The morning call., 1890-08-17

the case with Miss Grahame and her dead friend.
Each had known the other as one human Deing
very seldUm can know another, ana LnelI
love had grown with their knowledge Ihey
were curiously dissiinllar, and TO outsiders IL
seemed strangely one-sded friendship. hath.
crime Grahame was so far the stronger OF the
two, stronger in her love, 10 her mental power
in social position, in everything, that u was easy
TO see what she must be TO Mildred West. But
nobOdy but their two selVes-perhaps not even
NJ iIuTed herself thoroughly realized what the
steady tender love of that little gentle girl was
to the strong self-rellant woman, and Katherine
Grahame returned the love she received with in
teIest. A reserved woman with few ties and
fever affections, the whole intensity OF her
nature seemed 10 concentrate Itself In her deyo-
tion TO Mildred West. Ii was the passion OF her
life
Mildred had been on long visit TO some
friends when she first met Cation Leigh, and 1t
had so happened that during her Two months
engagement, her only trouble rose from tle TACT
that nsr friend was abroad with an lnValid aunt
and could only becOme acquainted with her
lance through her own glowing descriptions.
Miss Gfahanle did not return 10 London until Inc
night before the wedding, and when Mildred
proudly introduced to one another the two peO-
pie she loved best on earth, Gallon Leigh was
her husband. Mildred'S marriage seemed TO
make little difference IN their friendship. II Miss
Gfahame felt any Jealousy OF Gallon Leigh, u II
gave her any pain 10 KNOW that she had no longer
the first place in her darlng's h. art, she was too
strong a woman 10 let her feelings prejudice her
against the man who had superseded her. She
accepted him frankly as MILES husband-con'
sequentiy as her friend.
men, TWO years dIttI MIluleu
Leigh was found one morning dead IN her bed,
and In her own hand was an empty glass which
had contained The prussic acid which had Killed I
her.
Mildred Leigh had obviously committed sui
eide An awful thing-an incredible thing-her
friends and acquaiutanceS said. But facts must
be credited whether We Will or moi. Mildred
Leigh had committed suicide, aud the kndest
4 hing that could be said OF her-Sald In Wills
pet, plying whisper-was that she was mad
Nobody saw Miss Graname-no one, not even
TIL gIief-streken husband, might touch her ter
rible anguish, and when the sad story was dis
cussed, as II WAS whenever TWO or more OF thelr
mutual acQuaintauces CHANGED to meet, these
two were spoken OF with the same deep ply.
"Poor Gallon Leigh ~ people sad, poor hathe-
Tlne Grahame ~
pass OIL when people had brought themselves 10
accept the bare facts, The inevitable question
arose, why did sue do u?"
Perhaps there is nothing in social life more In
eUngTuOus, more terribly slgnlheaut than the
gossip which grows up round great tragedy,
until the original horror IS lost ID midst oil seu-
satonalism and excitement. The contrast be-
tween the aspect presented by the same thing 10
the few who are agoniZed by 1t is one which
should make US think Twice before We indignant
ly repudiate as We are apt TO DO the suggestion
Of The possible existence OF felow-leehng be-
tween ourselves and the cruel old Romans who
filled the Coliseum IN bygOne days. We do not
enjoy our lellOw-eIeatures' physical pain nova
days-we are mOrr reiined-bpt we ind the men
tai sufeIings which go TO make up tragedy $50
exciting"
Mildred Leigh's aeqUaintances found the dis
cussion of tile motives which must have inspired
her CHASTITY action quite inexhaustible, and grad
ually OFT of much talk II came 10 be generally
understood to be indeed an accepted fact, that
Mdreds married life had been far from happy.
Nobody had any reason for saying so; nobody
had thought OF such thing DeluTe her terrible
death; but IL was obvious that II she had been
appy she would not have committed suicide.
And through this uncontroverllble statement IL
was easy 10 reach the conclusion that when
such q woman as Mildred Leigh Is unhappy
in her married life her husband is certainly
TO blame. That the steps to this conclusion
were not so clear as might nave been wished
by a strictly judicial mind made no diiieT.
euce TO any one, There was nothing against Cal
ton Leigh, only one wanted TO meet him, no
one cared to ask him 10 his or her house, and he
was gradually being quietly and completely
ostTacized when katherine Grahame electrified
every one by coming suddenly and firmly to his
side, and quietly making it very. clearly under
stood that she at least was his friend. Ii was an
utterly unexpected move and PEOPLE found
themselves pausing Even those who had some
how produced the most detailed and authentic
histories of Gallon Leigl's misconduct felt them
selves slightly shaken. Miss Grahame had been
there so much-hliss Graname had been Mildred
Leigh's dear fiend-surey Miss Grahams must
have known II there had been-anything. Per
haps, after all they had been mislnf0rmed. III
his wifes most intimate friend was friendly with
him stIll, certainly 10 one else had any right 10
cut him. He must be asked 10 diDner-iust
quiet little Ginuer-Without delay.
And gradually IL came TO be usual thing that
when Cation Leigh was asked 10 dinner Miss
Grahame should be asked to meet HIM. A SEN
perceptible marks on those who have enjoyed it,
except perhaps an increased appetite for the
neXI, and peoples interest in Gallon Leigh aud
Miss GTanalne was beginning 10 nag, Wnen III
was suddenly revived by certain very Interesting
repOTts-reports which were conhl med by indl-
vidual observation. Nothing could be more suit
able and delightful, people said. They had SYM
pathiZed with aud eonsoed one another until
they had fallen IN love F! Very natural! A liIrle
soon perhaps for Cation Leigh 10 have forgotten
his wlfe-a little SOON for Katherine Grahame TO
have forgotten her friend, but-Very natural
There was no sound it, the perfect drawing
room but the quiet cracking of tie ire- Miss
Grahame's face was hidden In her arms now.
and The calm, sweet eyes In the picture looked
serenely down on her bowed, mOtioDless head.
She did not speak again, but in every line OF her
kneeling figure was love and sorrow unuttera-
bic.
She Knelt on until The sound OF the front door
bell startled her suddenly 10 her ieet. Slie
stood for a moment listening intently with her
breath coming quick aud short and her eyes
glowing with a strange deep light. Then she
drew the curtain once more over the picture,
and crossing to the fireplace sealed herself Just
as Gallon Leigh entered the Ioom
He gave quick glance round as he came In
and said eagerly: ''This is very nice. L WAS
afraid L might be too Soon"
She looked up at him with a smile, which made
her face wonderfully fascinating. She did not
hold out her hand, but as they had met so re-
Gently that perhaps was unnecessary.
TOO soOn?" she said.
Yes. l mean l was afraid you might not be
alone.'
beautiful shining eyes liked upon him. and as lie
looked upon her his own eyes seemed TO grow
deep aud wild with feeling lie could hardly con-
troll. lie whitened slightly, aud turning away
his face with an obvious effort, sat down near
her.
For few moments there was silence She sat
watching him with q strangely exrectant ex-
preston on her lace, aud he, though lie seemed
10 be always conscious OF her gaze, never looked
round at her. AT last she said, with another low
laugh:
a re 2p
He started as though lie had been shot, and
turned TO her sharply. rising TO his feet as he
did so.
ITO say!'' he began vaguely. ITO say"
Then he bl oke of ana stood looking at her as II
could never turn his eyes away again. She did
not turn her head from him. only her face was
deadly white, aud her eyes unDaturally dark and
bright she smiled that wonderful smile right
into his eyes again. Then, suddenly, Will low
hOarse cry, he fell on his knees beside her, anc
caught her hands in botn his own
q To sayi" he cried again. katherine! Kath
crime! you know what IL Is l must say. love
you. My life Is nothing to me without you! l
think OF you day and night; L long for youi j
hunger and starve for you, with every breath L
draw. katherine, come to me; come into my
life and satisfy me, my love. my love. cannot
live without you-come"
AS he touched her she turned as cold as death,
and strange him clOuded her eyes, but she
never turned her face from his burning passion
ate eyes. She had made no effort to resist him,
TO release herself from his touch, and as he
- Yes, will come" she said.
CHAPTER IL
Two months bad passed away and Miss Ora
bame was alone In her draWlng-ToOm evidently
expecting something or some one. 1t had been
one of those strange and terrible days when
London is enshrOuded In a weird and lneXbIic-
able dat kneSs. There had been no fog TO speak
of and YET 1t had been daTk-dark as night al
most. Over Miss Ordinances BEAUTIFUL house all
dgy the heavy shadow had broOded, the pretty
CHEEKY rooms had looked gloomy and mysterious
ana the servants had gone about with that de-
pressed, almost awe-sIuck manner, which is tile
IL a afs