The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-03-27
TIE Scarlet Domino
How a Wife Was Caught In Her
Own Trap.
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/ 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 disagreement, and as
a 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 trifle
any longer. Pm sure you can't be seri-
Gus in refusing to let me go with you
tonight. should so enjoy dancing
with you in your beautiful scarlet
dominoI 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 TO-"
"Then why should you go, Arthur ?
demanded Phyllis promptly.
"Why, because I'm 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 salutation. an expression of annoy
ance crept again into her face as soon
as she turned away from the window.
How absurdly easy it is to see
through menr she reflected. "Of
course Arthur has an designation to-
night with some horrid, scheming wo-
man. However. I'm Hot 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 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 scar
let clad figure leaning against a. pillar
a little distance from her. With lit
tie gasp of triumph Phyllis recognized
In it 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 a bunch against
the mans mask and with light laugh
stepped hastily back behind the pillar.
Naturally she was promptly followed
and a OBTAINING hand laid on her 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,
I like 'em your way best, think and
you and l 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 instanceY' 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 a ham sandwich to a mansion
house banquet"
mo" thought Mrs Heriot to her
self; you leave her behind In Pont
street" Aloud, however, she merely
remarked: 81 dare say you're not far
wrong. Wives have trying way of
thinking themselves entitled to the
whole of their husbands society"
The scarlet domino laughed good hui
moredly.
you're a funny little woman" he re-
turned. land wish you'd take your
mask off for moment face that
can think such thoughts must be rath-
er interesting"
'"phe disillusion might be disas-
trous," answered Phyllis, with fas-
cinating shrug of her shoulders. Let
us 60 and sit down somewhere,
though" she added, slipping her soft
hand upon the mans wrist. 'T'm tired
of standing"
They had wandered into one Of the
corridors, and the door of vacant
box stood invitingly open. Without
word her companion paused on the
threshold and, guiding the other with
in the shadow, quickly closed the door.
Then, placing his arms around the
girls slim figure, he drew her sharply
toward him and, raising She lower cor
ner of her mask, showered half doz-
en- kisses upon the ripe, red lips that
were so temptingly revealed.
Phyllis felt for the moment that her
husbands allegiance to herself had not
really wavered after ALL Then sud
den revulsion of thought swept over
her, and she realized that her COM
panion's embraces were offered in ig-
norance of her identity. White and
trembling. she pushed the man away
and sprang to the door again.
"Let me gop' she cried, fearing for
her self control II ought to have been
home long ago."
every well, my little Cinderella" an
swered the scarlet domino good hui
moredly. ITO our next mer% meeting.
then. May 1t be soonv'
Perhaps sooner than you think" re-
turned the other, with hard little
laugh. Then she turned and made her
way rapidly to the vestibule, fearful of
pursuit.
1t was with mingled feelings of rage
and despair that Mrs. Heriot drove
back through the hushed and deserted
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