New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-16

Claire. sealed and directed this note. She did not
send 1t, however. After Its completion she went
down stairs INTO the dining-room.
Hollister was seated there. being served with
breakfast. He had already found 1t impossible to
eat; he was slipping second or third cup OF strong
tea.
When his wife appeared he slightly started. Claire
went to the fire and stood before it,, letting its
warmth and glow hold her in thral for quite
while. Her back was now turned 10 him; she was
waiting for the butler to depart He presently did
so, closing door behind his exit with just enough
accumulation to make the sound convey decisive
and final import.
Claire then slowly turned. removing 'one foot
f,me-lIt hearthstons. ' She looked straight at her
husband; she did not need TO see how pale he was;
her first look had told her that She had chosen to
ignore all that he had said last night. 1t did not
cost her much effort to do this; she had too keen
sense of her own wrong toward him not to condone
the reckless way in which he had coupled her name
with Godwin's. Besides, had not Goldwin's own
words to her. little later. made that assault seem
almost justitedf She felt nothing toward him save
great pity. Her pity sprang, too, from remorse.
would have meant love. And cannot love him p
she had already reflected. IF | only could, it
wonld be so different. But | cannot"
When she spoke, her words were very calm and
firm, Il thought you might have, something more
to tell me-" she said .. came down to see you;
before you went away, for that reason. You said
last night that every thing had gone. There will be
of-possession."
lie WAS SilTTlng inc Tea WlUn MS spoon. eyes
were bent on the table as he did He spoke with
out lifting them. " Oh, YES" he answered " Per-
haps four or five DAYS. They will seize the house,
valnabes. OF course they can't touch what is
really yours. mean your diamonds. your dresses
A pause followed. To-day / have luncheon>
party" said Claire.
Yes YOU told me. Iremember"
" / hope nothing OF of that sort will happen
NO. He had taken his spoon from the cup, and
was staring down az 1T, as though he wanted to
| make of flaw in its metal. His face was
| not merely pale 1t had the worn look of severe
anxiety. You can have your luncheon-party with
| IMMUNITY. BY the wav, our own chez gets it up,
| doesn't he Yon didn't have DelmoncO or any one
| else in. did you"
Mo- she answered. pierre was to do it all
| He had his full orders several days ago"
| A fleet, bitter smile crossed HOLSTERS lips He
put bis spoon back into the cup. but did not
his eyes. "Oh, everything is safe enough for to-
Claire moved slowly toward him. Her voice
trembled little as she now spoke. Herbert" she
| SAID, and put forward one hand " don't see
| why we should not be friends at a time ike this
| You were angry last night, and said things that
| am sure yOu didn't mean-thngs that Pye almost
forgotten. and want entirely to forget Let MS both
forget them. Let us be friends again, and talk mat
| tiers over sensibly-as we ought TO dO.p
| She herself was not Aware of the loveless chill
| that touched every word she had just spoken
There was something absolutely matter-of-fact in
her tones; they rang with "a kind of commercial
loudness. 1t was almost as though she were pro-
| pOSirg mercantile truce between man ana man.
| HOLSTER visby WINGED, and Owly rose from the
table. Every sentence that she had uttered had
bitten into his very soul His pride alive, and
keeny 80. But he not at all angry; he felt too
| miserably -addened for that.
Glare" he said, we had best not talk of be-
ing friends. If 1 spoke to you harshly last night,
| Pm sorry. / don't quite rccollec just what did
| say. OF course we must have a serious talk about
how we arc to live In future. But not now, II you
| please-not now. Your luncheon will go of all
| properly enough. Things are not so bad as that
| shall be away until evening. Perhaps when come
home again we can have our talk
Glare looked at him with hard bright eyes. She
| assured herself that he had cAuselessly repulsed
| her. Even allowing the wrong that she had done
| him OF marrying him without love. why should he
now rcpeI, by this self-contaned aus'erity an adj
vance which. in her egotlsuc misery, she believed q
| a sincere and spontaneous one She wholly
| unaware OF her own unfortunate demeanor; It
| seemed her that she had done her best; she had
| tired 10 concate. to appease To molllfy. Was not
her note 10 Goodwin now IN the pocket OF her gown
Was not that note defence o: Herbert's own honor
| "a of hers She made the distinctly feminine error
while she rapidly surveyed the present contingency
| of taking for granted that her husband possessed
some obscure and mesmerio intuition regarding tins
| same unseen piece OF wiring.
| "Ob, very well" she replied, with an actually
wounded manner; You may do just as YOU please
| | might have resented the unjust and horribl,
thing Won said to me last evening. but did not.
did not because. told YOU, thought IL best fol
US 10 10 friends once again"
"FriendSn lie repeated the word with a harsl
fragment of laughter. HIS changed face took an
| other speedy change; II grew s0mbre and forbid
ding "lOu and |, Claire, can never be friends
| White We live together hereafter Fm afraid IL mus
| only be as strangers"
Strangers" she repeated. haughtily and offend
eddy. ..,
J tapestried door of the dlning-roOm, aud flung on,
of its curtains aside. holding 10 thus while he sOot
| on the threshold and looke1 back at her. - You
yourself make the reason. I'll do all can. don
| know of any unjust or horrible thing that SAID
last evening. only know that you are and have
been my wife in name alone"
lie had forgotten his speech regarding Goodwin
He had never had any suspicion, however remote
that she had tTansgressed her wItely VOWS. liz
simply felt that she bad never loved HIM, and thai
she had married him TOR place and promotion IN
worldly sense that ami 40 more
The draperies of the door at once shrouded his de
parfing figure. Claire stood quite stlll, watchini
| the aQitated folds settle themselves INTO rest. lie
meant that Goodwin is my lover she told herself
| hat else could he possibly have meant
| She had some half-iOrmcd intent oil huTTylnl
| after him and venting her indignation IN no weak
terms. Best if she had done so for he might then
| have explained away, with surprise ana perhaps
contriion, tbs fatal blunder mat sue hau mau ie
But pride soon came. with It's vetolng interference
She did not stir until she heard the outer door close
| alter him. Then. knowing that ne was gone, she
let pride lay its gall her hurt, ana dull her MN
TO the sense of what wrong she had inflicted ON MN
| by the permitted mockery OF their marriage.
lie had no reason 10 judse.5o ylleiy OF me, spec
her Thoughts. HIS approval OF tbat intimacy wa
| clearly Implied. however tacit. W nat must oul
| lives together now becomef lie has brought, y
| snameful charge against me; II loved MN couid
doubtless pardon him; love Will pardon so hiuGh
But as IL ID, there must always remain breach De-
| tween us. A continuance OF our present orllhah,
aGluence might bridge II over. The distractions and
| pleasures Of wealth, fashion, supremacy Wouio
make 1t less aud less apparent to boh; put poverty
and perhaps even hardship az weil' no" 'shou'o
| these iall ~ merclessly widen II I
| fro BIZ CONTINUED
| THE C4TERPJLL1R KING.