A Business Career

XIII

86 to kiss her and shake hands with her. But if I had spoken to her, I should have had to introduce you.And if for any reason she should go to Mr. Truscott's office and see you there, or meet you elsewhere as 'Miss Smith,' our secret would be disclosed and our plan exposed to failure." XIII. Miss Wedderburn had been walking on air all day.Part of the morning had been devoted to preparations for the evening. To any one else her house would haveseemed perfect already; but Miss Wedderburn moved a vasehere or a statuette there, seta chair in this place or an easel in that, and arranged cutflowers in the most effective places. Her cook was ordered to prepare Wendell's favorite dishes.And,the butler wasdirected to bring up one of the last six bottles of a famous old wine, of which her father had once possessed quite a store. "There's nothing too good for him," she said to herself. "This genialwinewill warm his heart, mysmiles will disclose an answering warmth, and he will askme to be his." She seated herself in the drawing-room, toward noon, to rest a few minutes before luncheon. Her little dog Dandy fawned on her and licked her hand. "Ah, Dandy, Dandy!" she said, caressing him, "you shall have a master, and your master shall be a man, a strong man, who will love me more than you do, Dandy!" The dog sprang on her lap and reached for her lips. She pushed him away with a merry laugh. 87 "No, Dandy,no, I shall kissyou no more! Mylips are meat for your master, Dandy!" Springing lightlyto her feet, sheran to the piano, and soon the room was filled with a flood of melody, in which birds sang, bees hummed, waters rippled,—all nature laughed and exulted in the warmth and beauty of glorious life! The dog sat at her feet and listened solemnly. Her brilliant runs slowed and softened, and with melting voice she sang a tender love-song. Asshe finished the cadence at the end of the last line, Dandy raised his voice in a discordant howl. "Oh, you naughty doggie! How wicked of you!Youshould rejoice with me, and not howl so dismally! But perhaps you were just trying to accompany me, darling!" she said, taking his muzzlein her hand and shaking it playfully. The butler appeared in the doorway."Luncheon isserved, mum," he announced, with the decorum befitting his office. "It's a myst'ry to me," he said to himself, as he preceded his mistress to the dining-room and stood at the door as she entered, "what ladies finds to admire in them ugly pug dogs.A good bulldog or asetter or ap'inter might be of some use.Even a rat-terrier can ketch rats,but them things isjest a nuisance." In the afternoon Miss Wedderburn visited her kindergarten . Shepatted the children on the head and spoke kindly to them all. They had never seemed so sweet, and her heart yearned over them. One little curly-haired maiden, in white frock and blue sash, she caught up and clasped to her heart and kissed passionately. 88 "You little darling," she exclaimed,"I wish you weremine!" And then she set the child on the floor and went away. "Miss Wedderburn's in a happy mood to-day," said the teacher to her assistant. "She's so fond of children, I wonder she doesn't marry and have some of her own." Something of the same thought ran through Matilda Wedderburn's mind asher swift horses whirled her to a meeting of the Monthly Club, where she played and sang with unusual brilliancy. Thence she went out the avenue to her own home, and, as she fondly hoped, to love and happiness. Truscott kept bachelor's hall in one of the old-fashioned houses at the lower end of the avenue.His horses and carriage were taken care of at a neighboring liverystable.Askilful cook supplied his table, and his man George,anegro of deepest dye, who had been with him for manyyears asvalet, major-domo and confidential man generally, looked after his immediate personal wants and officiated asbutler when he dined. It was a warm evening, and Truscott thought he would walk up the avenue to Miss Wedderburn's. As he put on the carefully brushed silk hat George...