LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2148, 13 January 1881, Page 3

LITERATURE.

DISENCHANTED. A charming domestic picture the diningroom brilliantly lighted, and the silver crystal, the gold band china, and the snowy napkins, the white tablecloth and the dainty little feast ipread thereon, the cheery fire in the grate, the crimson carpet, the flowing drapery, pictures and flowers. And pretty little Mrs Norton sitting behind the urn, as fair and lovely a two-year matron as ever smiled over a table at her lord and master. He was a fine-looking fellow, too, that husband of hers, and it was very evident that there was no lack of warm affection between them, for all the subject of oonver sation was one of very decided opinion, at least npon Mrs Norton’s part. __ Just now, she sugared and creamed Mr Norton’s second cup of coffee, and handed it towards him, with a little indignant remark—- ‘ But it’s too bad, Frank, and I believe yon think so as much as I do.’ And she looked suspiciously as If there were tears in her pretty eyes. ’lndeed, I think it is just as bad as It can be—bad enough for us, but a thousand times worse for Uncle Tom.’

*lt is ridiculous ! The idea of falling in love at this time of life; but more than ridiculous in falling in love with such a creature as Aura Vane! To think, after be has made his home with|us ever since we were married, and we have humored him in every possible way. and the sacrifices I have made to please him— to think he should so absurdly go to work and allow himself to be entrapped by Aura 1’ Frank laughed at Lottie’s emphatic remarks.

* We mus’t forget that, of course, the old gentleman has a perfect right to do as he pleases with his own, my dear. His being sixty years old does not preclude him from even marrying Miss Vane, if he chooses to.’ Lottie looked very earnest indeed as she answered :

* I know all that; but why can’t Uncle Tom see her as she is, as everybody else sees her ? She forty if she’s a day. ’ He interrupted her with a little, tormenting laugh. * A very suitable age, you must admit, for him, Lottie.'

‘ Frank Not ton ! How can yon, when you know just as well as I do that it is only Uncle Tom’s money she is after. And to think he promised to leave it all to baby if we’d name him after him, and I wanted the little darling called Roland so badly, instead of Tommy! Oh, Frank, yon never will know what a sacrifice I made! And I’ll change baby’s name—yes, I will—if Uncle Tom marries that horrid old thing, who never had a bean, nor any offer before in her life. How she contrived to trap him I’d like to know. ’

Two bright little red spots were flaming in her oheeke, and despite the passionate bitterness of her protest, Mr Norton realised there was a great deal of righteous truth in it, and he was looking grave and thoughtful, just as the front door was opened, and in a minute or two Uncle Tom himself came In.

‘ I am sorry to have been so late to dinner, my dear,’ he said, briskly, with a smile toward Lottie ; ‘ but I have been driving in the Park with Miss Vane, and really it was dusk before I knew it.’

Somehow Mrs Norton glanced at her husband as she turned the nrn, jnst iu time to catch the quick glance of oantion he sent her.

All nnconscious of the storm that was about his head—that domestic low barometer and high temperature that was none the less existent because the old gentleman was not aware of it—Uncle Tom went comfortably on with his cold roast chicken, sipping his coffee leisurely between whiles.

* Are you personally acquainted with Miss Vane, my dear?’ he said, presently, after dilating npon the beauty of the Park in it* Autumn dress.

And then Lottie purposely avoided her lord's eyes, where she knew full well would be another cautionary signal. * Not at all intimately. Uncle Tom. When I was a little girl she was a grown up woman, and of course I never had occasion to associate with her. Aa a child I never fancied her however.’ He laid his knife down In the act of slicing off a delicious piece of brown meat. * Von mean to insinuate that Aura is as old as—all that 1 ’ Then Frank took np the cudgel in hla qniet nnimpassioned way, ‘ 1 don’t think my wife shenld insinuate anything, Uncle Tom, She simply knows it to be a fact, aa I do, and any one else who cares to think at all about it, that Miss Vane is past forty years old. Hut then of course no one ever troubles one’s self about it. * Fast forty! Frank, 1 always thought yon had uncommon good sense and judgment and perception, but—past forty ? But perhaps you don’t happen to know how delicate and lovely her complexion is—hew soft and luxuriant her hair is—how girlish and charming, yet dignified. Is her manner 1 ’ He spoke as if in great triumph. ‘That goes for nothing. Uncle Tom,’ Lottie said, more mildly than Frank had expected of her. ‘ Complexion and hair can both be bought nowadays.’ 'I am perfectly aware of that faot, my dear; although 1 must admit I had not thought you capable' of such—snob—well, the lees said the better perhaps. But I assure you I have satisfied myself that Aura is one of those rarely preserved women who at thirty—for I have it from her own lips that her last birthday was her thirtieth—are more charming and mature, and every way suitable to a discerning man’s taste, than when young and girlish.’ And he looked straightly, defiantly in Lottie’s eyes. * Oh. well,’ she retorted, stubbornly, ‘ you’ll find out some day!’ ‘ Yes,’ he answered, ‘I expect to find out that the woman who will honor me by being my wife is just what I have said she is in all respects. Frank, don’t yon want tickets for the opera to-night ? I’ve a couple to spare, if you want to take Lottie to hear Patti. Miss Tano and I are going,’ Of course, Frank accepted the tickets, and after dinner, when Lottie went np to the nursery with him for their usual halfhour of baby worship, she declared she never would call him by his odious name again. ‘ He shall bo mamma’s darling little Roland bow,’ she said, holding him in her arms, and showering kisces on his sweet, laughing face and bonny dark eyes. Frank laughed. ‘ You’d better wait a little longer. Lottie. Thirty thousand pounds is worth being called a worse name than Tom. Perhaps the old man’s disenchantment will come even yet. ’ ‘ It’s disgusting,’ she said. And then she said good night to her year old boy, with dozens of kisses and hugs, and gave him back to his nurse. * I want you to go on an errand, please, Frank,’ she said, suddenly, as they went into their own room, ‘ np to Blandford’s, for an invisible net and hairpins. Will yon, Frank ?’ ‘An invisible net! What on earth Is that? Can’t you sea it ? How shall I know when I’ve got it? I’ll inquire.’ She gave him a little push toward the door. ‘Nevermind, Mr Impudence. Yon simply ask for what I tell you, pay what they charge, and bring it homo to me.’ So good-natured Frank put on his hit and started off to Blandford’a the famous hair dresser’s, where he was to buy the ‘ invisible” net, to meet Uncle Tom on the door-step, impatiently waiting for the carriage that was to take him to his beloved. * There’s plenty of time,’ Frank said, as he stopped a minute. ‘Get your cane, Uncle Tom, and walk up to Blandford’s with me. ’ Uncle Tom looked at his watch. ‘ Well, I will. I shouldn’t like to keep Aura waiting though.* ‘ There’s no need to,” Frank answered. And they started off, every bit of Frank’s determination and tact kept continuously on the alert to prevent the old gentleman from discussing Miss Vane, However, by violent effort, he sn«iieded, by talking about the Premier’s illness and the Irish Bill, till they reached Blandford’s, where an obliging shopman gave them seats, and begged them to wait only one moment, aa they were very busy jast then. And Frank and Uncle Tom sat down and waited, close by them being a tall Venetian screen, which neither noticed, until, in a low

yet clearly distinct voice, they heard a centenoe or so that startled them. ‘How will that do. Miss Vane ? I have applied nearly an entire bottleof the enamel; bat—pardon me the hollows and wrinkles ere so deep that It is almost impossible to obliterate them. ’ ‘lt will have to do, I suppose. Fortunately, all my new costumes have longer sleeves than the old ones. Now, if you will make haste with my heir. I shall wear the “Perfection” to-night, I think; and, oh, please remember the touch of pencil on my eye brows. They are getting so horribly thin and pale lately.’ Beyond doubt of mortal comprehension it was Aura Vane’s voice, and Frank actually pitied the look on the old gentleman’s face. And then—no one In all the world ever knew how such an unheard-of, awkward catastrophe happened except Unc’e Tom, whose foot reached out and touched the door. The door in the screen flew open and revealed to both gentlemen the startling sight of a woman with a head almost as bare as a pumpkin —only the merest wisp of gray hair, twirled in a little pigtail on the crown—and on the dressing-table beside her a heap of soft, rippling tresses, and a bottle of belladonna, and a pot of enamel, and various sponges and brushes, and other paraphernalia. There was a shriek of horror from the bald-foreheaded lady, a series of ‘Oh-o-o-o-h’s 1’ and then—it all seemed in less than a minute—the attendant threw a shawl over Miss Vane’s pate. Dnole Tom gave a groan of utter horror as he got up and took Frank’s arm. ‘ I’m going home,’ he said tersely, ‘ I don’t want any opera to-night. I’ve seen enough. Great heavens ! what an escape! For all these mercies I am more thankful. To think—to think I was so near marrying that— I think the story is told. Miss Anra Vane did not secure her rich husband. There are lots of fellows, old and young, who are daily being deceived by even worse made-up women than she; only sometimes, away down under all the vain little artificialities, there is often a true, loving heart. But even worse than this is the fate of a woman who finds that her ideal man is only a bundle of tailor’s clothes and dentist’s skill, and wig-maker’s art. Don’t yon believe it P Or that there are men who put their hair in papers, and wear gloves at night, and then call themselves “lords of creation.” Ahem. Well, the baby’s name was not exactly changed, but Lottie inserted “ Boland ” for his middle name, and as once in a while they call him, in jest of course, “T Boland,” I shouldn’t wonder if, after all, the little 1

fellow hag hia pretty name and the fortune, too.