The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-04-04

to be deceived by her apparently
light hearted indifference to his dis
pleasure.
The breach gradually widened until
IL became evident to their intimate
friends that Lord and Lady BERTHE were
no longer on good terms. As to their
domestic life, it was shipwrecked, and
that very easily. Lady BERTHE went
through her accustomed round of So
cial duties, and was Just ms gay and
just as bright as ever but she never
saw her husband, except when he Of
fered her his arm as a matter of bust
ness. For little while this amused
her rather it was like playing in a
French comedy to have sulky, ieal-
Gus husband, and to be consoled by a
hundred charming creatures, all ad-
mirable specimens of the various APP
proved types OF lady-killers, for conso-
lation of this kind was offered on the
instant. Lady BERTHE recognized, with
a half angry and half triumphant
amusement, that the admiration offered
her to-day was of a different order
from that which had been hers three
weeks ago. Perhaps this sense of
power, the consciousness that there
was abundant mockery of love ready
to hand, helped her to understand the
value of the real love which the
world already believed her to have
lost.
One morning she sent a message to
her husband, asking him to come to
her room. He came, and stood silent
ly at attention. As before, she was
looking at herself in the glass.
"Good morning, Berthe" she said
gayly, and turned from the mirror to
look at him. ''Don't you think this
nonsense has gone on long enough ? !
expect in the next twenty-four hours TO
have at least half dozen projects of
elopement submitted for my considera
ton. Now the Duke wouldn't like a
scandal of that sort, would he g.
"Probably not" answered Lord Ber-
tie dryly.
"Well, don't propose to run away
just now-that is, it you'll be reason.
able. The present agreeable state OF
things has dated, / believe, from the
date when | wouldn't tell you who my
friend, the Jew, was. Now l am
going to propose terms If take you
into my confidence, will you keep
what l tell you from every living
soul p
"That depends" said Lord Bertie
cautiously.
"Then | will not take you into my
confidence. Consider that nothing has
been said. We will go on as We
were, and things shall take theil
course"
"But I'm awfully tired of it May
Come, say what you have to say, and
III swear myself to secrecy"
"Absolute p
"Absolute."
''The subject must never be men
toned when my maid is in the room
know she talks
II won't forget
"No member of the family is to ever
hear of it; I'll kill you if you tell your
sister,"
81 have sworn
"Yes, l know but you must swear
also not to tease me or drop hints"
81 swear"
"Well, the Jew is coming this morn
ing and you shall assist at the inter.
view, if you like Do you see this
spot, pimple-call it by any bad name
you like ?"
81 see it."
"Well, he is going to take it off
"Good heavens May, you DOM
mean to say you'd let that man touch
you ~
ard be touched by-by anything
rather thar have p!mple on my face
But he only does it with camsl's hail
brush and some stuff that stings."
"But this is Ridiculous nonsense, m,
dear May
"Not at all. He issupposed to under
stand all about the skin, and he has in
vented all sorts of lotions for clear
ing the complexion. Half the wome'
you know employ him, l assure you
BERTHE but l don't want anybody t.
know I've come TO it yet"
"But what's the good of this absur,
secrecy He'll go and tell all thes
women"
''Not he; he's far too wise to risk hi
fees.
'Theres something in that, I've n
doubt. But can hardly believe an
man calling himself man can hav
such trade"
"Well, he'll be here in two minutes
you can stay and see for yourself tina
| have spoken the truth. Are yo
' going to apologize TOR the life you'v
led me lately ~
"Not exactly but I'll tell you wha
May. l elect myself your complexion
' clearer for the future. Wen go yacht
ing to the Mediterranean this yea
That'll take away the spots, and yo
: can throw this brute over"
: "Agreed !" cried Lady BERTHE, jus
as knock came at the door.
Lord Berthe did not wish to assist 6
the ceremony, and he hurried out c
: one door as the Jew came in the othe
But he came later in the morning, an
went out with Lady BERTHE in her ca
: riage in the afternoon. They SCENE
, absurdly contented with each other
! society and the many admirers of Il
beautiful Lady BERTHE saw very SOC
, that what they had taken for seriol
, affair was nothing more than lover
quarrel.
"Lord BERTHE kept his word he new
"told, and he took Lady BERTHE to tt
, Mediterranean, where they spent so
of second honeymoon. And at prese
Lady BERTHE is Independent of her Je,
!, ;ah f.;,,Ji,