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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 10, 1896)
THE COURIER. t VULNERABLE. TiiKbTOKYor AMXCIDPNT at a dinner party, Frelinghuyscn smothered an exclama tion and flung away the tie that for five minutes he had been hopelessly trying to make into a bow. "Hang it all," he thought, "just let a man be in a hurry and erervthintf nets like all noRuRA(il. He brought forth another tie as yet un- - .-. croaseu, ami again essayed 10 oaorn his collar, this time with success. He was distinctly anxious to be on time at the dinner at which he was due; bis interest and curiotity were aroused the latter a quality he had believed himself with outand ho wanted to get his bearings before ho was told oft to the woman whom he was to take in. Moreover, he had promised his wife not to keep her on tenterhooks watching the clock as the hands went around, and the other guests arrived and the dinner waited for him She declined any longer to wait at homo and go with him; the knowl edge of the way, at the last moment, be dashed into the house and changed his clothes made her cold with excitement lest he. should fail to make connections. Not that he over bad, but Mrs. Fre linghuysen was a bit inclined to pessim ism. To-night ho was curious about the woman who was to be his sister's guest "of honor, and whom he was to have on his right. Oddly enough he bad not met her, though she and her husband had been a month in town. They had just come over from Lon don, where H. It. H. had worshipped at Mrs. Carmichacl's shrine as being one of great beauty, thereby giving her a cachet that had established her socially. His sister raved over her air of distinc tion and breeding, but nothing was known of them beyond the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Carmicbael had suddenly ap-. -peared from Australia with money ga lore, and savoir faire not associated with that country of bushrangers. Mrs. Carmicbael was said to bear tho un mistakable hall-mark of a long pedi gree Frelinghuysen was anxious to re concile pedigree with Australia; he had never before heard the two associated together. But the prospect of encounter ing novelty was piquante. He got into his coat and tore down stairs and into the waiting hansom. Ho never used hie wife's horses; she de clined to have her animals make time for her husband. When he entered hi sister's drawing room his wife nodded at him approv ingly; five minutes to dinner. Gad! he had done well, was his thought; and Miss Frelinghuysen told him as much Jo an undertone as she took him across the room, adding that if he was not so lazy and indifferent he would be more satisfactory. Inwardly he smiled at the mingling of criticism and praise, and then, as his sister murmured some words of presentation, ho bowed to the womaa beroro him. She was beautiful; that part or the storv was true enough, any- way. He hoped she would be entertain- ing. Certainly her beginning was promis- , . , j .. .. ng; for when they were seated at din- ner she turned to him and said slowly: "Do you know, Mr. Frelinghuysen, I am sorry to meet you, and even more so that I have you on my hands for a din ner. Only my great friendship for your sister prevailed upon me to accept." 'Eh?' Frelinhuysen laid down his oyster-fork aud regarded her. She was well bred, too; only a woman of the world could have said what she had, .civilly and yet seriously. "They say, she went on calmly "that you are altogether the most difficult man in 'v York, because you are the H,ctfa-that nothing interests you, not even enougu tor you iu umvirci tv I dislike blate people, but I am fond of your sister." "I see. For her sake you consented to be afflicted with mo. Do you realize, Mrs. Curmichael, what the gods have spared you in preventing our meeting before?" "And I find, the woman remarked evenly, "that you are sarcastic That is even more unpardonable than boredom.'' "If 1 should say, with MrB. Howe, that you make me wonder if 'polite so ciety is polite,' you would probably say that I bad already suggested the same thought to you. But you began, you know!" know "And being a woman I claim the last word." "Which I shall not dispute.' "But you have been a bit maligned, Mr. Frelinghuysen, for I bavo noticed no lack of interest eo fur. It will bo something to have made you dislike me.'' Frelinghuysen was regarding her in tently; something seemed vaguely familiar; mentally bo frowned and tried to place her. Mrs. Carmicbael played with her tish a moment, then laid down her fork. "Welt?" she said. Frelinghuysen started. "Pardon me; I have been staring. But you area very beautiful woman.' "So I believe. But it wasnot because of that you wero staring.' "No; I was wondering if it could bo possible that I had ever before seen you. There is something strangely familiar that haunts me 1 cannot place it; per haps it is because of your pictures." "It might be," Mrs. Carmicbael re marked, slowly, "yet it is not" "No?" 'Really, Mr. Frelinghuysen, you are the most annoying person but you always were. Yet it is droll, too; you have so completely forgotten me.' "Forgotten? "the man repeated. "YeB, forgotten. You are such an ail that -he should-be head of an old family that the recollection of your Balad eyes, when you carried the burden lightly, has disapeared. "Meaning?" "That you no longer remember the episode.shall we call it?-ofSallie Forbes.'" The man's lips tightened a second be neath his thick mustache, and the fingers that had been playing with his bread pinched tho crumbs before he recovered his self-control. "What do you know of tho episode?" "I? Only what the principal would know." "It is a lie! Frelinghuysen said, thickly. "She is dead!" "I know you thought so. But you recognize me, even against your will n'est cepasF' "It is a lie!" he repeated. Instinct ively he drank his chablis; the sensation of swallowing made him conscious that he was not dreaming, and Mrs. Car michael was speaking again: "What use is there in being rude? I am who I am. Long years ago sixteen (it quite sounds like that song in 'Pa- tience'' 3oefl not?)-you married Sally Forbes. Only that you were very young ?ou wou,d have done ll under a fa,se name and the marriage would have been ille&ah How that would have simplified matters" ,rWb,at do 'ou. mtDr , I required all Frelinghuysen s self-control not to rly at the v0mHae throat and choke her- She was so calm and unmoved and alive. she whom he had supposed dead these fifteen years! That she should be at his sister's table her guest of honor! thn grimness of it almost made him laugh. "If your first marriage had been il legal," the woman explained, "tho sec ond one would have been all riht. Then, too, I should be Mr. Carmichael's legal wife" "Instead of his mistress," interrupted Frelinghuysen, brutally. "As Mrs. Frelinghuysen is yours," she ended, quietly. The blood rushed to the man's head with a suddenness that almost blinded gingmm pa.and shall kill you! The woman laughed softly. "Oh, no, n IB I 6L0TH JACKETS AND $4.98 Each. Ladies Jackets with the new shield front, new sleeves, new back, high Medicis collar, made of Boucle, Eng lish Kersey, Fleeced Beaver, some half silk lined coats that ought to $7.50. $3.98 Each. Ladies' good wool Beaver Jackets, black and navy blue, all sizes 32 to 44, cor rect Btyles.could not be produced at the factory today for less than 85, regular retail price 8C.50. $6.98 Each. Ladies' Kersey Jackets, strictly all wool, Extra weight, made in the very lat est style, high storm collar, strapped on front, an elegant garment which you cannot duplicate under S10. $7-98 Each. Ladies' Plush Capes, made from Salt's Plush, extra full sweep, some UU inches, linod with best Rhadame silk, handsomely embroidered and jetted, a S12.50 garment. A BIG DAY FOR SILKS G9c yard, 21 inch, heavy weight, pure silk, black Peau do Soie, regular price 31. 93c yard, 24 inch, black Peau de Soie, our 81.40 quality. 81.17 yard, best quality black Peau do Soie, extra weight and lustre, none better, regular price 81.75. Tgg TyAivsuvG h:e APPieis JOHN DOWDEN, WEDNESDAY, E VEJM !JM Q, 0GJ, 14 One Night Only, Introducing JosepbBuckley Manager, Presenting the Great Shakesperean Tragedy HAMbET "Not since the dayp that Edwin Booth laid aside the inky cloak has the stage Been so good a Hamlet." Lyman Glover, Chicago Times Herald. Seats on sale Monday morning at Theatre box office. Carriages may'be ordered at 11 o clock. ' Prloes-$l,SO, $1.00, 7BC, GOo, 2S. Friday R. SHY Grand Production, Under The Management of MR. SIDNEY R. ELLIS. PRICE3 $1.00, 75c, 50c and 25c Seats on sale Wednesday morning 10 a, m. at Box office. . DRESS GOODS And SWiKS 7c yard, 30 inch half wool Serges, all colore, worth 15c. 17c, 100 pieces, all wool, strictly all wool French Serce, 3G inches wide,, black and all colors, regular price 29c. 27c, 45 pieces 48 inch nil wool French serge, black ai.d all shades, a regu lar 49c cloth. 'j, 100 pieces "11 wool novelties, copies of Fronch and English high-priced DreES Goode. Bourettee, Checks, In visible Plaids, etc., worth from 50a to C5c. 19c, 25 pieces, black Mohair and wool Novelty, our 75c quality. 15 pieces black, navy, brown and green Eng lish worsted. 52 inches wide, the right thing for Jacket Suits, really worth 75c. 100 pieces .13 to 40 inch Novelties.Scotch Mixtures, Silk Mixtures, Bourettes, etc., worth up to S3c, all in one grand lot during this 6ale for 49c a yard. Jr., Manager. (!)ct 16. ' r- ELLIS 'jJYuni ftii-rtHH Wnoii'fl intniirM aaawegrcm,. Mr?staC(ffl,8F5
