St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-07

you know him? He has looked frequently
toward you.'
HAS hep"
''Who is it?"
81 can't tell; have not seen him."
Suppose you look"
81 prefer not; came to see the play. Is
not Helen Fauce superb?"
$50. so. 1 wish you would tell me who
that gentleman on the left is. / am sure
that he knows you, and is strikingly band
some"
AT 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 intensely conscious OF a familiar glance
even in a crowded building. had solicited
her regard Just as Selma had advised her of
it. If she had not been asked to look to-
ward her left she would probably have done
so. AS il was, she resOlutely avoided any
movement in tnat direction.
The play finished in tumult of APP
plause. Lady Kate Talbot forgot every
thing in her excitement. and rs she stood
up. flushed and trembling. she inadvertently
turned toward the left Instantly she
recognized presence with which she ought
to have been familiar enough.
The gentleman bowed with an extreme
respect. Lady Kate acknowledged the
courtesy in a manner too full of astonish-
ment to be altogether gracious and the
elaborate pOllteness Of the recognition was
not softened by any glance implying more
tender intimacy than that of a mere &C
quaintance.
NV lady was silent all the way home and
for some reason Selma was not disposed to
interrupt her reverie. Katy's face had a
bright flush on II. and her eyes held in them
llght-a light that resembled what Selma
would have called hope and love, if my lady
had not been already married and her
destiny apparently settled.
Selma, when you have got rid of all
that lace and satin. come to my room;
have something to say to YOU"
Selma nodded pleasantly. She was sure il
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. her time went heavily on
ward. A little bit of romance-nOthing
wrong, Of course. but just a little bit of
romance, especially if connected with the
cold and proper Lady TalbOt-would be of
all the things the most interesting.
She was speedily unrobed, and, with her
long black hair hanging loosely over her
pretty dressing gown, she sought my ladys
room. Lady Talbot sat in a dream-like
stiffness. looking into the bright place on
the hearth. She scarcely stirred as Selma
took large chair beside her. and scarcely
smiled when she lifted one Of her loosened
eurls and said. What exquisite hair you
have. Kate! Truly golden"
Yes, it is beautiful. know that. OF
course"
''Of what are you thinking so intently?r
''Of the gentleman on our left tonight y
''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"
'Katew
lit 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 have not seer
him before"
Where is he staying then?"
81 presume in the left wing of thi:
mansion. / notice there are more lights
than usual in it tonight. His apartment
are there"
''NOw. Kate, do tell me all. dear. YoI
know l love romantic love affair, and
am sure this IS one"
''You were never more mistaken, Selma.
There Is no love at all in the affair. Thi.
Is the secret OF the whole position. I though
as you were staying here this week, ant
might probably meet or see my lord. it wa
better to make all clear to you. People ar,
so apt to associate wrong with things thel
do not understand"
ITO be sure, dear. / suppose Lord Rich
ard and you have had a little disagreement
Now, if could only do anything toward
reconciliation should be so happy, vol
know"
''No, Selma; there has been no quarrel
and you can do nothing at all between us
don't want you TO try: Just be kinl
enough tO ignore the whole circumstance
Lord Richard and understood each othe
nearly four years ago."
sBut 1t is not four years since your mar
riage?"
sJust four years yesterday"
And my lord has been away"
Three years. eight months and eighteel
days, so far as know"
We'll. this Is a most extraordinar
thing. and very. very sad. must say"
1T might easily have been much sadder