The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-02
LII
DOWN IN BERKSHIRE.


Two years had passed. The honeymoon
had long since been forgotten, or remem-
bered only 10 be thought of as too many
vsDed moons recalled with wonder.
Yet they were happy as the world goes.
They had their little tifis, and Reggy had
more than ence been Jealous. but not OF the
Count fourier, her uncle" of course. The
ioea OF such an aosurdity bad never entered
the honest soul of Reggy Gardner. Mrs
Trenthsm brought him no money. Her first
husband had squandered il in gaming aud
speculation. keggy had plenty, aud he felt
proud to settle handsome sum on his wife,
and 10 allow her for pin money the income
OF Duchess. The will which be made in
her favor was worthy Of his naost generous
impulses.
'If We do have little Misunderstanding
now and then" he said to me, while we took
MONDAY rest in the stubbles at his princIy
place Gown in Berkshire, that's the common
lot. and it gives zest to the fun Of making
up"
He wouldn't for the world have acknowl.
edged that he was unhappy; and she had q
peculiar power over him which could charm
him into any mood he desired, il her occa-
sionel bursts OF ill-temper or indiscsetion OF
manner toward other men were thunder
clouds in his domestic life, her smiles were
summer, her acted affection were sunshine.
She knew that L saw through ii all. / visited
them rarely, and only after al for Reygy's
sake. They lived in a curious way, constant
ly travelling, coming IN town onlv Tor a
month in the season, and going to Berkshire
for the LIST OF September. Rsggy's mother
kept her own state in town.
Two mothers-in-law, she would say. could
not be expected 10 get on we'll together, and
Reggy's wife preferred to have her Own
mother with her. and so between the dear
old lady OF Mayfair and her son there hsd
grown up an arrangement which Mrs Gard
ner, junior promoted with insidious per-
sistence. Count fourier had latterly been
rare visitor at Reggy's, owing to misunder-
star dings with the head of the house; but ne
often wrote to his dear niece" and made
special jourr ey now and then to see her.
mo, dor know where the Count lives
or how" said Reggy one evening at the end
of our week 2 shooting when we were smok-
ing after dinner. "He is as you gay, rather
q mystery. Msrie's mother is Italian. you
know, on her fathers side, and the Count
belongs TO that branch of her family. at
Milan he is sn authority, | believe, in chem
ical science"
You don't like him, fear"
Like himP / hate him"
Mrs. Gardner entered the room on the
word
my dear, thought you had gone to bed"
said Reggy.
She had been listenir to our conversation.
II have come to smoke cigaret with you,
II you don't mind" was the answer.
Her suspicious had been confirmed (for
our conversation was a long one) that her
strange in hUence over her husband was in
danger of weakening; that his confidence in
her was on the wsne; that her hideous
secret whatever it was, might be oozing out.
By all means-delighted," said Reggy,
and she sat down by his side, q superb-l looking
won an, if you did not examine her face
critically for indications of feminine gentle
ness.
During my Acquaintance with her neither
she nor had ever alluded to the incident at
the Zoo. though she keew it was constantly
in ny mind. she had great penetrating
powers, and she was, like a woman, con-
SANITY on the watch. Reggy only So her
great blue eyes, her faultless, classical feat
ures, her wealth of hair, her tall, graceful
figure. 1.-the and sinuous as q serpent. From
the first he had been enamOred OF her beauty,
arc he was not in the habit of looking be-
hind the mask OF what are called perfect
features, nor did he understand that face
10 be truly beautiful must in some measure
reflect pure soul. One part of that con-
'versation which she overheard mot that
Reggy ever suspected. her of Hstening) re.
ferred to his will, about which | had made
an inquiry, since he had only lately
told me was one of his trustees. It is pos
sible she had misinterpreted something he
had said about altering it. / think of these
and other things now which, under other
circumstances, might have forgotten.