The record-union., 1892-11-05

be so, dear; have never given you occa-
sion for one moments anxiety. This
silly woman will go TO Kensington Gar
dens, and, finding that Mr.. Lyle has not
responded, will realize that she has made
a goose of herself and take boxes for the
future at some other theater. Therei let
US tear up the horrid thing, go in to lunch
and dismiss the whole affair from your
thoughts"
1he letter was destroyed; the Lyles did
proceed To lunch, but, unfortunately
Tor Mrs. Lyle's peace of mind, the incl
dent was not so easily dismissed from
her thoughts.
Scarcely day passed but the existence
OF these infatuated correspondents re-
CURED to her mind and troubled her pro-
foundly. The idea that any man, be-
cause he earned his living on the stage,
should be forthwith regarded as the COM
mon property of the smart femininty of
London was most abhorrent. Nor was
she quite reassured by the off-hand, mat
ter-oi-course way in which her husband
had treated the whole affair. She did not
aIlude to tho letters again, nor did she ask
a second time to look at his theatrical
correspondence. She believed in him
OF this fact she assured herself at least
nifty tunes day. She also we may add,
saw the fuullty of questioning him fur
ther-tor, assuming that he did pay at
N~-Ae-CA4 ~ LAiO lC~bCIS. II was SCdIC6lN
IIkely he would admit the impeachment;
the excuse being very venial sin COM
pared with the act itself. So she held her
peace and pondered much.
IN due course the Lyles returned to
London, and the "Piccadilly Theater''
reopened. For the first time since she
was married Mrs. Lyle saw her husband
leave home with a feeling of apprehen-
sion which certainly had never assailed
her h9tOFn- x1r}t i.b Ivy
intensified when she went herself TO see a
performance of the new play. For when
she looked round the house and saw, in
stalls and boxes, some of the most lovely
women i'll London, eXquisitely dressed,
covered with jewels, bright of eye and
soft of skin, she sadly reflected that il
Gerald was true in heart to his little wife
at home, he was indeed veritable ''Sir
Galabad."
BE was true to her-she said again and
again to herself-he was true; but oh,
what would she not give for some tangI-
bic proof of the unalterable fidelity he so
ardenuy avowed.
From little things spring very great
projects. And from constantly broodng
on the subject Mrs. Lyle bethought her
OF certain little stratagem whereby she
could at least dispel the unpleasant doub.s
which troubled her. She knew how
wrong and cruel this stIatagem would
be, in case her husband was Cas of course
ne was innocent, but still she had not
the courage 10 foregO putting him to the
test. She accordingly sent a note to Miss
Nelly Sebright, her bosom friend and
contidante, whom she intended to impress
as the necessary ally.
Miss Sebrlght came at once to Cromwell
Gardens, and the two ladies' forthwith be-
gan to discuss various subjects beloved of
woman; the true ideal of womankind,
and the bad time they have generally;
the uselessness of man in the bodily poll
tic, except as an adjunct to woman when
the latter wants something done: chow
Mrs. So-and-So can wear terra-cotta
downs with that complexion OF hers"
ana the like; and so, having deXterously
shifted the conversation to the unfair adj
vantages enjoyed by men-that is, at
least, nice-looking men-Alrs. Lyle
broached the subject nearer to her heart
by remarking casually, "By the way,
ELY, 1 suppose my husband is good
looking in a Way?"
Il should rather think so,'' replied
Miss Sebright, with what Mrs. Lyle
thought unnecessary warmth. He's ad-
mittedly the best-looking man on the
stage. Why, only last night, at Lady
Buckstone's, Miss Sadie Tilkins, the
great American heiress, admitted that she
was Just clean crushed on him. Crush.
=
our vulgar word mash, and SO [ thought
it only kind to tell her that Mr.. Lyle's
wife was one of my dearest frinds. Be-
IIeve me that poor young girl gave a sigh
you could have heard across the room,
Indeed, she told me afterward, in conf
dence, that she had intended to write to
him; but, being a girl of strict principles.
reared on two catechisms, she would re-
frain from corresponding with a married
man-sO you see the effect of good bring
ing up"
Il SUPPOSE" said Mrs. Lyle artlessly,
fGerald does get letters occasionally from
from such people?"
"Occasionally!'' cried Nelly. "Why,
he gets piles of them. Pilesr'
'Why do you think SOP" said Mrs.
Lyle sharply. Have you ever written
to an actor?"
mo, dear" replied Miss Sebright,
''but very often 1 should have liked to
have written. But there! you know Pm
not married, and that makes all the diff
ference" and she gave a little sigh as she
thought of the pitiful limitations of spin
sterhoOd.
But, of course, you know" said Mrs.
Lyle, "Dlr- Lyle would never think of
such letters.'
Miss SeDright simply said "Oh!' Now.
the purport of this interjection depends
entirely upon the infection of the speak
er's voice-and in this particular instance
it suggested a lalnentable lack of convic-
ton, and Jared acutely upon the ear of
her listener.
Mrs. Lyle sat looking in the fire for
few seconds, and then said with very
sprightly air which was a little forced.
DO you know, Nelly, have a notion.
Let US write to Gerald letter under an
assumed name, purpOrting to come from
an admirer, and-er-see what happens.
} ust for a joke, you know. OF course he
Will take no notice of it, and then we can
tell him."
Better not, my dear" said Nelly.
her head in way that spoke
volumes. Better not. Ignorance in
these little matters is not bliss, know,
but it works great deal better than the
wisdom which is proverbially akin to
follyp'
'Oh, you little cynic!'' said Mrs. Ivla.
THAT quite decides me. / will write
or, at least, you shall, because, of course,
he knows my writing, while l don't sup
pose he has ever seen yours. And it will
just prove to you how good and faithful
my Gerald isl
in vain did Miss Sebright implore her
friend not to be so foolish. In vain she
cited endless instances OF domestic trage-
dies brought about by the unreasonable
desire on the part of the lady to know too
much. But Mrs. Lyle was infexible.
and even threatened to appeal for assist
ance to some other girl-a prospect which
quite disarmed Miss Sebright. And so,
that she had been invited that
day with no other aim or object but to aid
and abet in this wicked conspiracy, she
laid aside her scruples and entered into
the plot with the utmost zest.
Mrs. Lyle ran up stairs, and having
extracted some interested stationery from
her travelling bag, she and Nelly sat down
and concocted the following letter, which
followed pretty closely the example of
polite correspondence which she had
already seen.