The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-04-05
THE MAN ON THE LEFT

''The gentleman on the left, Kate-do
you know him? He has looked fre-
quently toward you."
"Has he?"
"Who is it?"
II cannot tell. l have not seen hin. +"
Suppose you look?"
81 prefer not. came to see the plav.
Is not Helen Fanchet superb?"
so, SO. | wish you would tell me
who that gentleman on the left is. I
am sure he knows you, and he is stlik-
lngly handsome.
sat 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 ?'
IN OF 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 Dorset. That strange sympathy
that makes us instantly conscious OF q
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.
plause. Lady Kate Talbot forgot ey-
erything in her excitement, and as SIZE
stood up flushed and trembling, che IL
advertently turned toward the left.
Instantly she recognized q presence with
which she ought to have been familiar
enough.
The gentleman bowed with aD extreme
respect. Lady Kate acknowledged the
courtesey 10 manner too full of as
tonishment to be altogether gracious.
and the elaborate poiiteness of the rec.
ignition was not sofsened 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. 1t did
not seem to be an un pleasant one. Kate's
face had bright flush on II, and her
eyes held IN them q hght-a light that
resembled what Selma would have called
hope and love, if my lady had not been
already married, and her destiny appar-
emily settled
Selma, when yon have got rid of all
that lace and satin, come to my room
l have something to say to you
Selma nodded pleasantly. She was
sure 1t 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 il 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 Iady's room. Lady Talbot
sat IN q dream-like stiffness, looking into
the blight 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 You
have. Kate True golden"
Eyes. it is beautiful. 1 know that, OF
course.
''of what are you thinking so intent,
ly?"
''Of the gentleman on our left to,
night"
"Ab, 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 ~
''It is true"
Il 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. 1 have not
seen him before"
Where Is ne staying, them"
Il presume in the left wing of this
mansion. | notice there are more lights
than usual in it tonight. His apart
ments are there"
''Now, Kate, do tell me all. dear.
You know / love romantic love affair.
and l 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 staying here
this week, and might probably see OF
meet my lerd, it was better to make al
clear to you. People are apt to associ.
ate wrong with things they do not under
stand"
- bS SuASJ SuDDOs6 LUZ
Richard and you have had little disa
greemert. Now, if could only do any.
thing toward reconciliation. | should
be SO happy, you know
mo, Selma, there has been no quar-
rel, and you can do nothing at ali be
tween us. l don't want you to try.
Just be kind enough to ignore the
whole circumstance. Lord Richard and
understood each other nearly four years
ago."
"But it 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 I know"
Well, this Is most ex.raordi cary
thing, and very, very sad, must say"
1t might easily have been much
sadder. am going to tell you the ex-
act truth, and | rely upon your honor
and discretion to keep the secret invi-
olable."
=" My dear Kate, l would not name it
Tor the world"
Listen, then. One night. when |
was scarcely II years old, nv father
sent for me to his study. l had known
for months that he was dying. He was
the only creature that 1 had to love, and
/ loved him very tenderly. I must men
ton this also, for it partly explains my
conduct that the idea of disobeying him
In anything had never presented itself
to me as a possibility. This night 1
found him with his lifelong friend, the
late Lord Talbot, and the present Lord,
my husband. l was a shy, shrinking
girl, without any knowledge of dress or
society, and very timid and embarrassed
III my manners. Then my father told
me that it was necessary for the good of
both houses that Richard and I should
marry, that Richard had consented, and
that L must meet few friends in our
private chapel at O'Clock in the morn
ing a week later. OF course these
hings were told me in very gentle
manner, and my dear father, with many
LOVING kisses, begged me as a last favor
to him to make no objection
And what did ord Richard eo-9,,