The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-06-23

of an a-SaSSlnS KNIFE. tn tHt cOilifafN
She was at that eternal piano, playing a
dreamy sonata of Rubenstein's- On his
entering the room she half rose, but on
seeing who it was she resumed her seat,
e~xclaiming:
"0h, it's only you"
"Whom did you think it was? That
Guy Fawkes back again? Who, may
ask. Is he. and what was he here from
h~alf-East four till now for, to the exclu-
sion Of everybody elseg'
Geoffney was gradually working him.
self up into a passion. Florie made no at
tempt to calm him, but smiled family,
and struck a few aggravating chords on
the piano.
IF you really care TO know, that Guy
Fawkes,' as you are pleased TO call him, Is
Count Sparlatti, an old Dresded friend of
Joev's. He is an Italian, and when Joey
came back from Dresden the Count came
with him to learn English. He was al
ways at Mumblethorpe. All, me, IAN
other p~laintive chord what happy days
those were. And what fun we had The
Count was my sweetheart then"
why, you were only nine years OF
age"
That's all - lanother still more plain
tive chord
don't be a fool, Florie, :"
The passion had died out, and the lee
turing mood taken its place.
You are nineteen now, and quite old
enough to know that ii is not proper TO
have men STAYING three hours tae-d-tac
with YOU, and to tell the servants you are
not at home to any one else. Do you I'M
derstand?'
NO, don't -: the blue eyes opened
their widest. Il thought it was the
chic thing 10 do. OF course at Num-
blethorpe they would be awfully shocked
but then they are old-fashioned. They
even have family prayers. But since
have been married, / have gained expert
ence, 4 have. seen several charming
women Lady Angelica, for instance.
Could you wish me 10 take a better mod
el? Hence if any one notices my friend
ship with Count Sparlatti, you can tell
them that | knew him when he was
quite a boy-such a nice boy ! may
q become ~ charming that ! can
make love in public-smile in that nice
boys face, put my hand OF his arm for
him To clasp in his Only this sort of
thing requires practice, so you must not
think II strange if ! have Il few private re-
hearSals when | am not at nome to the
world at large"
GLOW dare Won speak like this ,"
"Oh, you don't know how much | dare
when | am put TO it."
But the defiant little laugh ended in a
sob, and the dauntless novice ran out of
the room.
GeofIrey gnawed his mustache, fumed
about the ROOM, resisted, as %unmanly, an
impulse 10 run after his wife, kiss away
her tears, and implore her to only .be
charming on the old Mumblethorpe lines,
and finally decided to confide his troub-
les that very evening to Lady An
gelica.
From that fair oracle he received but
very cold comfort.
NY dear GeOfi, it serves YOU right.
You thought because she had given you
all her heart. YOU were warranted in neg
lecting her. so like a man. Mr.. Lans-
dell was Just the same. Now she is o n
selling herself. Quite right. | had no idea
she had 80 much sense. ! admire her.
DO YOU think she would dine with me on
the fifteenth? BY the by, ifthe necessity
should arise, let me recommend YOU my
solicitors. They managed Mr.. Lansdells
and my affair beautifully. Ny husbands
messages sound almost affectionate when
they come 10 me through the senior
partner"
Heavens. Had it really come Il this 3?
Not married a year, and solicitors on the
tapis already? Lady Angelica gave a sly
glance under her eyelashes ut her down
cast companion. She had a heart, though
no n suspected it.
Look here, Geoff, he Il man. Go home
and tell your wife that YOU mean To turn
over a new leaf. and not take all her de-
votion for granted, but try and earn it.
Clear up the mystery of our mods and
becks and wreathed smiles. Explain to
her that the tender little episode at the
Foreign Office was only gratitude on your
part for my having promised 10 speak to
the Duke about that staff appointment in
your pocket. Tell her that she il better
off than /. If her husband has neg
lected her, he still loves her dearly,
while /"
God bless you, Angelica
Don't he silly. Now he off. Aha,
Comtei Enchante de vous voir. N'avez-
vous pas entendu dies nouvelles."
Godfrey walked home under the stars,
Il happy man. He had been a brute, and
Il fool, he told himself severely. 1t was
lucky things were no worse. After all, if
winning his wifc's heart the second time
was half ~ pleasant a process as the first,
the penance for past neglect was a light
one. II was striking twelve a. he let
himself into The dark hail. The darkness
was unusual for Squares always left the
gls burning for his wife To pVv on. His
match box was empty but there might
be a stray light in the pocket Of his In
verness. To the solemn ticking Of the
hall clock the search commenced. 1t
ended prcmaturely in the sndden open
ing of the drawing-room door and the
flooding Of the landing at the top of the
stairs with light. Some one was still NJ.
Might il not he Florie waiting for him?
Geotfrey walked quickly to the foot ofthe
stairs, but stopped with one foot on the
lowest step, a. if turned to stone. 1t was
Florie-and some one elsc-engaged in
rapid, breathless conversation.
Delay no longer-da;ma MIA. He
may be back at amy moment
oh, Luigi | dare not. If we should
meet him. he would kill YOU"
"Nieni, Nicni,"
Geoffrey steadied himself bv the banis-
ter and waited. Then, shown up bv the
surrounding darkness as a tablcau vivant.
there appeard on the landing his wife.
hooded and cloaked, looking fesrfully out