St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-09-07


''Has he?"
''Who is he?r
81 can't tell; have not seen him."
''Suppose you look"
81 prefer not; came to see the play. Is not
Helen Faucet superb!"
$50, so. / wish you would tell me who
that gentleman ON the leftis. am sure
til at he knows you, and he is strikingiy
handsome"
CAT present the stage interests me. Be
sides if men are rude enough to stare at
strangers there is no OCCASION for US to imi-
tate them.''
''Your ladyship has no curiosity"
''Not 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 Hon. Selma Dorset,
The strange sympathy that makes us in
tensely conscious of a familiar glance, even
IN a crowded building, had solicited her re-
gard just as Selma 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 movement
i'll that direction.
''The play finished in tumult Of applause.
Lady Kate Talbot forgot everything in her
excitement, and as she stood up, flushed and
trembling, she inadvertently turned toward
the left. Instantly she recognized pres
cnce with which she ought to have been ia
miliar enough.
The gentleman bowed with an extreme
respect. Lady Kate acknowledged the court
esy in a manner too full Of establishment TO
be altogether gracious, and the elaborate po-
likeness of the recognition was not softened
by any glance implying a more tender init
macy than that of a mere acquaintance.
My lady was silent all the way home, and
for sqme reason Selma was not disposed to
interrupt her reverie. Kate's face had a
bright flush on il, and her eyes held in them
a ight-a light that resembled what Selma
would have called hope and love, if my lady
had not been already married and her des-
tiny apparently settled.
Selma, when you have got rid of all that
lace aud satin, come to my ROOM have
something to say TO YOU"
Selma nodded pleasantly. She was sure it
concerned the gentleman on the left. She
had no love affair Of her own on hand or
heart at present and being neither literary
nor charitable, hcr time went heavily on
ward. A little bit of romance-nothing
wrong, of course, but just a little bit of ro-
nance, especially if connected with the cold
and proper Lady Talbot-would be of all
things the most interesting.
She was speedily unrobed, and with her
long black hair hanging loosely over her
csitn hp u's
room. Lady Talbot sat in dream-like still
ness, looking into the bright blaze on the
hearth. She scarcely stirred as Selma took
a large chair beside her, and scarcely smiled
when betlifted one Of her loosened curls and
said, '1What exquisite hair you have, Kate +!
truly golden
Eyes, it is beautiful. l know that of
course"
''Of what are you thinking so intently?"
''Of the gentleman on our left tonight -
s'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"
s'Katep'
SIT is true.',
81 thought he was in Africa or in Asia or
Europe, or somewhere at the end of the
world.''
''He is now in England, it seems. ] sup
pose he has just arrived. l have not seen
him before.''
''Where is he staying then:'
81 presume in the left wing of this man
sion. l notice there are more lights than
usual in it tonight. His apartments are
there,
Snow Kate do tell me all, dear You know
/ love romantic love affair and am sure
this is one"
'You were never more mistaken, Selma.
There is no love in all the affair. This is the
secret OF the whole position. | thought as
you were staying here this week, and might
probably meet or see my lord, it was better
20 make all clear to you, People are apt to
associate wrong with things they do not I'M
dcrstaud."
ITO be sure, dear, suppose Lord Richard
and you had little disagreement. ''Now,
if I could do anything toward rcconcilia-
ton Ishould be so happy you know
3.Np, Selma there has been no quarrel, and
You can do nothing at all between us. !
cont want you to cry. just be kind enough
70 ignore the whole circumstance. Lord
Richard and l understood each other nearly
four years ago"
But it is not four years since your mar
riage."
Just four years Yesterday
''And my lord has been away"
"Three years, eight months and eighteen
days so far rs ! know
''Wel, this is g most extraordinary thing
and very, very sad, must say"
1T might easily have been much sadder.
am going to tell you the exact truth, and !
rely upon your honor, and discretion to keen
tEe secret inviolate.''
my dear Kate, / would not name it fol
Tie world
Listen, then. One night when was
scarcely II years old, my father sent for me
to his study l had known for months that
ne was dying. lie was the only creature thai
had to love, and loved him very tendery
] must mention this Also for it partly ex
plains my conduct, that the idea of GiSobev
ing him in anything had never presented it
self to me as possibility. This night foun,
with him his lifelong friend, the late Lore
Talbot and the present lord my husband
l was a shy, shrinking girl, without an,
knowledge of dress or society, and yer,
timid and embarrassed in my manners. Their
my father told me it was necessary for tn,
good of both houses that Richard and SHOULD
marry. that Richard had consented and tina
/ must meet a few friends in our private
chapel at O'Clock in the morning, a weel
later. OF course these things were told m,
in very gentle manner, and my dear faith
er, with many loving kisses, begged me as
last favor to him to make no objection
And what did Lord Richard say!'
II glanced up at him. He stood near
window looking out over our fine old park
and when he felt my glance he colored deep
" and bowed. Lord Talbot said, rattle
angrily, Richard, Miss Esther waits for yoI
TO speak. Then Lord Richard turned towar
me and said something, but in such a lo'
L ~ IT, inn