Year: 1873

upon him sometimes, suddenly, and
vague dread of something, he knew
not what, except that the shadow
had in some way linked itself with
Chrissie Goner, his child-Wife.


He would frequently leave some
one in charge Of his ONCE, and tax
ing an early boat, would not rest
moment from apprehension until he
had seen her, and assured himself
that his vague alarm had been utter
ly groundless.


Chrissie GOner had been an inHo-
cent, artless creature, nightly taken
with the idea of controlling and be-
ing actual mistress over her own
house (hers and JOhn's). She loved
him. Yes, but she was chiefly proud
of the undying affection he bore for
her. She was all sufficient for his
content and happiness, but yet she
had some how waeried of the mo-
notOny of her home life. In the
city she had been the life and center
of every circle in which she moved.
She had been greatly admired and
sought out, and so she missed the
sympathy and aduIation in her
quite, almost country home, for her





a good many long honrs. lie had
invited few of his most esteemed
friends and patrons to his house,
ne had included Julian Marrow.


Not that he meant for men Of his
caliber to associate with her, but he
thought him a very good sort of fel-
low, and certainly an honest man.


Julian Marrow was great talker,
a good musician, a passable wit, and
an admirable hand to chase away a
dull hour, or even an afternoon with.
He had by some means broken down
a barrier which John Goner had
bull between them at first, and so
he found himself very often with
John on the way to the pretty cot
tage where Mrs. Chrissie awaited,
in white muslin and enchanting lit
tie knots of ribbon, and sprays of
Yerbena in her breWn hair.


Mrs. Chrissie was charmed with
the idea of having company, and
she and her husbands associate were
fast becoming capital friends, tho
John looked on with grave, sad eyes,
to see how easily her attention could
be attracted away froH him.


He lett them one evening in the
parlor after tea, and walked out
alone among the wet shrubs and
flowers in his little garden. lie
seemed 10 have awakened within
himself sort of new sympathy for
the poor dumb things he crushed at
every step. He sighed as their faint,
sweet breaths hoated up to him, and
stopped still to listen to half-sub-
dued whisper of the cricket and
sleepy insects, going to sleep in the
odorous leaves above him.


There was a new, deep pain at his
heart. He turned his face upward
toward the cold, silent stars, and it
was white and CHASTITY and wet with
dew. lie put out his hand to pluck
a rose growing close beside him.
The hand trembled, and he felt
strangely unstrung all through. He
had begun to feel just little un-
happy to find how easily his wife
could dispense with his society
when she had another to smile un-
and poison her ear with
shallow insidious praises.


Very many men have stood just
where John Goner stood that night,
with just such core, futtering, un-
easy hearts.


His wife's light laughter and mer-
ry voice penetrated to the thick ar
Dor, almost her very words, but of
her companion he heard nothing.


He sighed and walked back slow
ly, bending the weeds and blossoms
this time without any thought or
heed; but something he had in his
hand in the rose arbor had disap-
peared when he reached the end of
his path. All along his way had
been marked by the sweet, tender
leaves as he had wrenched them
apart.


"Come in, old fellow, wl;ere the
deuce have you been moping to?
Mrs. Goner has suggested the idea
of fete chGmpetre he C in the
woods next Saturday--a r gular din
ner on the grass, Delif Ittul, isn't
it? 'Pon my word not ling could
be more so. You'll tT- and make
one, of course"


With a pleasant far liliarity and
de6oRdiT peculiar TO nimsef, Mr..
Julian Marrow made room for John
Goner as he entered the pleasant
reom where everything looked so
bright and fresh, and his wife stood
with eager face and clasped hands
awaiting some words from him.


He frowned, and was going to dis
courage the fctc chdmpetTe, but she
seemed to plead silently for his con-
sent; and the thought came TO him
that perhaps he had confined her too
much, and made her life too duh and
Il, oil 4
have wcaried of it.


She saw she had conquered, and
she laughed aud clapped her wee
hands gleefully.


"Oh, dear old John. You will en-
JOY it so. know you will. You
seldom ever get a half-holiday from
that dreadful business, but l am de-
termined you shall have a whole one.
At least, l am heartily tired of the
house. 1t feels like a disguised
prison, for of course no one ever
heard of prison with piano, and
birds and lace curtains. But oh,
will enjoy myself so on Saturday.
[ fear L can't content myself until
the time"


Then turning to Mr.. Marrow,
Johns wife ignored her husband
for the rest the evening, for she was
going into the plans and details for
the picnic, and grieved and hurt
John sat silent until the gate closed
behind his guest.


Then he twisted his knuckles over
and over, akwardly enough, and en-
tered into some sort of protest.


"Not want him TO come here any
more. / am not to receive n gem
tleman whom you brought yourself
into your own house. l am sure he
seems a perfects gentleman to me,
and l like him ever so much. In
fact, YOU are away so much of the
time [ really don't know what l
should do to pass away my time if
it wasn't for the kindness of Julian"


Could he believe his own ears
had it got to that.


And she actually combatted with
him over the going or staying of
such a mana man he had no more
dreamed of allowing his wife to get
on friendly or intimate terms with
at first than he had thought of tax
ing an air voyage.


That night closed on the first bit
ter quarrel between the new man
and wife, and he VINO few hours
before had thought himself happier
than all the world, began to look on
himself as the most miserable.


lie left the house early next day
(Friday) before any one else was
stirring in the quiet little house
leaving a little note pinned to the
cushion of her dressing-bureau TO
this effect:


"CHRIsTINE-I have a great deal
of business before me, that has to
b9 lightened by the end of the week.
IL ,-nn 1rnnll do as / haln unn la 81