Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-04-10
room, and rang the bell for her maid.

1
the conversation ended of necessity.
For three weeks Lord BERTHE lived in q
state of gloom and uneasineSs, playing
the amateur detective, and playing il
with no results. He saw no more OF the
Jew; and as the conviction forced itself
upon him that the man had been told not
TO come, he grew more gloomy and more
! uneasy. For three whole weeks he said
no word to Lady BERTHE except in public;
and even then he sometimes fixed his eyes
upon her in truly melOdramatic man
ner. For a young man Of a cheerful dis
position this seemed strange; but he was
haunted by a conviction that Lady Ber
tie was much cleverer than himself, and
he was resolved not to be deceived by her
apparently light-hearted indifference to
his displeasure.
The breach gradually widened until it
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 accustom-
ed round of social duties, and was just as
gay and bright as ever; but she never
saw her husband, except when he offered
her his arm as matter of business. For
a little while this amused her rather; il
was like playing in French comedy to
have sulky, jealous husband, and to be
cOnsOled by hundred charming crea-
lures, all admirable specimens of the va
rious approved types of lady-killers. For
consolation 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 different order from
from that which had been hers three
weeks ago. Perhaps this sense of power
the consciousness that there was abund
ant 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 evening she sent message to her
husband, asking him to come to her
room. He came, and stood silently all
attention. As before, she was looking at
herself in the glass.
Good morning, Bertie," she said gayly
and turned from the mirror to look at
him. Don't you think this nonsense has
gone on long enough? l expect in the
next twenty-fOur hours to have at least
half dozen projects of elopement sub
mitted for my consideration. Now, the
Duke wouldn't like a scandal of that sort
would he?"
Probably not" answered Lord BERTHE,
dryly.
"Well, don't propose to run away just
nOw-that is, if you'll be reasonable The
present agreeable state of things has da
ted, | believe, from the day when
wouldn't tell you who the Jew was. Now
lam going to propose terms. If l take
you into my confidence, will YOU keep
what l tell you from every living soul. q
THAT depends" said Lord BERTHE eau
tiously.
"Then will not take you into my con.
fidence. Consider that nothing has been
said. We will go on as we were, and
things shall take their course"
but am awfully tired of it, May
Come, say what you have to say, and I'll
swear myself to secrecy"
"Absolute?"
Absolute
"The subject must never be mentioned
when my maid is in the room. l know
she talks"
Il won't forget"
81 won't forget"
NO member of the family is ever to
hear of it; l will kill you If you tell your
sister"
q have sworn"
"Ye es, know; but you must swear also
not to tease me or drop hints"
Il swear"
swell, the Jew is coming this morning
and you shall assist at the interview, if
you like Do you see this spot, pimple-
call it by any bad name you like?"
Il see it"
"Well, he is going to take it of"
Good heavensl May. you don't mean
to say you'd let that man touch you?"
I'D be touched by-by anything, rath-
er than have pimple on my face. But
he only does it with camel's hair brush
and some stuff that stings."
But this is ridiculous nonsense, my
dear May
"Not at all. He is supposed to under
stand all about the skin, and he has in
vented all sorts of lotions for clearing
the complexion. Half the women you
know employ him, assure you, Berthe;
but l don't want anybody to know I've
come to it yet"
But what the good of this absurd
secrecy? He'll go and tell all these wo
men"
Not he; he's too wise to Eisk his fees"
There's something in that, I've no
doubt. But l can hardly believe any
man calling himself a man can have such
trade"
"Well, he'll be here in two minutes;
YOU can stay and see for yourself that
have spoken the truth. Are you going to
apologize for the life you have led me
lately?"
Not exactly; but I'll tell you what.
MAY. elect myself your complexion
clearer for the future. Wen go yachting
to the Mediterranean this year; that1l
take away the spots, and you can throw
this brute over"
"Agreedr' cried Lady BERTHE, just as
knock came TO the door.
Lord BERTHE did not wish to assist at
the ceremony, and he hurried out of the
door as the Jew came in at the other.
But he came back later in the morning.
and went out with Lady BERTHE in her
carriage in the afternoon. Thew seemed
abSurdly contented with each o-her's so
ciety; and the many admirers of the
beautiful Lady BERTHE saw very soon that
what they had taken for a serious affair
was nothing more than lovers quarrel.
Lord BERTHE kept his word; he never
told" and he took Lady BERTHE to the
Mediterranean, where they spent sort
of second honeymoon. And at present
Lady BERTHE is independent of her Jewish
friends observation-disclosures World.
On ball dresses showers of single
blossoms now take the place of large
sprays and festoons of flowers, and these