El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-19
The Scarlet Domino
How Wife Was Caught In Her
Own Trap.

| 8 Own Trap. Y
The neglect to which the eggs and
| bacon were being subjected was not
improving them. However, the two
persons who should have been engaged
in their consumption were In no mood
to pay much attention to such trivial
matters. The fact was, Mr.. and Mrs.
Heriot were indulging in the, for them,
rare luxury of a disagreement. and as
| result the domestic atmosphere of
the pleasant Pont street breakfast
room was considerably strained.
arthur, dear" she said coaxingly,
"don't let us quarrel over such trifie
any longer. I'm sure you can't be seri-
GUS in refusing to let me go with you
tonight. 1 should SO enjoy dancing
with you in your beautiful scarlet
domino! Besides" she added, with a
little touch of naivete, "a wife's place
is beside her husband. you know"
Eyes, my dear girl" answered the
other lightly, "but not when his place
is at Covent Garden fancy dress ball.
No. no, little woman, in this instance
your place is at home. A COvent Gar
den hop is no atmosphere for any pref
ty woman under 75.''
t'Then why should you go, Arthur"
demanded Phyllis promptly.
why, because I'm a man, and"-
Mrs. Heriot smiled systematically to
herself as, a few minutes later, she
watched her husband get into his ham
som and drive off to his days work at
the law courts.
Although she kissed her hand to him
readily enough in answer to his part
Ing saluta ton, an expression of annoy
Pnce crept again into her face as soon
as she turned away from the window.
How absurdly easy it is to see
through men, she reflected. "Of
course Arthur has an designation to-
night with some horrid, scheming wo-
man. However, Pm not going to be
hoodwinked by his excuses, and So
whether he likes it or not-I will go to
Covent Garden tonight and keep a
lookout for the scarlet domino"
When finally she entered the ball
room and mingled with the laughing
crowd of merrymakerS she rather re-
pented of her hastily formed resolu-
ton. She neither knew nor was known
by any of the throng of dancers around
her and consequently soon came to the
decision that the proceedings were not
very entertaining so far as she was
concerned. Then the anXiously expect
ed scarlet domino unaccountably failed
her. and. although a glimpse Of red in
the costume of some OF the jewellers
from time to time made her heart beat
faster, it, was, on investigation, al
ways to prove the property of stran-
ger.
At last, however, her eyes, strained
with watching, caught sight Of a scar
let clad figure leaning against a pillar
a little distance from her. With a lit
tie gasp of triumph Phyllis recognized
In 1t her husbands form. Now was
the time, she reflected grimly, to test
the truth of her theories respecting his
allegiance to herself. Accordingly she
made her way through the Intervening
crowd until at last she stood close be-
side the form she sought. His back
was turned toward her, however, and
consequently it became necessary to
attract his attention. Quickly dividing
her violets. she thrust n bunch against
the mans mask and with light laugh
stepped hastily back behind the pillar
Naturally she was promptly followed
Htuu ldlu Oh uer arm.
You're an enterprising young lady"
laughed the red robed individual light
ly. land if you fail to make your way
in the world it won't be because you're
of too retiring disposition. However,
1 like 'em your way best. 1 think, and
you and will probably get along very
well with one another"
Are you sure you're not expecting
any one with better claims upon you
your wife, for instance?" demanded
Phyllis archly.
"Oh, hang it all, my dear grip re-
turned the other. "You don't expect a
fellow to bring his wife to a Covent
Garden ball, do you? Why. it's like
taking n ham sandwich to a mansion
house banquet"
'No," thought Mrs. Heriot to her
self; you leave her behind in Pont
street" Aloud, however, she merely
remarked: Il dare say you're not far
wrong. Wives have a trying way of
thinking themselves entitled to the
whole of their husbands society,"
The scarlet domino laughed good hui
moredly.
"Youre funny little woman" he re-
turned. "a 1 l wish you'd take your
mask off fUr moment. A face that