Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-07

II will come at once. For this matter,
Alley" he continued, when the door was
closed again, 'let it rest for the present
where it is. I am aware / can depend
upon your"-he paused, seeking word
"your discretion. One thing is certain,
however. There is an end of the arrange
ment made yesterday. Probably the
Queen will send for Templetown. shall
see Lord Pilgrimstone tomorrow, but
probably that will be the end Of it."
Alley went away marveling at his cool
ness trying to retrace the short steps of
their conversation, and so to discern how
far the Minister had gone with him, and
where he had turned off upon resolution
of his own. He failed to see the clue,
however, and marveled still more as the
day went on and others succeeded it-days
of political crisis. Out of doors the world,
or that little jot of it which has its center
at Westminster was in confusion. The
newspapers, morning and evening, found
ready sale, and had no need of recourse to
murder panics or prurient discussions. The
Coalition scandal, the resignation of Min
listers, the sending for Lord This and Mr..
That, the certainty of dissolution, pro-
vided matters enough. In all this Alley
found nothing to wonder at. He had seen
it all before That which did cause him
surprise was the calm-the unnatural calm,
as it seemed to him-which prevailed in
the house in Carlton Terrace. For day
or two, indeed, there was much going to
and fro, much closeting and button-holing;
for rather longer the secretary read anx-
iety and apprehension in one countenance
Lady Betty's. But things settled down.
The knocker presently found peace-such
comparative peace as falls to knockers in
Carlton Terrace. Lady Betty's brow grew
clear as her eye found no reflection of its
anxiety in Mr.. Stafford's face In word,
the secretary failed to discern the faiHtest
sign of domestic trouble.
The late Minister indeed was taking
things with wonderful GOODNESS. Lord
Pilgrimstone had failed to taunt him,
and the triumph of old foes had failed to
goad him to last effort. Apparently it
had occurred to him that the country
might for a time exist without him. He
was standing aside with shade on his
face, and there were rumors that he would
take long holiday.
A week saw all these things happen.
And then, one day as Alley sat writing in
the library, Mr.. Stafford being out, Lady
Betty came into the room for something.
Rising to find erwhat she wanted, he was
holding the door open for her to pass out,
when she paused.
"Shut the door Mr.. Alley" she said,
pointing to it. 81 want to ask you ques-
ton"
"Pray do, Lady Betty" he answered.
at is this" she said, meeting his eyes
boldly, and brighter, more dainty little
creature than she looked then, had seldom
tempted man. "Mr Stafiord's resignation
had it anything, Mr.. Alley, to do with"
her face colored very little-"some-
thing that was in the Times this day
week ~
His own cheek colored violently enough.
off ever" he was saying to himself, 81
NEEDLE or mar between husband and wife
again, may L" But aloud he answered
quietl y, Something, perhaps" The ques-
ton was sudden. Her eyes were on his
face. He found it impossible to prevari-
cate. Something, perhaps" he said.
"My husband has never spoken to me
about it," she replied, breathing quickly.
He bowed, having no words adapted to
the situation. But he repeated his resolu-
ton las above) more furiously.
"He mas never appeared even aware Of
it." she persisted. care you sure that he
saw it ~
He wondered at her innocence or her
audacity. That such baby should do so
much mischief! The thought irritated
him. at was impossible that he should
not see it, Lady Betty" he said with a
touch of asperity. "Quite impossible"
"Ahr' she replied, with faint sigh.
"Well, he has never spoken to me about
it. And you think it really had some
thing to do with his resignation, Mr..
Atley?"
"Most certainly" he said. He was not
inclined to spare her this time.
She nodded thoughtfully, and then, with
quiet THANK you," went out.
"Well," muttered the secretary to him.
self when the door was fairly shut be-
hind her, "she is-upon my word, she is
fool And he"-appealing to the ink.
stand-"he has never said word to her
about it. He is new Don Quixotel a
second Job new Sir Isaac Newton!
| do not know what to call him p
1t was Sir Horace, however, who pre-,
cipitated the catastrophe. He happened
to come in about tea time that afternoon
before, in fact, my lady had an opportun
ity of seeing her husband. He found hel
alone and in a brown study-a thing mos
unusual with her, and portending some
thing. He watched her for time II
silence. seemed to draw courage from 9
still longer inspection Of his boots, anc
then said $50 the cart is clean over
Betty?"
She nodded.
"Driver much hurt ?"
'sDo you mean does Stafford mind it p
she replied impatiently.
He nodded.
"Well, 7 do not know. 1t is hard t.
say"
'Think SOP" he persisted.
"Good gracious, Horryp my lady re
torted, losing patience, 81 say do not know
and you say, Think sop If you want t.
learn so particularly ask him yourself
Here he isp
Mr.. Stafford had just entered the room
Perhaps she really wished to satisfy hersel
as to the state of his feelings. Perhaps sh
only ueSlreu Ill HeI IIltatioh W put NJ
cousin in corner. At any rate she COOL.
turned to her husband and said "Here
Horace wishing to know if you mind beinj
turned out much ?"
| Mr.. Stafford's face flushed little at tn
home thrust which no one else would hav
dared to deal him. But he showed no dis
pleasure. "Well, not so much as | SHOULD
have thought" he answered frankly, paus
ing to weigh lump of sugar, and, as
seemed, his feelings. "There are compensa
tons, you know"
"Pity all the same those terms came out,
grunted Sir Horace.
at was"
"Stafordw Lady Betty struck in on
sudden, speaking fast and eagerly, ''is
true, l want to ask you, is it true that tina
led you to resign?"
Naturally he was startled. and eve