The Princeton union., 1891-10-15

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sprang up as if stung by wasp.
Well they might startle him, spoken
as they were in the silvery voice of
his own young wife, to a visitor so
lately arrived that he, Sir Geoffrey
Herrescombe, lord of the manor, had
not yet greeted him. He knew, how
ever, that he was Captain Frank
Halifax, a friend OF his wife's child
hood and youth, and also man Of
no slight reputation as charmer OF
the fair sex.
The very interesting conversation
Sir Geotfrey now had the pleasure OF
overhearing was carried on just the
other side of the heavy double cur
tains between his sanctum and the
drawing-room. The door was usually
closed, but had been inadvertently
LETT a jar. A velvet tete-a- tete on the
other side furnished seats for the two
whose words seemed now to carry
death to his love and happiness in
every syllable.
"More, if possible! Do you remem-
'ber-" Hero the hum Of general con-
yersation in the drawing room rend-
cred the gallant Captains next words
host.
''It was only after your marriage
that | realized how deep my love was.
When learned that it was returned I
sold out at once and came home, and
here l shall stay until" Once more
his voice was drowned by the others.
"'Sh! Frank! Let US not take all
the world into our confidence. There
is much to be planned and done be-
fore"
By this time the usually placid young
man on the other side was nearly
dancing with rage and wounded feel
ing. ..
How can she be so false? Only this
morning she assured me of her love
with her sweet violet eyes looking love-
lighted into mine! What acting!o
So saying, Sir Geoffrey flung himself
out OF the room, ordered his friest
horse saddled and took ride across
country that worked off the wrath
possessing him, leaving only a feeling
OF the deepest sadness.
When he returned his guests had
just separated, after lingering over the
tea-table, and were dressing for din
ner. He went directly to his own
dressing-room, where he was still
haunted by the sound OF those hate
full words ringing in his ears. Hemust
not let them suspect that he had
overheard them, and his face flushed
hotly at the remembrance OF the way
in which he had listened to words not
intended for his ears, but
When he descended to dinner his
face wore look of icy composure so
new to his wife that it struck a terri
BILE chill to the heart of Lady Alice.
Instantly, however, her pride rose to
the occasion, and the few words she
spoke to him were so studied and cool
as to confirm his suspicion that she
did not love him and never had.
10 her neighbor, Captain Halifax,
she was SO gay and charming and at
times SO confidential as to make the
evening one of torture to her husband.
And so shadow lay upon these two
young hearts, deepening as the hours
passed into dense, black cloud.
A week later Lady Alice came slow
~ downstairs, one warm forenoon,
her lovely eyes dark with sorrow, and
her whole bearing listless and defect
ed. Approaching the door of her hus-
bands "den,' she stepped in, know
Ing he was gone for a walk with loren
F'alrhave, a college friend who was
visiting them.
'He told me when he fitted up this
room that it was to be perfectly free
to me; that he would always be glad
to see my dear face in the doorway!
Why, oh, why should he change so?
He confines himself to simple civilities
when speaking to me- l cannot un-
derstand it, but he shall never, never,
never know how 1T hurts.
Chow warm and tired feel! think
L viii lie down few minutes can
go away when I hear him COM
ing" H..s
Thus thinking, she threw herself up.
on the lounge and sank into slumber,
her charming face showing, even in
sleep, the traces OF her mental dis
quiet.
Half an hour later she sprang to a
sitting posture, aroused by the sound
-of voices from the other side of the
pOfCleres. -. ->,1 ,E.t'..s5.
"Your wife is darling creature,
'Geoff! You're lucky dog!"
cam 1?'' was the laconic answer, in
q slightly satirical tone.
"Of course you do not need any in.
formation on that point, but Icould
not help speaking. She seemed to me.
even at my introduction, quite the
sweetest little lady Ihad ever met,
and she grows more lovely on nearer
acquaintance. wish could find an.
other just like her. You would soon
see me among the Benedicts-if she'd
have me''
"Say, old fellow, you and I have
been too close friends for me to mince
matters with you now My married
life is q dead failure!n