The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-07-25
THO CUP
COFFee.
How . Wife strove to Hold Her Hus-
band From the Influence Of
Another Woman.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My husband, when he breakfasts at
home, is in the habit Of taking coffee
at table-however, emitting to smoke
with it. You see, it is of moment that
his mouth and mustache should be I'M
tainted with tobacco when he makes
his afternoon calls.
This morning the servant displayed
some slight awkwardness in filling his
cup, and the amber liquid overlooked.
''Was any one ever more clumsy?'
he said. "You fool! You idiot! Take
it awayp'
And then he gave the table such a
thump that the buffers carelessness
was but augmented, an inundation Of
coffee followed, not only into the sau-
Ger, but upon the cloth as we'll
The man nimbly repaired the dam
age done and made good his escape.
Paul bit his lips, but said nothing fur
Their. However, l realized that he was
intensely annoyed.
Now, Paul is or rather was until re-
Gently a stranger to all such impulsive
actions. His nature was adverse to
any ado or quick words-in point of
fact, to anything that could be likened
to scene. But this gentleman, al
ways so well poised, courteous and
thoughtful of his bearing, must have
been seriously troubled over some
thing to have thus forgot himself to
such degree.
After a few moments of embarrass-
ed silence he took a cigar from his
case, cut off the point and just as he
was about to smoke it said:
"You do not object, CecileY'
"Oh, no! Not in the slightest, Paul!
You must know that!'
assure you said those words with
out any Interior motive But it SEEM
ed that Paul thought to the contrary,
for he sharply retorted:
1T is waste of time for you to take
on a martyrs air when you answer my
question, / can just as easily smoke
outside or elsewhere, at houses where
tobacco does not incommode the in
mates. Well do we have tears nowY'
Indeed, they were very near, but l
tried to force them back to keep them
out of sight until would be alone
Paul." said as tenderly as l could,
do not be angry with me- In reality
you have naught to complain of, and
moreover 1 have done nothing to you.
Now, why get so excited and cause me
such pain?"
My husband frowned slightly, then
extended his hand and kissed mine
that had at once placed in his.
you are right, Cecile. 1 beg your
pardon. think l am little nervous
today. We have some very intricate
business to attend to at the mills"
He was about to continue the lie,
but | interrupted him.
Forget business for the time. For
get the overturned coffeecup. l ask
your attention for few moments.
Let me have it with a good grace
Surely you have little time today to
give to your wife, my dear husbandT'
Butch, certainly, certainly
He twirled his cigar between his fin
gers. He wanted to rise, to go away,
to fee from the explanation that he
foresaw, but there was no way open
to him. Ny request was such nat
ural one. He could only avoid it by
losing his temper again, and for the
time being that prerogative had been
exhausted.
AT first" 1 said, 'do smoke"
held the flaming match toward him.
He lighted his cigar
Butt have so little leisure" he
said. "Werklein"-
LET Werklein wait for you" said.
'He is accustomed to it. Indeed, Paul,
you cannot reproach me for misem-
ploying your spare moments? l real
ly must speak to you today"
Very well, my dear" he said. 81
will listen"
Then his whole countenance chang
ed anew and grew firm and decisive.
| felt that this being, who belonged to
me, with whose disposition l was SO
well acquainted, whom l adored In
spite Of all and who loved me, was
dominated by the will Of another wo-
man. Which will prove the strongest
hers or mine?
And then | strove to win.
I put my hand on his wrist The
muscles stiffened and resisted my light
pressure. All, there was once time
and not so long ago-when they al
ways trembled at my touch! And they,
too, remembered those old days, not
withstanding the hostile will of anoth-
er, for they yielded little by little until
his hand was in mine.
Paul" said, looking deep into his
eyes, trying to concentrate upon him
all the magnetism Of my love and de-
yotion; paul, darling, do reassure me.
beg of you! l am so fearful
Fearful of what, pray, Cecile?" he
said.
sThat may lose you, dear" l added.
'Now do not take your hand away. Do
not shrug your shoulders. You are too
just not to understand that my posi-
ton is a horrible one. So many times
l have been compelled to believe, as
now, that l was betrayed. Alas! l
have always kept silent. But this
time, Paul; this timer
The hand still wished to escape from
my grasp, but held it firmly, and bis
eyes would not meet mine.
"This time, Paul." l then said. Il
feel, know, that an even graver sor-
row menaces me. have a greater
fear. No, do not say that l am in the
wrong to be so anxious! Some one
wants to take you from me, not for a
time, like those other periods when
you always grew weary and neglectful
Of them. But this time it Is different
Oh, Paul, PAUL. You intend to leave
me-to leave me all alone forever"
He abruptly disengaged himself
moved away, putting the table be
tween us, and began to walk up an(
down. He was greatly moved ant
wished to avoid my glances. l be
lieve now that he was then afraid O
relenting, and, taking me into hi
arms, / hearu him murmur: What al
absurd ideal Who has put such no
lions in your head? Most likely Del
butt! He had best cease his visit
| here"
mo, Paul." l said. 1T is not Jeal
| Oelhuit or rather il is not he alone