St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-07

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t'Who is he!'
II can't tell; have not seen him."
"Suppose you look"
Il prefer not; came to see the play. is not
Helen Faucet superb!'
$50, so. I wish you would tell me who
that gentleman on the leftis. am sure
til at he knows you, and he is strikingiy
handsome"
cat present the stage interests me. Be
sides 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; l exhausted it some time ago"
Her ladyship was not telling the truth.
Che was intensely curious, but it pleased her
at the time to pique the Hon. Selma Dorset.
Tie strange sympathy that makes US in
tensely conscious of familiar glance, even
in a crowded building, had solicited her re-
gard just as Selma had 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 tumut of applause.
Lady Kate Talbot forgot everything in her
excitement, and as she stood up, flushed ana
trembling, she inadvertently turned toward
the left. Instantly she recognized pres
ence with which she ought to have been ia
miliar enough.
The gentleman bowed with an extreme
respect. Lady Kate acknowledged the court
.:-I,,s .,
be altogether gracious, and the elaborate po-
likeness of the recognition was not softened
by any glance implying a more tender init
macy than that of mere acquaintance.
My lady was silent all the way home, and
for some reason Selma was not disposed to
interrupt her reverie. Kate's face had a
brghtfush on it, and her eyes held in them
light-a light that resembled what Selma
would have called hope and love, if my lady
had not been already married and her des-
tiny apparently settled.
''Selina, when you have got rid of all that
lace and satin, 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 affair of her own on hand or
nor charitable, her time went heavily on
ward. a little bit of romance-nothing
wrong, of course, but just little bit of ro-
nance, especially if connected with the cold
and proper Lady Talbot-would be of all
things the most interesting.
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 sat in a dream-iike still
ness, looking into the bright blaze on the
hearth. She scarcely stirred as Selma took
a large chair beside her, and scarcely smiled
when she lifted one of her lOosened curls and
said, ''What exquisite hair you have, Kate
truly golden,
eyes, it is beautiful. l know that of
course"
''Of what are you thinking so intently?n
"Of the gentleman on our left tonight"
3' ''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
"Kater'
cit is true.',
81 thought he was in Africa or in Asia or
Europe or somewhere at the end of the
world.'' -,
- ''He is now in England, it seems. Isup-
pose he has just arrived. l have not seen
him before"
''Where is he staying then?'
81 presume in the left wing Of this man
sion. / notice there are more lights than
usual in it tonight. His apartments are
there,
Snow Kate do tell me all dear. You know
l love a romantic love affair and am sure
this is one.''
"YOu were never more mistaken, Selma.
There is no love in all the affair. This is the
secret of the whole position. | thought as
you were staying here this week, and might
probably meet or see my lord, 1t was better
TO make all clear to you, People are apt to
associate wrong with things they do not un-
dcrstand"
"ro be sure, dear, I suppose Lord Richard
and you had a little disagreement. ''Now,
If 1 could do anything toward IA reconcilia-
ton 1 should be SO happy you know
mo, Selma there has been no quarrel, and
you can do nothing at all between us.
don't want you to cry. Just be kind enough
to ignore the whole circumstance. Lord
Richard and l understood each other nearly
four years ago"
''But it is not four years since your mar
riager'
''Just four years yesterday"
''And my lord has been away
''Three years, eight months and eighteen
days so far as | know"
swell, this is a most extraordinary thing,
and very, very sad, / must say.'
lit might easily have been much sadder.
am going to tell you the exact truth, and
rely upon your honor, and discretion to keep
the secret inviolate"
''Aly dear K ate, would not name it for
the world"
Listen, then. One night when was
scarcely II years old, my father sent for me
to his study / had known for months that
he was dying. He WAS the only creature that
had to love, and loved him very tenderv
must mention this also, for it partly ex-
plains my conduct, that the idea of disobey
ing him in anything had never presented it
self to me as possibility. This night found
with him his lifelong friend, the late Lord
Talbot and the present lord, nv husband
was a shy, shrinking girl, without any
knowledge OF dress or society, and very
timid and embarrassed in my manners. Then
my father told me it was necessary for the
good of both houses that Richard and i should
marry. that Richard had consented and that
/ must meet few friends in our private
chapel at { O'Clock in the morning, a week
later. OF course these things were told me
IL very gentle manner, and my dear faith
er, with many loving kisses, begged me as q
last favor to him to make no objeetion.''
''And what did Lord Richard say.''
81 GLANCED up at him. He stood near a
window looking out over our fine old park.
and when be felt my glance he colored deep
ly and bowed Lord Talbot said, rather
angrily, Richard, Miss Esther waits FOR you
to speak. Then Lord Richard turned toward
me and said something, but in such a low
voice could not catch its meaning. MY
son says you do him great honor-and