space behind her; the space that has
swallowed up-her youth. her beauty.
her intellect. her love. and her strength;
the space of those fifty years OF slavery.
which are all her life. Her heart Is full
Of hate, and when her eye falls on her
husband. aghast before his plate. hum
bled, vaguely frightened. she enjoys this
childish teasing which Is her only re-
slstance and her sole revenge.
TITS lively, this golden wedding" said
Marianne to herself. as she brought in
the stewed hare.
This time. NJ. Walter says to her:
But this Is n wager! You have Sc
lcctcd everything l dislike"
Everything that like"
at looks as If You had done 1t on
purpose"
You see that at last. do you? Yes.
did it purposely."
He Is standing up. red In the face, his
fist uplifted. while she repeats. with her
colorless voice:
'Ycs, I did 1t purposely."
And this revolt and this calmncss
seem so tremendous to him that he sits
down again, pacincd and affrighted.
Come, now. explain" he says: 'T
don't understand. Have tour senses