The record-union., 1892-11-19


1 monplace, and not to be betrayed into
! leaving the beaten tracks, he judiciously
praised everything, criticising the plac-
ing OF the rout-seats as though 1t were
matter Of vital Importance.
You see," she said, looking up in his
face for the first time, Il have had some
little tables and just two chairs put about
under the trees for those who prefer to
| take their supper tete-a-tete. Isn't 1t con-
siderate of me? But, of course, all that
does not interest you-now."
"Of course not" he promptly replied,
carefully avoiding the glance OF those
! wltchlng blue eyes. Am l not an
old married man, and therefore set apart
| from all such vanitieS?'
"N GU a married mani 1t seems so
strange" she murmured softly. i could
not believe it when l first heard it,
There, do you hear? That is your
/ favorite waltz they are Just striking up,''
he Interrupted hastily. 'Shall we have
turn, or are you already engaged?" He
wanted to get back to the security of the
| house.
No" she said, and if she We're vexed
she dld not show it. She was a wise
woman, and knew that everything comes
! to those who can wait. 1t is the eager,
! impulsive creatures who want to snatch
things for themselves who come oil so
badly in this world. mo; | make it
rule no. to get engaged beforehand at
/ these little informal affairs; then you have
/ the charm OF uncertainty, instead Of ev-
erything cut and dried on a programme"
! Ihey were the most diStingulShed-lOOk-
ing and the most graceful couple in the
room. Their steps suited to perfection;
! AS, indeed, how should they not, cOnsid
erng how often they had hoated round
in each others arms to this same waltz.
Angela, waiting moment, little hot
and giddy, followed them with admiring
| eyes.
How well they dance together" She
said, turning her partner, who happened
to be Terence O'Bren. And what q
lovely woman Mrs. Borlase is ~
Yes, she is well enough" he replied,
rather shortly.
Don't you admire her?' she said,
| looking up in surprise at his tone. Il
have fallen quite in love with her, she
has been 50 kind to me-" Like most peo-
pie she found talking to Terry easy work;
he was young, and bright, and adapta-
BILE.
Kind to you, was she? Hm! The
Kindness of a cat, perhaps, who rubs
herself against you and purrs when she
wants you to move out of the way and
give her the Warmest corner by the fire."
And then, before she had time to recover
from her astOnisment, he had turned her
gently round among the dancers again.
When the waltz was half over Mrs.
loOlA AdSO SIODDGu SlluutulN. dlelLlDG
looked at her IN surprise, for he knew
that, as rule, she would go through the
| whole dance without, as the phrase is,
turning a hair"
at is TOO warm," she said; 81 am really
quite tired. Come outside and make me
| one OF those delicious American drinks.
! DO you remember that was always q
strong point Of yours? You have not for
gotten it, l hope?''
Seeing that there was no escape, he
| wisely resigned himself without muir
muir.
''She will have it," he thought, $50 bet
ter get it over" and he offered his arm
with an impassive face.
She sat down on Il wicker couch that
stood on the laWn-a souvenir from Ma
delra-and having handed her a little
tumbler, in which lump of ice bObbel
up and down in the yellow liquid, and
something else tloated on the top, he
seated himself beside her.
: ou have brought nothing for your
self" she said, as she nut the straw
dainty between her teeth and drank a
little.
Thank you, am not thirsty"
"And since when does a man only drink
when he is thirsty-in Kimberley, at
least?" she asked, with laugh.
at would be a very good thing for
Kimberley, if it We're So" he rejoned
emphatically. "Of course the good folks
who pirate about the folly of drinking
anything between meals don't know what
a dust-stOrm is. When one Is careering
round. and you feel as though you had
swallowed peck Of it, you must have
something to take the taste out OF your
mouth; but that is very different thing
from the 'nips' and splits that go on
| here all day long without any excuse" Ii
he could keep on in this moralizing vein
he might still be safe he thought
YES" she said, signing softly, lit is
not a nice place in many ways, | know
that only too well. But we have our liv-
ing to get, and here we must stop" AS
a matter Of fact no other existence would
have suited her half as we'll. THAT is
why" still more softly, Il have appre-
ciated your friendship so much-you are
so different from the other men here. |
amuse myself with them-but with
you" She fingered on the last word
letting her voice drop away, family, mu-
sically, without finishing the sentence.
Yes, we have been very good friends, =
he said in his most matter-of-fact tone,
land l hope we shall be so still' lie
smiled to himself at the ease with which
she had turned the conversation round.
Il am sure my wife would join me in
this wish were she here"
"Your Wite-yOur wife. Valentine: how
strange that word sounds from you-to
me!'
"Oh, it's come now. no mistake" he
thought desperately, but outwardly he
was perfectly calm and composed.
"N es, you know everything was done
in such a hurry, or l should certainly
have sent you and the Judge word. /
owe you an apology for my rudeness."
surely there need be no question of
apology from you to me, Vail | was
grieved, of course, that you did not make
a little difference between Inc and the
rest of the world-that was all. But, OF
course shall have to get accustomed to
that now. 1t is hard lines, though, [
won't deny it. When there is one man
who understands you, if no one else does
one man who can feel for you and SYM
pathize with you-and he goes and gets
married. it is little hard on the woman
who is left behind, is IL not, Nal?''
His breath came quicker. What soft,
cooling voice it was; and though he did
not look up, he could feel that long gaze
from the plaintive blue eyes.
Mrs. Borlase,' he began, steadying
himself after moment.
"Mrs. Borlase? 1t used to be Ida not
so along ago" she said.
"Yes, but you know all that must be
changed now. There are plenty of men.
of course, who think that marriage should
leave you almost, if not quite, as free as
you were before. l do not hold that opin-
ion. To my idea 1t brings with it sacred
duties and obligations, which," rever-
entity, please Heaven | will do my best
to fulfill.n
/ An ugly sneer disfgured the woman's
face tor moment, but he did not see it.
ut never seemed to strike you" she
said, that you might be taking me away
from these same duties and obligations
when you called for me so often to 90
riding or driving with you, or when YOU
used to sit with me in this garden for
hours at time"
He might have retorted that if he had