The morning call., 1891-09-26
EAVESDROPPERS BOTH.

tHeN were III the siNtly NulGt VI hto NNl'
young wife, to a visitor so lately arrived
that he, Sir Geoffrey Herrescombe, lord OF
the manor had not yet greeted him. He
knew, however that he was Captain FRANK
halifax. a friend OF his wile's childhood
and youth, and also man of no slight rep
u:ation as a charmer of the fair sex.
The very interesting conversation Sir
Godfrey now had the pleasure OF overhear-
Ing was carried on Just the other side of the
heavy double curtains between bis sanctum
and the drawing-roOm. The door was usually
closed, but had been inadvertently left ajar.
A velvet tete-a-tete on the other side fur
nished seats for the two whose words
seemed now to carry death to his love and
happiness in every syllable.
more, if possiblei Do you remem Der"
Here the hum Of general conversation in the
drawing-room rendered the gallant Cap
tEin's next words indistinct to the strained
ears Of his host
at was only after your marriage that
realized how deep my love was. When
learned that it was returned l sold out at
once and came home and here shall stay
until" Once more his voice was drow ned
by the others.
"'Sh! Frank Let US not take all the
TO be planned and done before"
By this tine the usually placid Young
man on The other side was nearly dancing
it'll rage and Wounded feeling.
How can she be so false? Only this
morning she assured me Of her love with
her sweet violet eyes looking lOYe-llghted
into minel What acting!
So SAYING, Sir Godfrey flung himself out
of the room, ordered his frest horse sad
1,T md lob rit1 fru a
worked of the wrath possessing lin, leaY-
ing only feeling Of the deepest sadness.
When be returned his guests mad Just
separated, after lingering over the tea-taOle
and we're dressing for dinner, lie went d.
Tectly To Ills own dTesSing-rOOm, where he
was still haunted by tie sound of those
hateful words ringing IN his ears. lie must
not let them suspect that be had overheard
them, and his face flushed holly at the re-
nembrance Of the way in which he had
listened to words not intended Tor his ears,
but
When he descended to dinner his face
v ore look Of icy cOmpoSure SO new to his
wife that il struck q terrible chill to the
heart of Lady Alice. Instantly, however
her pride rose to the occasion, aud the few
words she spoke to him we're SO studied and
cool as to confirm his suspicion that she dld
not love him and never had.
To her neighbor Captain Halifax, she
was so gay and charming and at times so
gUAuQelLlal rs 10 Ildkc TIE evening one OF
torture to her husband. And so shadow
lay upon these two young hearts, deepening
as The hours passed into dense, back
cloud.
4 week later Lady Alice came slowly
downstairs, one warm forenoon, her lovely
eyes dark with sorrow, and her whole bear
ing Iistless and detected. Approaching the
door OF her husbands den, she stepped
in, knowing he was gone for walk with
Loren Falrhaye, college friend Who was
visiting them
"He tod me when he fitted up this room
that it was 10 be PERFECTLY free to me; that
he would always be glad to see my dear face
III the doorway Why, oh. why should he
change 50? He confines himself to simple
ciYllties wien speaking to me- cannot
understand it, but he shall never, never,
never know how 1t hurts.
"hcw warm and tired ! fell | think /
vii lie down Tor few minutes. l can 60
away when | hear him coming"
Thus thinking, she threw herself upon
the lounge and soon sank into slumber, her
charming face showing, even in sleep, the
traces Of her mental dIsquiet.
Half an hour later she sprang to a sitting
posture, aroused by the sound of voices
FROM the other side OF the portieres.
Your wife is darling creature, GeOff!
'AmI?" was the laconIc answer, in a
slightly satiTCal tOue.
"Of course you do not need any informa-
ton on that point, but l coult not help
speaking. She seemed to me. even at my
introduction, quite the sW eetest little lady
had ever met, aud she grows more lovely
on nearer acquaintance. l wish | could
ind another just ike her You would soon
see me among the Benedlcts-if she'd have
meHI
''Say, ole fellow, you and have been too
close friends for me to mince matters with
you now. My married life is a dead fail
IreP
Then with rapid change TO his former
light conversational tone:
Now tel! me what became of Charlie
Gray? Did he ever marry that girl he was
so fond Ol-the pretty girl with dark eyes ?"
Much surprised, but with the innate good
breeding OF gentleman, Loren replied
No; she died. 1t nearly killed him, and
he went to India soon after He is doing
well, and will shortly become Colonel
For some time the ebb and flow Of college
Renaissance went on, while Lady Alice sat
stunned by those seven cruel words.
On that =! could del" was her first
thought. Life is uncomfortable"
She gave no heed to the conversation still
going on, the two young men seeming to
enjoy the exchange Of news of former friends
until MI Falrhaven exclaimed!
BY George! you were q sentimen tai chap
in those days, GeOtfreyl L remember the
day caught you telling Maud how you Low ed
her, and that nobody could ever take her
place in your heart Ishall never forget the
look OH your face when it dawned upon YOU
that l had listened to the whole rhapsody"
Joining in Loren's laugh, Sir Godfrey said :
I'VE all have our salad days, you know,
and l certainly was gone on her."
Lady Alice waited to near no more. She
FASTENED TO her room, aud there shed the
bitterest tears OF her llfe-that life which
mad been the happiest possible. but into
which would never come another happy day.
So, with the impetuUSity OF youthful despair.
she said in her heart.
The days which followed were full of such
suffering that Lady Alice felt almost re-
leYed when her husband told her one morI-
Ing that lie should start for Egypt with
she thought, to grow accustomed to her
burden, and learn to live without his love
during his absence. On his return she
could meet him with cool Indifference.
As for Sir Godfrey, knowing that the
honor OF his old name was safe in her
hands, he felt that any place remote from
the scene oil his misery would be preferable
to his home, where the sun Of love had set
in darkness.
On the morning set for his departure to
take place he had asked his wife to meet
MIN ID the den" that lie might explain to
her The financial arrangements he had
made Tor her during his trip. His few in
structlons mad been formally given, though
DIS heart was near bursting, and she had 10
bite her lips to force back the rebelous
tears
As he handed her a check-book for he,
use his eyes met hers; something in their
depths caused him to waver, and at that
moment lady and gentleman entered the
drawing-room, talking with all the egotism
Of newly engaged lovers.
The room was otherwise quite empty. as.
gayly conVersing, they traversed its length,
until they reached the cosy seat 50 near the
estranged husband and wife.
''0h. Frank, didn't it seem an eternity
before mamma would consent to our engage
ment? II it had not been for your Kind
friend, Lady Alice Herrescombe, l don't
believe she ever would have given in. But
suen sweetness as hers no one could wholly
resist"
Sir Godfrey, remOrseful love shining from
MS big brown eyes, gently drew his wife's
slight form closely TO him, holding her tC
his heart as if he would never let Ter 70
again. Lady Alice though still believing
lie had loved-and, perhaps, still loved
another, could not quite help letting hel
head lay on his shoulder, that dear resting
place.
Now she has quite persuaded mamms
that you are one of the most desirable vounp