Year: 1878




home. l won't stay late promise you"


And with good bye kiss, he was gone.


Six months ago could such plea have
drawn him from her side q? All, how
happy she had beer how proud on her
bridal day of her splendid lover how
timidly she had looked into his handsome
face, and for the first time called him
husband, wondering if every wife was as
gloriously content as she


Then followed those weeks of radiant
happiness when they two forgot the world
and all else, save that each existed for
the other, till the time approached for
the homecoming, and she found await
ing her the prettiest house Will could
find, furnished throughout in exquisite
taste by her indulgent father.


When she had kissed and thanked, did
she dream beneath its roof ever to shed
one tear. think one unhappy thought
Yet even now the blue eyes are wet, the
lashes are heavy with moisture, and her
lip trembles, when knock at her door
dsturbs the unpleasant tenor OF her
thoughts?


A servant, entering in obedience to her
summons, bears salver, and on it card
which he presents with respectful bow


Upon the pasteboar is written in a
bold, characteristic hand, the name "Hale
Raymond"


Her first impulse is to be excused, on
plea OF illness then bright thought
rushes into her brain.


"Tell the gentleman, James, 1 Will be
with him presently"


She has heard somewhere that hus-
bands are apt to grow weary Of their
homes, and seek elsewhere the excite
ment not obtainable in that pure atmos-
phere f; but that, if the wives absent them
selves and indulge in little quiet recrea-
ton, it soon arouses their liege lords to
sense OF their duty. Well she knows
Will does not admire Hale Raymond
in fact, treats him with polite coolness,
which he is too thorough a man of the
world not to see, but which he chooses to
ignore. However, he certainly cannot
object to an evening call and, if he is
not here to share his attentions, she is not
responsible.


So, hastily rising and standing before
the large Psyche mirror in her dressing
room, she took from a bouquet beside
her tea-rose and put it in her hair.


Certainly the glass reflected vision
which any man might be proud to call
his own. OF medium hight, with violet
eyes shaded by long dark lashes hair of
that rare auburn tint which turned to
gold in the suns bright light mouth
and teeth in exquisite perfection a fig
ure beautifully moulded, draped in black
velvet, with light tissue over-dress-
what wonder that as she entered the par
lor and Hale Raymond rose to greet her,
the regrets with which he met her ex-
cuses for her husbands absence were
mere lip-service


But he notes, as she speaks, the fever
ish sparkle o! her eye, the quick flush up
on her cheek, and resolves accordingly
upon the plans of the siege.


Though / am sorry not to see Mr..
Chesterfield, / cannot but anticipate with
pleasure an hours quiet chat alone with
you. But how comes it that j am in
such rare luck i? What imperative bust
ness has called your husb band from your
side pr


" | do not know il we may call din
ner imperative business, but such is the
cause Of Mr.. Chesterfeld's absence, 1t
was given him by one of his Oldest
friends, and he, of course, could not re-
fuse"


l suppose not, as husband. As low
er one manages to escape such bores
but then we are not sure of the prize, and
with the race all untried before us, we do
not dare rest for moment upon our oars.
l presume when the goal is reached, the
recreation sets in but, unfortunately, /
cannot speak from experience"


imagine you are entirely to blame
for so lamentable condition Of affairs"


" Not perhaps so entirely as you be-
lieve me to be. When one watches in
the midst OF garden of exotcs one
Queen Rose, fairer, more beautiful, than
any of its sisters-sees 1t ripen, day by
day, into more perfect sweetness, such
loveliness that ones own unworthiness
teaches him hesitation in approaching It.
until he wakens from his dream of hope
to find he has waited too long-othsr fin
gers, rasher, boder, have plucked the
Hover from the stem-then there is left
only faint fragrance perfuming the air,
filling him with the torture of the might
have been.' But it is growing Late
Think Of my story, Mrs. Chesterfed.-
Perhaps you can give me its sequel. Good
night"


And bowing low, he left her. wonder
ing at his meaning.


Could he have been so bold as to have
her understand literally his words How
charming he was Not to be compared
to Will, however.


The little wife's heart beat high with
pride and love for her gallant husband,
even though he had that one evening
neglected her,


What, little wife All alone? Not
sitting up for me hope ? Did / not
keep my promise to come home early
The fellows thought me wofully shabby,
but ] know in their hearts they all en-
We'd me-"


did not know it was late. have
had Q very pleasant evening. Mr.. Raw