The Press., 1899-01-12

ed. It was some time before caught
sight of my wife, but not long before
beard of her, for Mrs Jack Voyce--
Voyce is my name appeared to be Gre
ating quite an unusual sensation even
for her. And have you seen pretty Mrs.
Voyce?' And have You heard her tale
of the tiara?' What fun she is, ism t,
she:'' seemed the principal topic of con-
versation.
More thah one man patted me on the
back and congratulated me anew | felt
myself, generally speaking, quite as
lucky as they thought me. for admire
her, too, but could not help wonder
ing how they would have liked partici-
pating in my present anxiety ON her be.
half -
''Hernione just doesn't mind W a5
she does, a candid girl friend bad sid
to me before our marriage, and once or.
twice have been forced to agree with
her, for if my suspicious were correct
and this tale apparently so widespread
were to reach the ears of my most I'M
necessarily particular uncle, Lord Cur
ran, who | knew TO be present, having
seen him, what would be the unfortu-
nate result failed to imagine.
Lord Curran is best described as one
of the old school. His ideas about wo-
men Hernione calls peculiar to say
the least of it, They certainly are not
of the present day, but date back to the
times when women occupied themselves
With barbarous triumphs in woodwork
| and doing as they were told, and es-
pecially in avoid ng any thing approach
ing to notoriety. Just as | went over
this afresh in my mind my venerable
uncle approached me with that peculiar
ly beaming smile of his which always
foretells disaster.
pretty woman, your wife, Master
John, said he. "A little lacking in
reticence, eh-eh?' And just then Her
mione came along. and had to run the
risk of distorting my features for life
in my efforts to signal to her not to
join us Fortunately my uncles sight
is not as good as it used to be But
though | did my best at smoothing
things over-my wife even going to
the unusual length of doing as desired
and keeping out OF the way-it was
very evident that our stiff backed ntl
Tory relative was seriously annnve1i
and that he meant 10 take his own time
about coming round, for my suspicious
were correct, and that wife of mine
had been mad enough to include Lord
Curran among the many to whom she
had told her tale
| "What in the world were you frown-
ing about like that?'' was her greeting
to me. Really, if you are going to
practice for a cOntortionist, don't you
think you might choose a more suitable
time and placer
Then she laughed at the men abont
her. Here" said she, sis poor fell
low who has not heard my tale of the
tiara. Shall | tell him.
II don't want to hear-I can guess
"Come, Voy,e, don't be sulky.' said
my brother-in- law. 1T has been an i'm
mense success-the success of what
would otherwise have been a very dull
evening Upon my word it was bright
idea.
sit was Jacks idea"-
''This is past joke
"Oh, of course" interrupted Her
lmlone, 1--WE shouldn't have expected
you to have the nerve to carry it out
Oh, Jack. don't go-I want to tell
YOU
But thought of what / had to tell
her-by Lord Curran's Understand
went. In the midst of my justifiable ag.
gravation i could not help being sorry
for her probable disappointment-my
pretty Hermione; could not help ad-
miring her afresh for her happy -reck
lessness or prevent myself envying
for that one occasion the fellows who
had enjoyed her tale unrestrained by
personal considera lions.
When we were alone at home again.
these feelings were still mine. Hermit
one faced me- The electric light lit up
her cleaning neck and arms Her dress
was white. Her fluffy golden hair was
surmounted by an exceedingly beautiful
diamond tiara.
1.-The horrid old man. :" she kept re.
peating.
"Why did you tell him?''
'Teddie bet me turquoise dagger
that 1 wouldn't, SO of course had to.
didn; think he Eould really mind Nc
one else did. And, BESIDES every one
| Wno enAA1AS 0UOut Az. LAC "OuAu uaVS
found out" She paused and then con
tinued: "You said, why don't you
hire one for the week?'"
81 never meant it,
lyon said it. though, and put it into
my mind.
$50 it is my fault that Lord Currar
considers you SO full of resource as t.
have no need of the tiara he had order
ed for you and will now save for ths
next bride?''
"Of course l shall always say SO
Oh, she does. But"-here she came
, close to me-"I-it has reminded me o.
something. Do you remember when WI
were first engaged promising to buy m,
, one as soon as ever you could afford it
| would rather have one from you than
oh, dozen from your crabby old mn
Gle, and even wait for it, SO you nee(
, not make any more fuss, need your
, What happened then any one MAY
, guess.
, "In your heart OF hearts, Jack dar
ling, finished Hermione, lyon are no
sorry any more:''
, But that is almost too much to say
My wife's tiara is still to be bought
J and they are not cheap things by an,
|, means. Madame
Nautical Ingenuity.
A striking instance of nautical in
, genuity and fraternity is furnished b.