The Dickinson press., 1884-05-10
THE MAN ON The LEFT.

1.-The gentleman ON the left, Kate
do yon know him? He has looked fire.
quently toward you"
"Has he"
"Who is its"
II cannot tell. Ihave not see n him.
Suppose you look?"
"lprefer not. Tcame to see the play.
Is not Helen Fanchet superb? ?"
"So,so. I wish you would tell me who
that gentleman on the left is. I am
sure he knows you, and he is strikingly
handsome"
cat present the stage interests me.
Besides, ifman ore ruds enough to stare
at strangers there is no occasion for us
to initiate them"
"Your ladyship has no curiosity?"
"Not any;I- exhausted it sometime
ago."
Herladyship vas not telling the truth
she was intensely curious, but it pleased
her at the time to pipue the Honorable
Selma Dorset. The strange sympathy
that makes us instantly conscious of a
familiar glance, v G in crowded build
ing, had solicited her regard just as Sc
lima 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 move
mont in that direction.
The play finished in a tumult of APP
plause. Lady Kate Talbot forgot every-
thing in her excitement, and as she
stood up flushed and trembling. she in
a%dvcrtently turned toward the left. In
stantly she recognized a presence with
which she ought to have been familiar
enough.
The gentleman bowed with an extreme
respect. Lady Kate acknowledged the
courtesy i'll a manner too full of astonish-
ment to be altogether gracious, and the
elaborate politeness Of the recognition
was not softened by any glance imply
ing more tender intimacy than that of
mere acquaintance.
My lady was silent all theway home,
and for some reason Selma was not dis
posed to interrupt her roverie. It did
not seem to be an unpleasant one.
Hates face had o 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
had not been already married, and her
destiny apparently settled.
"Selina, when you 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 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 ofro-
nance, especially if connected with the
cold or 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 lady's 0 Lady Talbot
sat in a dream-like stiffness, looking in
to the bright blaze on the hearth. She
scracely 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! True golden" :.
eyes, it is beautiful. 1 know that,
of course"
cot what are you thinking so intent
ly?"
"Of the gentleman on our left to-
night"
7Ah, 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!w
ut 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"
II presume in the left wing of this
mansion. I noticed there are more
lights than usual in it tonight. His
apartments are there"
"Now, Kate, do tell me all, dear.
You know love q romantic love affair,
and I am sure this is one."
you were never more mistaken, Sc
lima. There is no love at all in the af-
fair. That is the secret of the whole
position. l thought 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 associate wrong with things they do
hot understand"
ITO be sure, dear. I suppose Lord
Richard and you have had little disa-
greement. Now if I could only do any,
thing toward reconciliation, I should
be so happy, you know"
mo, 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 fuor
years ago."
"But it is not four years since you
Just four years-yesterday."
"And my lord has been away"
"Three years, eight months and eigh-
teen days, so far as I know"
"Well, this is a most extraordinary
thing, and very, very sad, I must say"
ut might easily have been much sad
der. I am going to tell you the exact
truth, and I rely upon your honor and
discretion to keep the secret inviolable."
"My dear Kate, I would not name it
for the world"
Listen, then. One night, when 1 was
scarcely II years old, my father sent TO
me to his study. I had known for
months that he was dying. He was the
only creatura that 7 had To love and I