The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10

a monlentary impulse to follow Mrs
| Parker, who, red of cheek and near tc
tears, had passed on, and to make
| some excuse. but she could not bring
herself TO do this. She turned into the
garden muttering to herself that she
hated to be unkind. but 1t was ali
Mrs. Parker's fault. What on earth die
the silly woman want to bow Tor when
they had never been formally intro
duced? Didn't she know better? But
then, how could she, the wife Of a
shopkeeping tailor?
SHE vented something Of her irri-
| tation upon her husband that evening
at dinner He had returned from Lon
don. where he went every day to sit
in his Office, as Mona used to say, do
ing nothing at all. rather later than
preteNt to scold AS general rule
she occupied herself not at all with
her husbands affairs, though at first
she used to laugh at his assidnity in
going up to town with such ,infailing
regularity when there was no work
at all to be done. s She had visited
him at his Office once, soon after they
had been married, and he had given her
tea. but she remembered nothing more
about 1t, nor hau she ever expressed a
wish TO go again. She had grown ac-
customed to Herbert's daily absence,
and was wont to say that 1t was mis-
take for man to be always hanging
] bout the house. and that one hobby
was as good as another. All Of which
isuited Herbert Drydesdale very we'll.
. for he was an unassuming man. and
particularly shy OF talking about his
profession.
What has upset you. Mona mine?"
asked Herbert when, dinner over. he
| zl.1.~ It, e. 1t Ill
and she struck the match for him in
order that he might light his cigarette
"a pretty habit which they had mains
tained ever since the early days of their
marriage.
"Its that wertched woman, Mrs.
.. Parker" explained Mona. II met her
at the Vicarage, and l suppose she
thought that because we had tea to-
gether she might include me among
her acquaintances. But ! met her
a gain later on. and cut her dead. and
then she looked so miserable that
felt cross with her, with myself, and
with the world at large"
why did you cut her, dear?" asked
Herbert Drydesdale. putting reflective
| ~ at his cigarette. Her husband and
l travel up to London together, and
! find him quite good sort of fellow
! There was the suspicion Of frown
and placid. He was good looking. in a
conventional way, some ten years his
wife's senior, and his almost inrariab1e
| good temper was apt at times to be
| almost aggravating to Mona's more ex-
! citable nature !.
/ Herbert! How can YOU make
friends with the man? Why. he's q
/ tailor--he keeps a shop!' Mona raised
| her voice Indignantly.
| a. no fnv fhafb
/ piled Herbert. land I happen to know
that he comes Of good old yeomaf
Stakeholder by far than certain of on,
mushroom aristocracy.. Trade isn't {
crime Mona. darling" he added, per
suasively. though he had long ag:
| abandoned the attempt to convince hi
wife OF error.
Il There are only three professions TO
i a gentleman she said. with dignity
lit was an aphorism that her fathe
had been fond Of enunciating, and sh
repeated it with parrot-like precision
eff you had been anything but
barrister. Herbert-
i "Well?" he asked, as she paused.
81 shouldn't have married you. that
ALL" she replied. firmly.
He smiled. rather inscrutably. NO
even If you loved me?" he asked.
She shook her head. She would no
even try to picture such state of at
fairs. Herbert had been everything
| that could be desired as husband
but IL he had been in trade-she shud
dered at the very thought.
He changed the subject. You ar
! going to London tomorrow. Mona?'
he asked. II believe you spoke o
doing so yesterday"
i II think so.% Somehow she wa
4 pleased that he, did not again refer t
the Parkers. Perhaps she was guiltil,
conscious of not having played a gen
erous part. She was kind-hearted b.
nature, and hated the thought that sh,
had given pain.
Il shall not be going as early a
you, though, Herbert" she went on
Mrs Pemberton and I have arrange,
to go to a picture gallery-and to d.
a little shopping, too Il we get thu
time. We may meet at the station OF
the way home, II l am delayed as lat'
as your usual train; If not, 1t doesn'
matter, and you will probably prefe
to be alone. SO that you may smoke
Herbert Dryesdale was partial to /;
i cigar, but never smoked in his office
4 as he had often explained.
1 Accordingly, upon the next day, some
time after Herbert had taken his de
parture. Mona called at the Vicarag'
for her friend, and the two ladies tool
the train to London. They visited th'