Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-04-05
HER OBJECT LESSON.

She was very pretty, very witty, very
sarcastic. Her world had wholesome
dread of Mrs. Trelawney's tongue. She
had just intimated desire for an ice,
and her attendant satellites had dis.
persed at once, each eager to be FORE
most in the quest.
She had had busy day, and it was
pleasant and cool there behind the
palm. She only wished that people
would not whisper somewhere near. If
only they were aware how much far
Their whisper carried than an ordinary
tone! And while she meditated an cpl
gram on this subject she opened her
eyes and looked round impatiently for
the whisperers.
There was particularly ineligible
corner near Mrs. Trelawney's snug re-
treat, a three cornered, low backed
seat, in the full glare of the light and
unpleasantly close to an intrusive and
spiky cactus
Hither had retreated poor cousin of
the hostess, little girl of II, 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 and
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. "It'sall so pretty
and SO amusing to watch. I've never
seen anything SO pretty in my lifep'
''I've been helping Lady Lucy. She
asked me to take some old ladies down
to supper, the boy husband went on
with comical importance. you're
sure you are not dull here all alone?"
Dull? Oh, dear mol" cried the little
girl, opening wide eyes of amazement.
"Oh, there's Lady Lucy looking at 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 oyn-
ically.
She knew 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 a journalist.
with microscopic income and very
limited talents, and the little wife was
penniless, and they had tiny fat some
where in the east-some uncivilized To-
cality, the bare thought of which sent
a 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 sinoe she
herself. a girl of II, had made run
away love match with handsome Cap
tain Trelawney.
She sat curiously white and still,
while that dead and half forgotten past
flashed wildly 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 CON-
parative strangers. Neither could have
told how or when 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 sight-and
when the boy husband came near, al
ways with q glance and smile in that
direction, what radiant look was
floated back at him! They really seem
ed to be enjoying their evening.
Mrs. Trelawney reflected, and then,
with an understandable sensation, it &C.
CURED to her that she, the admired and
petted society beauty, was actually
envying that plain, badly dressed, pen
niless little girl.
Mrs. Trelawney breathed long sigh
of relief when the brougham door was
shut upon her and she was on her way
bone. She had long way to drive.
plenty of time to follow out her present
train Of thought and to be as unhappy
as she pleased.
She told herself that she was despi-
cable little wretch, a mere society but
terfiy, and it 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 II 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 theml
Now it 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 her 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
flushed.