The Winslow mail., 1899-03-04

but her tore was weaker; the thrust
had gone home, for the study OF hy-
drcstatics had been forced upon US OF
late.
"And what is that, pray?" demanded
Arbuscula, insolently.
"To explain would be to insult your
intelligence = and yourself" replied
Edith. BEAT in carte, lunge in tierce!"
thought 1.
80, I'm not thin-skinned!" laughed
Arbuscula.
81 made allowances" rejoined my
wife.
Arbuscula's lips became a thin line
of scarlet. Then they parted, and she
smiled. l knew that she had always
possessed a most unfeminine sense Of
humor, but 1 was not prepared for its
assertion at this supreme moment.
The two women stood looking at each
other across the table. Arbuscula's s
dazzling smile lighting her face, my
wife's pale, yet never so beautiful l
thought. though now, enlightened by
the contrast, l noted lines of anxiety
which had been creeping there durin g
the past months, and violet shadows
under the sweet eyes. The other gath
cred up the letters and began to
shuttle 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. st was written for a stays
[ invented, the Arbuscula busk-you
might have heard of to"
''No, it must have been before nv
time - said Edith, innocently.
Possibly you came rather late in the
day." retorted the other.
"But came to stay" answered my
wife.
Arbuscula laughed. Edith put her
hand upon the bell.
You, surely, will not compel me ?''
she said. 81 have been very patient"
You'll want all the patience you have
in the good time coming" rejoined the
other.
"And you, what will your future be
without patience?" asked Edith.
'My future can take care of itself"
cried Arbuscula, laughing a laugh,
short as the snap of breaking sword
blade. 'Tm a woman with a past, the
sort morality humbugs chatter about
but if I had future, like you, by c.,
I'd try to get something better than the
butt end of roue!" ''Using the hilt,' -
thought I.
My wife laughed gayly now. "You
know the old adage," she said "the best
husband is a reformed rake. Mems fol-
lies often serve as beacons to guide
them past the other shoals and shall
lows of life. Experience enables them
to appreciate things-it is good light
for man."
"And useless one for woman" an
swered Arbuscula, with sudden
change of tone; cts 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 purpose in com
ing, could see her grasp upon it was
gone. Catching at that moment the re.
Election Of my own face in a mirror op
posite, I was so i'll pleased by the sight
that I stole downstairs, hearing an
other hacking laugh and the tinkle of
bell as I went.
l returned to the garden and com
menced to patiently dig up the border
Presently Edith came out also, with
an arnful of plants she began to sort
singing a cradle song 1 much admired
the while.
went over to her. 81 got those
carnations up I said; "but, for the
life of me, I 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!" She pressed my
arm, ard the touch covered more than
the words.
.'But the line was not straight"
answered, averting my eyes.
''We1l draw straighter one, now,
you and l." she whispered.
I passed my arm about her waist and
kissed her She put both her own
around my neck. -
"My wife!" said 7.
"You old goose she whispered, bit
ing my ear, 81 saw you all the time!"-
Black and White.