The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-05

1t was nearly II, and Sir Allan had not yet
gone to bed. He had taken off his coat and put
on loose velvet Jacket, and was smoking a
cigarette In his wife's morning room. lie always
enjoyed being alone with her, always had some
thing particular to say to her, some scheme or
arrangement TO discuss. He never knew weari-
ness IN her society, and even tonight, tired as
he was, he was loath to go to bed without the
customary talk.
Since yesterday his mind had been full of the
Italian trip
And you are glad to go away with me9" he
said.
Very. very glad More glad than can say. y
I'm that case, you ought not to have waited
for the doctors orders. Directly you felt a
yearning for change of scene you ought to have
told me TO take you away"
Il could not be SO selfish, Allan, knowing how
fond you are of DarneL"
Il am fond of 40 place in which you are not
happy"
Il have been very ppy herewith you"
ayes, you have been-at first, perhaps. You
were happy here and SO was I-competely happy
in the beginning of new life. But you have
not been happy lately, Glare. There has been
something weighing on your mind, and l have a
shrewd suspicion that it is the polar atmosphere
of Darnel that has been freezing my darling's
tender heart"
ION, Allan, how can you think me so weak!
What other society can | want when l have
you!"
But Sir Allan had made up his mind upon the
subject.
Women are sensitive upon small matters, he
said Never mind, my dear We shall be Tar
away from the people who have sighted you next
week, beside the blue waters of the Medlterran-
can. The money is ready there in that cabinet
four hundred in circular notes, and we can have
plenty more when that is spent. Our Italian
tour will be like second honeymoon; and it
shall be a long honeymoon"
Tfa no ha toll
and pulled out drawer inside. 1t was an old
Italian cabinet in ebony and ivory, full of
curious little drawers and recesses. From one
of the drawers Sir Allan took out the bundle of
bank notes, and looked at them and fingered
them like child with a new toy, longing to be
off and away, scattering those notes at hotels
and in smart little shops of gay continental
watering places. He meant this journey with
his second wife to be of delight for them both
for her the delight of strange places and lovely
scenery; for him, the rapture of seeing her hap
piness. He had written to an old club house
chum to secure a good courier. Lady Darnel
would take her maid, and he his faithful old
valet Grace was young enough to shift tor
herself.
He put the notes back into the open drawer,
and took the revolvers from one of the recesses.
They were packed in neat little Russia, leather
case. He opened it and took out the pistols and
descanted upon their beauty.
''They are the prettiest things [ have seen for
an age, ;" he said.
II hope you may have no occasion to use them,
Allan answered his wife, averting her eyes with
a look of fear.
You don't like to see them in my hand!'
II have horror Of all firearms"
my dearest, | forgot" he cried, putting the
revolver which he had been examining back into
its case.
He felt angry with himself for talking of the
wretched thing, remembering that dark chapter
in Claras life in which gun had done such
dreadful work.
His cigarette was finished by this time. He
bent down to kiss his wife as she sat at the writ
ing table.
You will not stay up too late, dearl" he said.
mo, l have only couple of letters to write
one to the dear old vicar to tell him of our
change of plan. He was TO have come to us for
a week before Christmas, don't you know?'
"Of course. He must cone to US next May
instead"
He went to the bedroom which opened out of
this sactum of Lady Darnel's, and left mis- wife
ing lamp. There @sss.s so IRE in the Old
fashioned basket crate, such fire as we'll
trained servant always makes on % mild evening,
as if it were required to roast or, at least,
q baron of beef. On coming into the room Just
now Lady Darnel's first impulse had been to
open one of the windows They were French
easement windows opening on to a board wooden
balcony, which was always well furnished with
flowers, summer and winter. AT this season
tumn flowers, and the perfume foated into the
room on the cool night air.
Sir Allan left the pistol case open upon the cen
ter table, amongst alitter of magazines and news
papers. He had been too we'll waited on all his
life ever to have acquired the habit of putting
things away. He lett everything to be cared for
by that inferior race whose duty it is to follow in
the footsteps of grand seigneur, and to protect
his property from the consequences of his own
careessness.
har
looked up at the clock on the mantel piece. 1t
was five minutes past II. She could hear doors
being shut upon the ground floor; all the sounds
of household retiring for the night.
Il take an hour before midnight" she said
to herself, as she began her letter to the friend
of her childhood, that one trusted friend from
she had no secrets.
She had not been writing ten minutes when
the window which she had left ajar was slowly
pushed open, and man stepped noiSelessly into
the room. She heard no football on the velvet
pile, but went on writing, calm, beautiful in the
lamp light, an image Of domestic peace, the fire
light shining the dark folds of her satin gown.
For some moments she wrote on, while the man
stood watching her, holding his breath Then
she heard his breathing. short and quick, like a
dogs. She looked up in sudden fear, and saw a
TALL wasted ngure IN a WORKOUT velveteen coat
a haggard face looking down at her.
1t was her husbands face as she had seen it
many time after dissipated habits had ruined
MS HedlJL. III was ll6f son lace, dBeO by seven
years appren ticeship since she had last looked
upon those features 1t was the face of the man
whom Colonel Stukely and Grace had seen on
the common
valentine" she calculated in half whisper,
wringing her hands. How came you here
like thief in the nightp
''How else can | Gomez 1t is the only fashion
in which am allowed to enter my mothers
house"
sit is not my house 1t is Sir Adams house.
and you have right to enter it without his per-
mission. Oh, my God, what has come to
youl How have you fallen into this despica bic
state-after the sums of money that | have sent
yonF
Items and twenties dribbled out at odd times
and seasons" answered her son, sulkily. Money
given in that fashion never does a man much
good | wanted capital to start in a new line
| had all manner of golden opportunities, if you
would have helped me, as / wanted you to help
me, at the right moment But it was always the
same story. You feared to trust me with large
sums of money. You, Lady Darnel. mistress of
this house talked of We hundred nOunds as If II