The Florence daily tribune., 1899-03-01
HER OBJECT LESSON.


had just intimated desire for an i,e
aud her attendant satellites bad dis
persed at once, each eager to be fore
most in the quest
She had had "A busy day, and 1T was
pleasant and cool there behind the
palm Sne only wished thut people
would not whisper somewhere near u
only they were aware how much far
tber a whisper carried than an ordinary
tonei And while she medituted an cpl
gram on this subject she opened her
eyes and looked round impatieutly for
the whisperers.
There was particularly ineligible
corner near Mrs. Trelawneys snug re-
treat, n three coruered, low backed
sent, IN the full glare of the light and
unplensantly close to an intrusive and
spiky cactus.
Hither had retroated poor cousin OF
the hostess, n little girl of n, under
dressed and pale faced, conspicuous
only for very new and shining wed
ding ring She had been alone most OF
the evening" and now it was she aud
her boy husband whose whispering had
disturbed Mrs. Trelawney.
Darling, are you enjoying your
self?'' whispered the boy husband
$50 much, dear!" answered the little
girl enthusiastically ITS all so pretty
aud so amusing to watch I've never
seen anything so pretty in my liteP'
1--WE been helping Lady Lucy She
asked me 20 take some old ladies' down
to supper the boy husband went on
with oomical Importance. "Huu re
sure you are not dull here all alono?''
"Dull? oh, dear mol" cried the little
girl, opening wide eyes of amazement
"Oh there's Lady Lucy looking ut us
dear. | expect she wants you again.
The boy hurried off again, proud and
elated and his little wife sat smiling
after him from her corner Mrs IRE
lawney looked sharply from one to the
other. II wonder how long that state
of things will last;" she meditated Gym
ically.
She knew n certain amount about the
affairs of the foolish couple-Lady
Lucy had confided various details in the
course of her apology for their presence
there at all The boy was journalist,
with a microscopic income and very
limited talents, and the little wife was
penniless, and they had II tiny fiat some
where in the east-some uncivilized 10
cality, the bare thought of which sent
shudder through Lady Lucy. "In ten
years time, she said to herself, what
will have become of them?' And at
that point she paused aghast,
1t was exactly ten years since she
herself u girl of II, had made run
away love match with handsome Cap
tain Treawney
She sat curiously white and still,
while that dead and half forgotten past
flashed vividly before her. She would
never have thought it possible then for
her husband to be at his club while she
amused herself successfully elsewhere,
and now this was the normal state of
things between them.
There had been no quarrel no dis
pute. They had simply drifted away
from each other in those ten years of
married life, until now they were com
paistive strangers. Neither could have
told how or hen the division began
she looked at the uncomfortable cor,
ner again and with new eyes. That pale
little face was the happiest in the room
the only contented one in siPht-and
when tho boy husband came near, al
ways with "a glance and smile III that
direction, what n radiant, look was
floated back at himl They really seem
ed to be enjoying their evening.
Mrs Tielawney reflected, and then,
with an indescribahle sensation, IL oc
r.A 10, I,ur xba ha ..l,
petted society beauty, was actually
enyying that plain, badly dressed pen
niless little girl
Mrs Trelhwney hreathed long sigh
of reliei when the broug ham door was
shut upon her and she was on her way
home She had a long way to drive,
plenty of time to follow out her present
train of thought aud to be as unhappy
as she pleased
She told herself that she was a despi
cable little wretch, mere society but
terty, aud ii was no wonder Horace was
tired OF her If only Horace had been
poor, SO that he AND she could have
worked and struggled together If only
their one child had lived beyond baby
hood But that she could not bear to
think of even now If only all the past
ten years could be lived over again, how
differently she would use them
Now 1t was too late, and then she
suddenly sat up straight, with fast
beating heart 1t was not too late; it
could not be too late. She would begin
this very night and try to restore some
thing OF the old loving relations of ten
years ago She would call for her hus-
band now at his club She remembered
having done SO once or twice in those
bygone days, when something impera
tive had prevented him from coming
with ber to their mutual disappoint
ment.
She gave the necessary order to her
coaohman. and then sat tense and up
right, her eyes bright. her cheeks