Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-10-26

THE GENTLEMAN ON THE LEFT.

"The gentleman on the left, Kate
Do you know him2 He has looked
frequently toward you"
''Has he?"
'Who is itl"
81 cannot tell. | have not seen
him"
Suppose you look"
81 prefer not. | came to see the
play. Is not Helen Fancet superbE"
so, so, | wish you would tell me
who that gentleman on the left is.
am sure he knows you, and he is
strikingly handsome.
"At present the stage interests me.
Besides, if men are rude enough tC
stare at strangers, there is no occasion
for us 10 initiate them"
''Your ladyship has no curiosity3
Not any; | exhausted it some time
ago"
Her Iadyship was not telling
the truth; she was intensely
curious, but it pleased her at the Time
to piquc the honorable Selma Dorset.
That sympathy that makes us instantly
conscious of familiar glance, even
in II crowded building, had solicited
her regard just us Selma had advised
her Of it. If she had not been asked to
look toward her left she would proba.
bly, have done SO; us it was, she reso
lutely avoided any movement in that
direction.
The play finished in a tumult of ap
plause, Lady Kate Talbot forget every
thing in her excitement, and us she
stood up, flushed and trembling, she
inadvertently turned toward the left.
Instantly she recognized a presence
with which she ought to have been
familiar enough.
The gentleman bowed with an eX-
IRENE respect Lady Kate acknowledge
ed the courtesy in II manner too full OF
establishment to be altogether gracious,
and the elaborate politencSs Of the re
cognltion was not Softened by any
glance implying Il more tender in
timacy than that of mere acquaint-
anCc.
My lady was silent all the way
home, and for some reason Selma was
not disposed to interrupt her reverie.
1t did not seem to be an unpleasant
one. kate's face had bright flush on
it, and her eyes held in them Il light
light that rcsemblcd what Selma
would have called hope and love, if
my lady had not been already married,
and her destiny apparently settled.
Selma, when you have got rid of
all that lace and satin, came 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 Chart
able, hertimc went 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 in
tcresting.
She was speedily unrobed, and with
her long black hair hanging loosely
over her pretty dressing gown, she
sought my lady's room Lady Talbot
SATIN dream like stiffness, looking
into the bright blaze on the hearth
She scarcely stirred as Selma took a
large char beside her, and scarcely
ssilcd when she lifted one of her
looscncd curls, and said, what
exquisite hair you have, Kate! True
golden
Yes, it is beautiful, | know that
of course"
"OI whatar you thinking so intent
ly2"
"Of the gentleman on our left to-
night"
"Ah, who is hel He seemed to
know you"
He ought to know me much better
than he does, He is my husband
Lord Richard Talbot
"katc!"
1t is true"
II thought he was in Africa. or
Asia, or Europe, or somewhere ut the
end of the world"
"Hc is now in England, it seems, |
suppose he Just arrived. | have not
seen him before. "
"Where is he staying. them
Il presume III the left wing of this
mansion. | notice there are more
lights than usual in it tonight His
apartments are there.
Now, Kate, do tell me all, dear
You know | love a romantic love af.
fair, and am sure this is one.
You We're 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 stay
ing here this week, and might probab
ly see or meet my lord, it was better
to make all clear to You. People are
So apt to associate wrong with things
they do not understand.
40 be sure dear l suppose Lord
Richard and YOU have had little
disagreement. Now, if | could only
do anything toward a reconciliation
should be happy, you know
No, Selma, there has been nc
quarrel, and you can do nothing al
all between us. | don't want you tc
try. Just be kind enough to ignore
the whole circumstance. Lord Rich
ard and understood each other nearly
four years ago.
But 1t is not four years since you
married."
Just four years-yesterday,"
And my lord has been away"
Three years, eight months and
eighteen days, so far as | know"
well, this is most extraordinary
thing and very, very sad, l must
say"
1T might easily have been much
sadder. am going TO tell you the eS'
act truth, and | rely upon your honor
ann IiSnpatinC ~ l-aa,, tho Snorat ipN-inl
able"
My dear Kate, would not name
it for the world
'Listen, then. One night, when ]
was scarcely IL years old, my father
sent for me to his study. l had known
for months that he was dying. III,
was the only creature that 1 had tc
love, and / loved him very tenderly.
must mention this also, for it party
explains my conduct that the idea o