The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-01-22
SIDNEY Lorraine,
Or, Tho Counts Burden.
CHATTER I. CONTINUED.


the clear blue sky. The gentle stirring
of the acacia trees below, the soft scents
that the night air was bringing from
the roses and honey-suckle, seemed to
belong to some different world from the
one in which she had dreamed away the
afternoon hours. Perhaps it was Men
delssohn's dreamy music, interpreted
by a master hand, that had somewhat
to do with the change. And when at
length he rose and came and stood by
her side he did not at once speak, and
to her no commonplace word OF thanks
seemed necessary.
ut is magic" he said, as round the
corner of the dark building opposite
came sudden stream Of moonlight,
that touched with silver the trees be-
low.
"Yes, it is magic" she answered. II
thought your playing had cOnjured it
up, and / feared to speak, lest it should
all vanish away. But now thatyOu have
spoken and the charm still works, let
Inc thank you"
For the music? All, that reminds
me Of home. When | am there, l al
ways play until am told to leave off.
Ny father is very fond of music"
"And what does home consist OFF" she
questioned. lie was standing in front
Of her, leaning against the window-sash,
and she looked up at him as she spoke.
The moonlight was touching her with
its weird light, and he paused moment
before answering.
Home consists of a father and five
sons" he said. Somehow a home wants
a woman to complete it. I always think
SO when am there, which is not often.
l am soldier"
"Ah" she stirred little, and satmore
upright. And then: "You have not a
siSterP she added, as if that were not
the first thing she had meant to say.
mo, have never had sister, and
my mother has been dead many years"
Eyes" she said, after pause, some
how home does seem to require q Wo-
man; yeti am not sure. 1t some
times seems to me that men say that,
when they wish to be pleasant to us and
give us share in their lives, but am
not sure that it is true. They do very well
without us--t is impossible to imagine
we are necessary to their happiness
though we may be to their comfort"
He looked at her amomentin silence,
in way he had which left her in doubt
as to whether he was trying to adjust
her sentence to his own mind before
answering, or whether it was merely
her English that had perplexed him,
and then said: "YOu are mistaken; a
man perhaps does not wish to be alone;
but he must not make mistake. For
then it is not only his own happiness
that is lost, but hers"
"And the woman?" she questioned
quickly, sitting little more upright:
rs it fair that she too should not waltz
But, perhaps" smiling, "her mistake
does not matter?"
"Not so much" he answered, and he
stillsspoke gravely. ut need not affect
any one but herself. 1t is only neceS-
sary that she should adjust her life to
her mistake.
She rose to her feet with so sudden a
movement, that the feather fan which
had laid under her idly clasped hands
fell to the ground un4oticed.
II argue no more" She cried impetu-
ously, IF the woman's happiness is not
worth considering"
"How unfair" he answered, smiling
little at her vehemence, when it was l
who said that the woman's happiness
was of necessity dependent on the man,
and that for that reason the man"
"And the MANS" she interrupted, is
dependent on the womanl 1t seems to
me we have talked in a circle, and ar
rived exactly where we began-namely,
that men can do very well without u.s."
"You are too quick" he said. 81 can
not keep up with you, but | think you
know where we were agreed all the
same"
ut is the English" she answered,
evasively; "if we were both speaking
our own language, we should understand
one another better"
Perhaps"
"Here is father" she went on, turning
toward where Mr.. Lorraine had appear
ed on the threshold between the two
doors. She went few steps toward
him, and took his hand in hers, the lit
tie mutinOus expression fading as she
looked at him, her eyes growing soft
and sweet.
"You are just in time, father; Count
Lindenheim and went on arguing I'M
til we were at the verge of quarreling-
at least l was"
"And what was the point of differ
enceg"
"Woman,. down-trodden woman.
was defending her, and insisting on her
mot her rights, sydney-her privi-
II do not like them accorded as privi-
legeS; still, | am not proud"
"And you would rather not do with
out themp Well, ring for lights, and
fetch the chess-board. Home, Sydney"
he went on, should be court, ruled
by king and queen, and then there
would arise no question as to which
were rights and which were privileges"
mo, father" she retOrted; "home
should be a court where there is only
queen-and prime minister"
81 dare say that would insure peace"
"Well, at least it has done so in our
case"
Mr.. Lorraine had seated himself in a
low armchair, and having so spoken,
Sydney leant over the back, and lightly
kissed his gray head. Then lifting her
smiling eyes to the tall, fair man. who
stood watching her, Poor father" she
said gently, he has never even found
out that rule him."
"But it is all for my own good, child,
is it not2 That is why l don't COM
plain. Now go and sing Yesterday;' l
am waiting to hear il"
"Ah, you should not have gone to
write, father" she said, her voice losing
its light tones, and growing quick and
earnest, "and then you would have
heard Count Lindenheim play. Such
musicl"-clasping her hands together
cit was fairylandn