Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-02-25

fort OF the brightly lit house. and the
well-cooked dinner with his pretty
young wife.
She was standing just outside the
drawing-room door-not in the pretty
evening dress he had somehow antici-
pated, but very straight and slim in
a plain gray silk, devoid Of ornament.
and from her waist there hung his
mothers chatelaine.
Unobservant by nature. he vet felt
there was something instinctiyelv
wrong about her hair, and. although
she greeted him affectionately. a little
chill crept into the subtle sense OF
homecoming
All the hundred-and-one little i'm.
provements-the scattered embroider-
les and masses of plants and careless.
iy arranged fowers-were missing. The
old heavily framed prints were back
on the dull gray walls, and. albeit the
night was chilly. no fire burned in the
Srate, where a painted screen was bal
anced, with an impossible waterfall
mat threatened to deluge the steel
lender and pour out over the enormous
bear-skin rug.
Tie enjoyed his Scotch broth thor
oughly, but when it was followed by
massive joint of cold sirloin, placed.
not on the carving table, but, in all
It's majesty, under his very nose, hid
ing his disappointment with a heroic
attempt, he suggested an explanation
himself.
something gone wrong in the kitch-
en-, L suppose, my dear?"
Wrong?" said his wife, innocently.
1 hope not! 1t looked an excellent
Joint. saw 1t cut myself" There was
pride in her steady voice, but she
dropped her eyes before his aston
lshed look, fearful of the mischievous
spark she feared might be there.
He looked across at her with sudden
anxiety
It's all right" he said, hastily. I'm
not bit hungry, that's all. We've had
such rotten weather lately. I'm glad
toabe back again" he cleared his
throat-"very glad"
His wife got up with a sudden
twinge of conjunction and poured him
out glass of port. That will do
you good" she said, gently; its the
old bin"
He put his arm about her and she
bent down to him.
You've done your hair differently"
he suggested, with a puzzled glance.
She put up her hand and stroked
back a rebellious strand, that would
curl against her will.
It's neater, isn't it?" she said. ct
knew you'd be pleased"
She picked little bit of fluff of his
coat collar and went on, softly: I'm
going to try, Cecil-after what you
said-you remembering take life
more seriously, and try to model my
self and the house, and, in fact, every
thing, on the old regime you so ap-
prove Of"
A shade Of anxiety stole across his
strong, open face, as he listened to
her
mo more foreign ways-no more
French food" a vertical line came be-
tween his eyes, but she went on with
increasing fervor-"no more money
squandered on dress" she smoothed
out the stifr folds of her silk gown
primly, and no foolish alterations in
the house"
What could he 90 but murmur inco-
herently his approval of her conduct
as he kissed her pretty face SO near
his own?
L believe it's joke" he said, doubt
fully, as he poured himself out another
glass OF port, but when he Joined her
upstairs, in the melancholy looking
N O 10
Almost cold enough for a fire, isn't
it?"
I'm Mayl" Her voice showed marked
disapproval, as he moved about rest
lessly on the stiff sofa, innocent of
cushions.
Just as he was turning to 10, with a
heavy gesture of annoyance, she
stopped him with appraised hand. as
though fred by a fresh idea.
If you would care, Cecil" she hest
tated, purposely, there's my den-as l
call 1t; and a fire-you know how
chilly l am!-and we could sit there
together"
Before he could reply she ran light
ly past him up the stairs.
AS he joined her, openly grumbling
on the landing above, she threw wide
the door Of a room hitherto unused.
and switched on the light.
He gave an involuntary exclamation
as his eyes fell on the bright log fire.
nanked by two deep chintz-covered
chairs, adding it's sweet scent of pine
wood to that of the massed flowers
scattered in profusion in the coy
room.
She drew forward one of the COM
Portable chairs with the pride of own
ership.
"Sit down, darling, and light up
here are Matches" and proceeded to
make coffee.
Once she turned and tucked a soft
cushion under his head as he lay back
comfortably in silence, drinking in the
old familiar artistic atmosphere-that
instructive touch of clever fingers now
banished from the rooms below.