Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-08-15
The Gentleman on the Left.

The gentleman on the left, Kate-do
you know himP He has looked fire.
quently toward YOU"
Has he?"
"Who is itP"
Il cannot tell. have not seen him. -
Suppose you lookP"
prefer not. | came to see the play.
Is not Helen Faucit superbP"
80, so. | wish you would tell me
who the gentleman on the left is. l am
sure he knows you, and he is strikingly
handsome.
At present the stage interests me.
Besides, if men are rude enough to stare
ut strangers, there is no occasion for us to
initiate them"
Your ladyship has no curiosity"
Not any; | exhausted it some time
ago"
Her ladyship was not telling the truth /;
she was intensely curious, but it pleased
her at the time to pique the Honorable
| Selma Dorset. That strange sympathy
which makes us instantly conscious of a
familiar glance, even in a crowded build
ing, had solicited her regard lust as
Selma advised her of it. If she had not
been asked to look toward her left, she
would probably have done so; as it was,
she resolutely avoided any movement in
that direction.
The play was finished in a tumult of
applause. Lady Kate Talbot forgot
everything in her excitement, and, as she
stood up, flushed and trembling, she in
advertently turned toward the left. In
stantly she recognized a presence with
which she ought to have been familiar
enough.
The gentleman bowed with an ex-
treme respect, Lady Kate acknowledged
the courtesy in a manner too full of as-
tonishment to be altogether gracious,
and the elaborate politeness of the re-
cognition was not softened by any glance
implying q more tender intimacy than
that of mere acquaintance.
My lady was silent all the way home,
and for some reason Selma was not dis
posed to interrupt her reverie 1t did
not seem to be an unpleasant one. Kate's
face had a bright flush on it, and her
eyes held in them new hght-a light
that resembled what Selma would have
called hope and love, if my lady had not
been already married, and her destiny
apparently settled.
"Selina, when you have got rid of all
that satin and lace, come to my room
have something to say to YOU"
Selma nodded pleasantly. She was
sure it concerned the gentleman on the
left. She had no love affairs of her own
on hand or heart at present, and being
neither literary nor charitable, her time
went rather heavily onward. A little
bit of romance - nothing wrong, of
course, but just little bit of romance,
especially if connected with the cold and
proper Lady Talbot-would be of all
things the most interesting.
She was speedily unroDed, and with
her long black hair hanging loosely over
her pretty dressing-gown. she sought my
lady's room. Lady Talbot sat in q
dream-like stiffness, looking into the
bright blaze on the Leatth. She scarcely
stirred as Selma took a large chair be-
side her, and scarcely smiled when she
lifted one of her loosened curls, and said,
what exquisite hair you have, Kate
True golden"
Yes. it is beautiful. know that,
course"
"Ot what are you thinking SO in
tentlyP"
"Of the gentleman on our left to-
night"
"Ah! Who is hep He seems to know
you"
"He ought to know me much better
than he does He ismy husband, Lord
Richard Talbot"
"Katem
"It is true"
{" | thought he was in Africa, or Asia,
or Europe, or somewhere at the end ol
the world"