The Portland daily press., 1883-05-29
The Gentleman on the Left.

"Who is it?''
81 cannot tell. have not seen him.
Suppose you look?"
81 prefer not. came to see the play. Is
not Helen Fancit superb?"
80, SO. wish you would tell me who
the gentleman on the left is. | am sure he
knows you, and he is strikingly handsome
sat present the stage interests me. Be
side if men are rude enough to stare at
strangers, there is no occasion for us to imi-
tate 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 Dor
set That strange sympathy that makes us
instantly conscious OF familiar glance, even
in crowded building, had solicited her re-
gard just 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 finished in tumult of applause
Lady Kate Talbot forgot everything in her
excitement, and as she stood up, flushed
and trembling, she inadvertently turned to-
ward the left Instantly she recognized a
presence with which she ought to have been
familiar enough.
The gentleman bowed with an extreme
lespec. lazy hate acSuoWleogeu tne
coul.esy III q MANNER Ioo luu OF as.onisn-
ment 70 pe altogesner gracious, ana the elao.
softened by any glance implying more
tender Intimacy than that of mere acquain
lance.
NY lady was silent LEM. an the way nome, and
LOT some reason oehha was not disposed 10
lhterrupt ner revere. ~ ana not seem TO pc
an unpleasant one. Hates face had bright
flush on Il, and her eyes held in them light
nsn l,a .la. resen9i Ial wnas oeliha W9nl9
nave called nope ana love, II my lady had
not been already married, and her destiny
apparently settled.
Selma, when you have got rid Of all that
lace anu saIlh, come 70 my ROOM nave
something 10 say TO you.
:. Selma nodded pleasantly. She was sure
II concerneu lne gentleman On the lett she
had no love affairs of her own on hand or
heart at present, and being neither literary
nor ensrltanle, ner time Went rather heavily
onward. A little bit OF romanee-nothing
wrong, OF course, but just little bill OF
romance, especially II connected with the
cold and proper Lady Ialbot-would be OF
all things the most interesting.
She was speedily unrooed, and with her
long black halr hanging loosely over her
pretty dresslng-gown, she sought my lady's
room. Lady laipot sat IN dream-like still
ness, ioeklng into The bright blaze en- the
heartn. she scarcely stirred as Selma took
large ehair beside her, and scarcely smiled
when she lifted one OF her loosened curls,
and said, What exquisite hair you have
Kate! True golden.
Yes, 1t is beautiful | know that, of
course"
"Of what are you thinking so intently?'
''Of the gentleman on our left tonight
"Ah, who is he? He seemed to know
you"
HE ought to know me much better than
he does. He is my husband, Lord Richard
Talbot"
'kate!'
sit is true.''
II thought be was In Africa, or Asia, or
Europe. or somewhere at the end of the
world"
He is now in England, it seems. / sup
pose ne just arrived. have not seen him
before"
where is he staying, sthen?n
presume the left wing OF this mansion.
notice there are more lights than usual in
1t tonight. His apartments are there
Now, Kate, do tell me all. dear. You
know love a romantic love affair. and | am
sure this is ones
You were never more mistaken. Selma.
There is no love at all in the affair." That is
the secret of the whole position. / thought
as you were staying here this week. and
might probably see or meet my lord, it was
better to make all clear to you. People are
SO apt to associate wrong with things they
90 not understand.
10 De sure, dear. | suppose Lord Rich
ard and you have had little disagree
ment. NOW, II could only do anything to-
ward reconciliation, should be so happy,
you KnoW
no, Selma, there mas been no quarrel,
anu you can 40 nothing at all between us.
dont want you 10 try. just be kind
enough 70 ignore the whole circumstance.
hora hichafd ana understood each other
nearly Iour years ago.
But IL is not four years since you mar
red?
Juss TOUR years-yesterday.
"A. And my lord mas been away
Ihree years, eight months and eighteen
uay5, 80 Iar as know.
wen, thls Is mosl extraordinary thlng
anu very, very SAD, must say.
II might easlly nave been much sadder.
am going 70 tel you the exact truth, and
rely upon your honor and discretion to keep
the secret inylolable-"
NY dear Kate, would not name 1t Tor
WoIIus.
Listen, then. one night, when was
scarcely seventeen years oid, my rather sent
Ior me 70 MS study had known for
months that ne was dying. He was the only
creature that mad TO love, and loved him
- -
parllyexplalns my conduct thstthe idea OF
ulsoDeyilg MN IA anything had never pre-
senseuIseiI 70 me as possioiilty. This
nlgn. Iound WIN MIN ms lfe-long friend
Inc iate Lord iaioot, and also the present
EoIo, my husband. was shy, shrinking
girl, without any knowledge OF dresser soci-
ety. and very timid and embarrassed in my
manners. Then my father told me that it
was necesaryfor the good of both houses that
Richard and should marry, that Richard
had consented, and that | must meet a few
irlenos IN our prlvase chapel at seven O clock
IN themornlng week later Of course these
lhlngs were told me IN very gentle man
ner, and my dear father, with many loving
kisses, begged me as last favor to him to
make no objections"
And what did Lord Richard say?'
II glanced up at him. He stood near
window looking out over our fine old park,
and when he felt my glance he colored deep
~ and bowed. Lord Talbot said, rather an
grlly, Richard, Miss Esher waits for you to
speak" linen Lord Richard turned toward
me ana sala something, put IN such low