The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-06-09
ALittle Rebel.
BY CLAIRE CARrEE
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1t was May Brinley's wedding day.
In another hour she would be Mrs.
John Hargrave. How hard it was to
realize!
After the ceremony which made
them man and wife was over, she
and Jack travelled for four weeks;
then they came home to their own
beautiful home-her fathers wedding
gift to her. Here a round of festivi-
ties awaited them, SO that the young
people for three months had no single
evening to themselves.
Il am tired, May. Let us stay at
home tonight, darling" said Jack one
evening after dinner, as May was
about to leave him to make her toilet
for some party.
''Abusrd, Jack! You're not growing
old already, surely! Besides, prom
ised Mrs. Armstrong we would come,
and cannot disappoint her.
II don't like Mrs. Armstrong, May.
wish you were not SO intimate with
her; and really, my head aches to-
night. Stay at home. like a good
girl"
For a moment May wavered. She
looked within the library, which
seemed so warm and inviting. Then
she remembered something that Mrs.
Armstrong had said about spelling
men, and how easy it was to begin,
and how selfish they were.
So she ran on up the stairs, calling
back over her shoulder:
"Come, Jack, we've no time to lose.
And as to your horrid prejudice, do
try and get over it."
Half an hour later he stood in full
dress, waiting the advent of the beau
tiful girl, who all unconsciously to
them both, was steering her frail yes
sci on the quicksands of married mis-
cry.
A year passed, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Hargrave were still in the gay vortex
of fashionable life; but to the mans
spirit it had grown unutterably wear
isome.
It was no uncommon thing for Jack
to spend his evenings with his books
and thoughts, while his young wife
went out alone.
MAY, I wish you would give Mrs.
Armstrong up" he said to her one
evening as they sat at dinner.
"But, Jack, / have already accepted
an invitation to a dinner party there
for Thursday evening""
"Then write and decline. l do not
ask for this without good cause, lit
tie girl; but things have recently
come to my hearing regarding this
lady, and do not wish my wife's
name coupled with hers
May answered nothing more, but in
her own heart her decision was unal-
tered. OF course she should go. She
had been married more than year
now, and so far had always had her
own sweet will and way.
This time the latter was unexpect-
eddy made easy to her, for as Jack
kissed her goodbye on Thursday
morning he said to her:
81 shan't be home to dinner to-
night, May. You had better dine at
mothers. By the way, this is Mrs.
Armstrong; night. You have sent
that regret?"
The first fear she had ever felt OF
Jack crept into her heart at a new
stern look she saw in his eyes. and it
drew her first falsehood to him from
her lips.
"Yes," she answered
He stopped and kissed heF more
tenderly.
"Pll make it up to you yet. darling,
Believe me, did not ask it without a
good cause"
She stood quite still after he had
left her. She was half-tempted yet to
obey him; but-pshaw! What non
sense 1t was!
So, at seven o'clock, the coupe stood
at her door. and in a bewitching din
ner dress. she was driven to the house
her husband had forbidden her to en-
ter.
It was ten o'clock when she re.
turned home.
A light in the library showed thai