Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-02
THE MAN ON TIE LEFT,

A"AAAAS OAN 4AA AA4 L.
"The gentleman on the left. Kate-do
you know him? He has looked fre-
quently toward YOU"
elias hep"
"Who is it?"
II cannot tell. I have not seen him. "
Suppose you look?"
II prefer not. Icame to see the plav.
Is not Helen Fanchet superb?"
$50, so. 1 wish you would tell me
who that gentleman on the left is. I
am sure he knows you, and he is st1ik-
ingly handsome
eat present the stage interests me.
Besides, if the men are rude enough
to stare at strangers there is no occasion
for us to initiate them"
"Your ladyship has no curiosity ?"
"Not any;I 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 sympathv
that makes us instantly conscious of a
familiar glance, even in a crowded build
ing, had solicited her regard just as
Selma had advised her of it. If she had
not been asked to look toward her lett
she would probably have done so; as it
was, she resolutely avoided any move
ment in that direction.
The play finished in tumult of ap.
plaqSe. Lady Kate Talbot forgot e1-
erything in her excitement, and as she
stood up flushed and trembling, she in
advertently turned toward the left.
Instantly she recognized presence with
which she ought to have been familiar
enough.
The gentleman bowed with an extreme
respect. Lady Kate acknowledged the
courtesey in manner too full of a..
constituent to be altogether gracious.
and the elaborate politeness of the rec.
ognition was not softened by any Glance
implying 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. It did
not seem to be an unpleasant one. Kate's
face had bright flush on It. and her
eyes held in them a light-a light that
resembled what Selma would have called
hope and love, if my lady lad not been
already married, and her destiny appar-
emily settled.
IS Selma, when you have got rid of all
that lace and satin, come to nv 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 heavily onward. A little bit of
romance, especially if connected with
cold and proper Lady Talbot, would be of
all things the most interesting.
She was speedily unrobed, and, with
her long blonde hair hanging loosely
over her pretty dressing gown, she
sought my jady's room. Lady Talbot
sat in a dream-like stiffness, looking into
the bright blaze on the hearth. She
scarcely stirred as Selma took large
chair beside her, and scarcely smiled
when she lifted one of her loosened curls
and said: "What exquisite hair Won
have. Kate! True golden
eyes, it is beautiful. I know that, of
course"
"Of what are you thinking so intent.
ly?"
"Of the gentleman on our left to-
night"
"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 he was in Africa, or Asia.
or Europe, or somewhere at the end of
the world.''
"He is now in England, it seems. I
suppose he just arrived. I have not
seen him before"
''Where is he staying, them"
IL presume in the left wing of this
mansion. I notice there are more lights
than usual in it tonight. His apart
ments are there"
''Now, Kate, do tell me all. dear.
You know I love romantic love affair.
and am sure this is one."
"You were never more mistaken. Sell
ma. There is no love at all in the affair.
That is the secret of the whole position.
l thought that as you were stay ing here
this week, and might probably see or
meet my lord, it was better to make all
clear to you. People are apt to associ-
ate wrong with things they do not under
stand"
''To be sure, dear. I suppose Lord
Richard and you have had little disa.
greemert. Now, if could only do any,
thing toward reconciliation. I should
be 80 happy, you know
ono, Selma, there has been no quar-
rel, and you can do nothing at ali be.
tween us. I don't want you to try,
just be kind enough to ignore the
whole circumstance. Lord Richard and
I understood each other nearly four years
ago."
'But it is not four years since you
married."
''Just four years-yesterday." T.
"And my lord has been away"
"Three years, eight months and
eighteen days, so far as I know"
"Well, this is most extraordinary
thing. and very, very sad, I must say"
&c It might easily have been much
sadder. l am going to tell you the ex-
act truth, and I rely upon your honor
and discretion to keep the secret invi-
olable."
"My dear Kate, I would not name it
for the world"
{ "Listen, then. One night, when I
was scarcely II years old, my father
sent for me to his study. 1 had known
for months that he was diving. He was
the only creature that I had to love, and
! loved him very tenderly. must men