A Modern Chronicle -- Volume 03

dies of our nation are fast finding out. What would become of the Goddess of Liberty? And let us mark well, while we are making these observations, that Liberty is a goddess, not a god, a

She alone of the three is real, and she alone is worshipped for attributes which she does not possess. She is a coquette, and she is never satisfied. If she were, she would not be

seated under the tall lamp in the room he somewhat facetiously called his "den," scanning the financial page of his newspaper. He was in hi

en you are so good-looking dressed up? I really believe you're getting fat. And ther

urmured, with his eye

hange bear, but a domestic bear-which is much worse. You've got to notice me once in a while. If you don't, I'll get another husband. That's what women do in these

ve afternoon gown matched the glow in her cheeks, while her hair mingled with the dusky shadows. Howard Spence experienced one of those startling, illuminating moments which come on occasions to the busy and self-absorbed husbands of his nation. Psychologists have a name for such

ing woman, I'll say that fo

be a bear, I never should have married you-never, never, never! Oh, how young and simple and foolish I was! And the magnificent way you talked about New York, and intimated that you

d she read in his eyes, which had not left h

n his voice that amused her, and reminded her of the honeymoon. "I give you all the money you

nd you stay in town all day and have no end of fun making money,-for you like to make money, and expec

still uneasily. Hono

I know you don't like Rivington, but

ything for you, except to keep getting you cooks-and anybody could do that. You don't seem to need me in any possible way. All I do is to loiter around the house and rea

talking about?" he exclaim

nd I'm beginning to see the reason why. And the women who have done it appear to be perfectly happy-much happier than they were at first. I saw one of them at Lily Dallam's this afternoon. She was radiant. I can't see any particular

sband

ed, "I never heard s

, of course: the reputation which the majority of her sex had made throughout the ages for constancy to the marriage tie was not to be so

some time had elapsed since last he had resorted to it. He tried to seize and kiss her

ed, holding back her head; "you'll have to choose between Rivington and me. It's-it's an ultimatum. There were at least t

own on the ar

wn," he said weakly, "I suppose

rom a dealer she knows; and church candlesticks. The mirrors give it the effect of being larger than it really is. I've only two criticisms to make: it's too far from Fifth Avenue, and one can scarcely turn around in it without knoc

arwell?" inquir

se if he hadn't been such a friend of hers. And he was coming to the tea this afternoon-only something happened at the last minute, and he c

ght away?"

mind to be very, very r

Quicksands for

imself he experienced a feeling of relief that

prang to

member that we're going out for

"I don't know about thi

it over a l

lied. "But-remember my ultimatum. And I am

y own

married me," she retorted from the doorway, her eyes still alight with that disturbing and tantalizing fire. "It is my last desper

es' are in no danger of being shaken down. And in the same spirit we learn of other people's domestic cataclysms. Howard Spence had had only a slight shock, but it frightened him and destroyed his sense of

rge a word for the sentiment that had filled his breast, had been coincident with his prenuptial passion for Honora. And she had contrived, after four years, in some mysterious way to stir up that ambition once more; to make him uncomfortable; to compel him to ask himself whether he were not sliding downhill; to wonder whether living at Quicksands might not bring him in touch with important interests which had as yet eluded him. And, abo

ed them, as it were, through a glass in the side of his head, and incidentally deriv

f a splitting headache. In moderate obedience to this summons Honora arrived, on the evening in question, before the ornamental ironwork of Mrs. Dallam's front door at a few minutes after seven o'clock. Honora paused in the spring twilight to contemplate the house, which stood out incongruously from its sombre, brownstone brothers and sisters

She insisted on my staying to meet that Renee Labride who dances so divinely in Lady Emmeline. She's sweet. I've seen her eig

grown?" as

am burst o

a terrible time finding him. I mean the horse.

you!" Honor

's in love with me! He's crazy about Lula Chandos. I tried so hard to get her to come to dinner to-night, and the Trowbridges' an

tely, that she was very glad, when Lily Da

e, I told Sid the least he could do was to give me the brougham and the harness. Is Master Sid asleep?" she i

to a miniature boudoir, where Madame Adelaide, in a gil

and why they hadn't heard of you. My dear, how much did little Harris charge you for that dress? If I had your face and neck and figure I'd die before

-looking yourself,

careful. Sid says I'm killing myself, but I've found a littl

things are

?" cried Mrs. Da

cle. She was the most finished of finished products. Her complexion was high and (be it added) natural, her hair wonderfully 'onduled'

ace like Rivington all these years! I think she's an angel to have stood it. Men are beyond me. Do you know what an attractive wife

re," proclaimed Howard, as he fini

n't you take a house at Quicksands? You'd love it, and you'd

replied Hono

little," that gentleman admitted with gravity. "But I

lly, Howard. You get more for your money there than any place I know." Suddenly the light of an inspirati

t be, Lily," re

furniture, and they just finished it last fall. It would be positively wicked not to take it, Howard. They couldn't have failed more opportunely. I'm sorry for Alfred, but I alw

y-began Mr. Dall

ctions to my most charming and sensible plans. You act as

ds failing him, he sought by a gesture to d

didn't. Find out the rent in the morning, Sid, and we'll all four go down on Sunday and look at it, and lunch at the

ld be delightfu