Making People Happy

not altogether unbecoming, since its aim is the last elaboration of loveliness. Indeed, the fault becomes a virtue, when its motive lies in the desire to attain supreme charm for the one belo

lous over the coiling of her tresses into the crown that added so regally to the dignity of her bearing. The selection of the gown was a matter for profound deliberation, and ended in a mood of dubiety. That passed, however, when at last she surveyed her length in the cheval glass. Then, she became aware, beyond peradven

ner hour, when the toilette had been thus happily completed. As she

lton come in

ago. He went to the st

tern regard for the appearance she must present anon held her back from tears. It seemed to her longing a dreadful thing that on this day of all others her husband must bring back to his home this rival of whom she was so jealous. For it could mean nothing else, if he were closeted with his secretary at this hour: he was dallying in the embraces of business, with neve

ged her visit. Yet, she had meant to go away in time to permit the young pair their particular fête in a solitude à deux. She, too, however, had learned of the present absorption of Mr. Hamilton in business affairs, and there at she became suspicious that her niece's fears as to his forgetfulness might be realized. In the end, she had determined to remain until

less blamable than are some, inasmuch as he was fettered by a great ignorance of feminine nature. From earliest boyhood, he had been Cicily's abject worshiper. That devotion had held him aloof from other women. In consequence, he had missed the variety of experiences through which many men pass, from which, perforce, they garner stores of wisdom, to be used for good or ill as may be. Hamilton, unfortunately, knew nothing concerning woman's foibles. He had no least suspicion as to her constant craving for the expression of affection, her heart-hunger for the murmured words of endearment, her poignant yearning for gentle, tender caresses day by day. They loved; they were safely married: those blessed facts to him were suf

. "I am glad you stayed over to cheer up the little gi

of significance in the manner with which the old lady put the pertine

the pains of any disclaimer

g!-I! What an

turned toward her. But it was plain that he failed to note her appearance with any degree of particularity. He had no phrase of app

er side, and bestowed a perfunctory marital peck on the oval

f wistfulness in the musical voice as she asked the question. Th

d to understand t

ed at the office-I probably thought how glad you must be not having a man under foot around the house when

amilton, but he could not escape feeling a suggestion

u do know an awfu

udeness in a husband toward his wife on the first anniversary of their marriage. He turned suavely to Mrs. Delancy. "You'll stay to dinner, of course

d been struck. As he ceased speaking, she nerved herself to the ordeal, and made her st

going to the theater

ent. It needed no more to make clear the fact that he had no guess as to

fore this confession of her husband's inadvertence to that whi

mber what day this is?" She strove to make her tone one of the most casual i

ton declared, with an ingenuous nonchalance

as no mistaking the bitter feeling that welled in th

ntrition in this first moment when his delinquency was broug

brief caress. Then, after a little, his natural buoyancy reasserted itself, and he spoke with a mischievousness that would, he hoped, serve to stimulate the neglected bride

e saw her niece wince visibly. Cicily's pride, however, came to her rescue, and she contrived to restrain herself

course. How in the world could you suppose that I, in my busy life, cou

you hadn't been so engrossed with that wonderful club and all your busy socie

him to any just realization of the flagrancy of his fault. Ye

, very gently, "I have got the ti

houghts, "I couldn't have gone to-night. You see, I have a conference on-very important. It means a great deal. Morton and Carringto

g accents could never have been resisted by any lover; but by a husband-ah, there is a tremendous differ

t want to interfere with my business, do you? Why, I'll leave it to Aunt Emma here, if I'm not right." He faced about t

to that question," was the neutral reply,

of fear lest she collapse there under the eyes of the man who had so spurned her adoration. Under the spur of that fear, she moved forward a little way toward the window, the while Hamilton chatted on amiably with Mrs.

any more about it. Attend to your conference, and