, 1884-02-15
SHE LOVES AND LIES.

OF the missing ship. with the marriage
license in Ernest's possession, they waited
dntil the day before tho ship-owner's liabilL
ties became due. Mrs. Callender's lawyer
and Mrs Callenders maid were the only per-
sons trusted with their secret Leaving the
chief clerk in charge OF the business with
every pecuniary demand on his employer
satisfied in full, the strangely married pair
quilted England.
They arranged to wait a few days in Paris
to receive any letters of Importance which
might have been addressed to Ernest in the
interval On the evening Of their arrival q
telegram from London was waiting at their
hotel. 1t announced that the missing ship had
passed up the Channel-undiscovered in a
fog, until she reached the Downs-on tho day
before Ernests liabilities fell due.
"Do you regret I'll" Mrs Lismore said to
her husband.
SNot for n momentI" he answered.
They decided on pursuing their journey as
far as Munich.
Mrs Iismore's taste for music was matched
by Ernest's tas o for painting. In his leisure
hours no cultivated the art, and delighted
in Il.
Ernest's days were passed in the galleries;
Mrs. LiSmore remaining at home, devoted to
her music, until 1t was time to go out with
her husband for n drive. Living together in
hiiliAJ OOnSOiuJ hho1 "eio LncleSs
not living happily. Without any visible
reason for the change, Mrs. Lismore's spirits
were depressed. On the occasion when
Ernest noticed 1t she made an effort to be
cheerful, which 1t distressed him to see.
But when two people are living together in
n state of artificial tranquility, it seems to be
a law of nature that the elements of disturb
ance are unseen, and that the outburst comes
inevitably with the lapse of time.
In ten days from the date of their arrival
at Munich the crisis came. Ernest returned
later than usual from the picture gallery,
and-for the first time in his wife's eIpert-
ence-shut himself up in his own room.
He appeared at the Inner hour with a
futile excuse. Mrs. Lismore waited until
the servant had withdrawn. "Now, Err
nest" she said ats time to tell me the
truth
Her manner when she said those few
words, took him by surprise. She was un-
questionably confused; and instead of look
ing at him, she trified with the fruit on her
plate. Embarrassed on his side, he could
only answer, II have nothing to tell"
"Were there many visitors 10 tho galleryF
abe asked.
about the Same rs usual"
1Any that you particularly noticed" she
went on. II mean among the ladies'"
He laughed uneasily. HYou forget how In
terested l am in the pictures" he said.
There was pause. She looked up at him
and suddenly looked way again. But he
saw 1t plainly; there were tears in her eyes.
do you mind turning down the gasf' she
said. any eyes nave been weak all day."
He complied with her request-the more
readily, having his own reasons for being
glad to escape tho glaring scrutiny of the
light.
~ think / will rest a little on the sofa" she
resumed. In the position which he occupied,
his back would have been now turned on her.
She stopped him when he tried to move his
chair. u would rather not look at you, Err
nest, +" she said, when you ave lost conf
dence in me-
Not the words, but the tone, touched all
that was generous and noble In his nature.
BE left his place, and knelt beside her-and
opened to her his whole heart
-Am / not unworthy OF your he asked,
when it was over.
She pressed his hand In silence.
NJ should be the most ungrateful wretch
living" he said, "if I did not think OF you,
aud you only, now that my confession is
made. We viii leave Munich to-morrow-
and, IL resolution can help me. l will only re-
member the sweetest woman my eyes ever
looked on as the creature OF a dream"
She hid her fnce on his breast and reminded
nlm OIL LnAI lelleT u ueT WElUluRt winch mad
decided the course OF their lives.
~When I thought you might meet the
happy woman in my lifetime, I said to you.
Tell me Of it-and 1 promise to tell her that
she has only to watt Time must pass,
Ernest, before 1t can DO needful to perform
my promise. But you might let me see her.
II you find her in the gallery tomorrow, you
might bring her here"
Mrs. Llsmore's request met with no re-
fusal. Ernest was only at a loss to know how
TO grant it.
"You tell me she is a copyist of pictures"
lis wife reminded him. "She will be inter-
ested in hearing of the portfolio of drawings
by the great French artists which I bought
for you in Paris. Ask her to come and see
them, and to tell you If she can make some
copies. And soy, II you like, that 1 shall be
glad to become acquainted with her.
he felt her heart beating fast on his
bosom. In the fear that she might lose all
control over herself be tried to relieve her by
speaking lightly. "What an invention yours
isl" he said. az my wife ever tries to do
hands"
him on the forehead-and said wildly, II
shall be better in bed" Before he could
move or speak, she had left him.
The next morning he knocked at the door
Of his wife's room, and asked how she had
passed the night.
AZ have slept badly" she answered, "and /
must beg you to excuse my absence at break
fast-time." She called him back as he was
about to withdraw. Remember" she said,
when you return from the gallery to-day /
expect that you will not return alone"
Three hours later he was at homo again
The young lady's services as a copyist were
at his disposal; she had returned with him to
look at the drawings.
The sitting room was empty when they en-
tered it He rang for his wife,s maid-and
was informed that Mrs. Lismore had gone
out Refusing TO believe the woman, he went
to his wife's apartments. She was not to be
found.
When he returned to tho sitting-room, the
young lady was not unnaturally offended.
He could make allowances for her being a
little out Of temper aI the slight that had
been put on her; but be was ineIpressibly
disconnected by the m~anner-almost the
coarse mAnner-in which she expressed her
self.
al have been talking to your wife's maid
while you have been away" she said. Il
find you have married In old lady for her
money. She is Jealous of me, OF ~coursefT
-Let me beg you to alter your OPINION he
answered "You are wronging my wife; she is
incapable of any such feeling as you attribute
to her."
Tho young lady laughed. any rate,
you are a good husband," she said, satiri-
cally. Suppose you own the truth
Wouldn't you like her better IL she was
young and pretty like met"
He was not merely surprised; he was dis
gusted Her beauty bad so completely fas-
cinated him when he first saw her that tho
idea of associating any want OF refinement
and good breeding with such a charming