The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-02-05

A little after the usual time Matthew
left the ONCE for home. More from
force Of habit than anything else he
bought an evening paper, but he found
himself unable to make sense OF q line
of it. His eyes wandered to his fel.
low-travelers in the railway carriage.
Did any of them anticipate domestic
storms? Had any of them wandered
in similar fashion from the path OF
rectitude and purchased q few hours
OF enjoyment at the price he was pay
ing? %}
The train drew up at Hornsey and
Matthew found himself one Of a crowd
filtering out of the station. If only at
that moment he might be lost to sight
for evermore! When q married man
did disappear in that way, was not his
wife usually the cause?
He reached his garden-gate and
glanced furtively at the house. Mary
was invisible. He screwed up courage
and mounted the steps. The house
maid opened the door to him.
rs your mistress in?" TEN
'Upstairs in her room, sir. She'll
be down directly" @
He placed hat and papers on the hat
stand. Never had he entered his house
with such peculiar feeling before. 1t
was as though he had no right there,
and the next moment would see him
violently elected into the street.
He passed into the dining-rOom and
was fishing under the sofa for his slip
pers when his wife entered. He
screwed up courage to look her in the
face. Its expression confirmed his
worst fears. ~
YOU'RE home," she laconically re-
marked. e.,
Yes. Things all gone well, Mary?"
mot at all! Are you ready for din
ner?"
when I've found my other slipper"
you're late" continued Mrs. Pei
grove. Dinners been kept back
quarter of an hour, and you know how
cross it makes cook. have something
serious to say to you after It."
Personally, Matthew would have
preferred having the matter out before
the meal; it would act like a night
mare on his digestion. But he sat
obediently up to the table and feigned
interest in the viands, maintainingf for
appearance sake when the servant was
present flow of small talk, to which
his wife shortly replied. -
The meal ended and, folding up her
serviette. Mrs. Pelgrove planted her
elbows on the table. Her husband
recognized the omen and trsmbled.>>
Had successful little trip, Mat
thew" -
Yes, very-thank you!"
"You don't seem up to the mark to-
night" :%ss
"A trifing headache. Travelling, you
know, does shake one up bit. That
reminds me. I've left my portmanteau
at the Office t"s
She made no comment. Matthew
played with salt-spoon. He could
not possibly meet her gaze. .s
1--WE been; dreadfully put out, Mat
thew. discovered on SatnrdaY-.oh,
it's too awful to speak about. '''A' 49, q
The blow was coming, and Peigrove
turned hot all over. Mary was clearly
holding herself in. In moment the
storm would break in all its violence,
and a poor man who had done wrong
and knew it would go down before the
blast. .~.
II was sitting at this window quiet
ly sewing on Saturday morning, when
m Axr nv
Needham Smith were in it, and the
coachman had pile of luggage beside
him. But what do you think Mrs.
Smith had on her head"
I'm sure don't know" replied
Matthew, puzzled, yet relieved. Some
thing absurd, suppose. A yachting
cap?" !:
NO, Matthew; worse than that!
Just think of the horror Of it! A hat
the precise image of my new one.
Wasn't it shock for me-"
Pelgrove saw daylight struggling
through.
REALTY" he exclaimed, excitedly.
''Where were they going?"
Il didn't know at the time, but the
grocer's man told me afterwards.
They were off to spend a week at
Hastings. Why, Matthew, what is the
matter with you?"
'Nothing-nothing. was just think
ing what burning shame about that
hat. Mrs. Needham Smith has copied
it. suppose. Now I remember, she
had hair much the same color az
yours, and thought perhaps it might
suit her."
1T doesn't, Matthew. She looks alb
solutely hideous in it. Oh, it's a scan
dial! I've not stirred from the house
since; l was SO upset. l. shall never
speak to that woman again. You are
not laughing?"
Rather not! I'm just as put out as
You, Mary. When I've bought you
nice thing, it's too bad to find it imi
tated. What pity for you women
there isn't law of copyright in hats!"
He felt like a school-boy again. So
it was Mrs. Needham Smith who had