The Newtown bee., 1879-09-03

chalance that would have indicated to
stranger the most usual and common
place Of acquaintanceships He tried to
draw ller into a confidential mood, but
she said, smiling.y, My lord, the world
supposes us to have already eongratu-
lated each other; we need not undeceive
it,"
lie was dreadfully piqued, and the
plque kept the cause of it continually in
his mind. Indeed, unless he left Lon
don, he could hardly avoid constant
meetings, which were constant aggra-
vations. My lady went everywhere.
Her beauty, her wit, her splendid tot
let's, her fine manners, were the uni
versal theme. He had to endure extrav-
agant comments on them. Friends told
him that Lady Talbot had never been so
brilliant and SO bewitching as since his
return. He was congratulated on his
influence over her.
In the meantime she kept strictly at
the distance he himself had arranged
four years ago. It was evident il he
would approach any nearer to his beau
tiful but long-neglected wife, he must
humble himself to do so. Why should
he notP In Lord Talbot's mind the rea-
sons against it had dwindled down to
one. But this was a formidable one. 1t
was his valet. This man had known all
his masters matrimonial troubles, and
in his own way sympathized with them.
lie was bitterly ayerse to Lord Talbot's
making any concessions to my lady.
One night, however, he received a pro-
found shock.
Simmons" said Lord Talbot, very
decidedly, go and ask Lady Talbot if
she will do me the honor to receive a
visit from me-"
My lady would be delighted. She was
in an exquisite costume, and conde-
scended to exhibit for his pleasure all
her most bewildering moods. 1t was
with great reluctance he left her after a
two hours visit. The next night he
staid still longer. My lady had no other
engagement, and he quite forgot the one
hehad made to be present at the Marquis
of Stairs party.
The following week my lady received
every morning a basket of wonderful
flowers, and little note with them con-
tanning a hope that she was in good
health.
One morning she was compelled to
say that she was not very well, and
Lord Talbot was so concerned that he
sent Simmons to ask if he might be per-
mitted to eat breakfast with her. My
lady was graciously willing, and Lord
Richard was quite excited by the per-
mission. He changed his morning gown
and cravat several times, quite regard
less of Simmons peculiar face, and,
with many misgivings as to his appear
ance, sat down opposite the lovely little
lady in her pale blue satin and cashmere
and white laces.
Itwas charming breakfast, and during
4 = f,t1, TOD hy,ch hol,
saying a great many very sweet and fiat
tering things. Kate parried them very
prettily. cit is WE'LL" she saiG, * that
no one hears us. If we were not mar
ried, they would think we were making
love-"
"And if we are married, Kate, why
not make love, dear? We had no oppor-
tunity before we were married"
'.Ah, Richard, in fashionable life we
should make ourselves ridiculous. Every
one says that now our behavior is ire
proachable. should have dearly liked
it when / was only shy, awkward,
country girl but now, my lord we should
be laughed at"
"Then, Kate, let us be laughed at. /
for one am longing for it-dying for it.
If Time shall run back and fetch the
age of gold why not lovep Let us go
back four whole years and a half Will
you, Katep-dearest, sweetest Kate?"
1--WE should have to run away to the
country, Richard. And now l think of
it, / have not been at Esher since we
were-married-lov
When such a conversation as this was
prolonged for five hours, it was little
wonder that my lords valet and my
lady s maid received orders to pack va
Uses and trunks, or that the next day
Esher Hall was in happy tumult of pre-
paration.
Love comes better late than never, and
Lady Kate always told herself that she
never could have been as happy in those
sweet old gardens with her lover as she
was with her husband. Probably they
were both as perfectly satisfied as it is
possible for human love to be; for,
greatly to the amazement of the fashion
able world, they not only spent the
whole summer alone in their country
home, but actually, when they came
back to London, had the courage to ap-
pear, in the very height of the season, in
the same box at the opera.
REALLY, Kate" says Miss Selma, g [
never was 50 astonished. The gentle
man on your left"
''Is always at my right now, dear.
He viii never be in the opposition
again"
How delightful"
For us? Oh, yes. Charming"