The Press., 1893-11-09
MY FRIENDS WIFE.

After all am going to marry Lucille. It is more than year since poor Rob- ethon died, and-perhaps am a donkey to do it at my time of life. but she is un- questionably charming woman. She made him happy, and-I am afraid am a fool. feel, however, as though owed it almost to his memory, and some thing to her too. Yes, there is no doubt owe her something in that line--and yet, good heavens, am not doing it on that account. I love her desperately, | down to the ground.
 "Dick," she said to me yesterday, look ing straight at me with her wonderful blue eyes-"Dick, why do you ask me l now?"
 Better late than never," I answered.
 She began, Five, six years ago you and stopped.
 "I know. 1 was q fool, Lucille. never once thought of it though. You see, the idea was foreign to me. never intended to marry" --.
 "And now?"
 "With your kind assistance l do in, tend to- .-..-. "Why?'
 Her question almost bowled me over, gazed at the carpet, wondering how could best put. it to her. Presently looked up, and as our eyes met blurted l out, Because love you. of course."
 did not mean to say that just then. The truth is that the idea of ''repara. tion" had got sole possession of my brain and how to express it graveled me. Lucille laughed lightly. That, Dick is second thought, and not bad one for 8 man who is offering himself as 8 husband. Still, I want your first
 II was thinking that, love apart. you have moral claim upon me-" A great wave of color rose and fell leaving her beautiful face pale as mar ble. "A claim-really? A moral claimi turn huckster. Dick, I will traffic only for gold"
 saw what she meant. Loves gifts l being no impoverishment of love, entail no indebtedness upon the recipient. Love is paid for it's gift in the giving. This thought, was counsel of perfection and better suited to angels and angelic | loves than to men and women in ar earthly, highly conventional and British society.
 And that is why you wish to marry mel" she added.
 felt that l was on thin ice. No darling, it is not. I love you. There's no harm in that, hopc?'
 "No, not bit. It is a very good req son. Genuine, Dick?"
 Quite, on my honor"
 1.-The honor of an English general more, of an English gentleman-mort still, of we'll tried friend-that is gooG enough for me. Here's my hand on it Dick"
 That was only yesterday. It seems 2( years ago. Poor Robethon-he knew little. do not think was to blame acted Loyalty enough by him. It was like this, you see. Robethon and were pretty close friends. I spent much o1 my time at my clubs, and at one or other of them I was always coming across Robethon. The taste for chess was mu tual and was the ground of our first ac quaintance. We were about the same age-heading fast for 50. He was short and stout; was long and lean. I had been all over the world, while hs had never been outside of England Sometimes I fancied he had never beer outside of London. If he had, he wa. careful to conceal the fact. We were both bachelors. His chambers were close to St. James street, mine to Piccadilly | We never visited each other though. H. was partner in we'll known firm oi bankers, but had not entered their place of business for 20 years. He had read { l world beyond me and was gentle, sym pathetic, clean souled gentleman.
 wish could say as much truthfully of myself; no false modesty should keel me from writing it down. Still Ro bethon cared for me, and am deuceG sure I cared for him. His reticence was characteristic of the man; it was like 2 suit of steel armor covering him from | head to foot Sometimes think it was fundamentally, shyness-not Of the ordi nary kind, of which there was not trace about him, but deep spiritual shyness On the other hand, it might have beer due to an austere selectness of spirit, { sensitive, delicate pride of soul. The clubmen held him in great esteem, in { manner were proud of him, considered him an authority on disputed points ot honor and the like and accepted hi judgment with docility and reverence.
 One day met a lady on Pail Mall tall, fair, straight as dart and with { face that fell on me like a vision. turned and watched her, and while SC doing she suddenly halted, turned around and came toward me. I stood still. IT passing she gave me a rnomentary glance Ha, she was very lovely!
 A month or six weeks later there was a reception at a certain foreign embassy and I happened to be present. It was not my kind of thing at all, but 1 chanced to be an old acquaintance of the embas sador in question. There was a big crowd, and dancing was in full swing Passing by the ballroom. stood for moment to watch the dancers. The first thing I saw was the lady of Pall Mall gloriously arrayed, waltzing with Ger. man.
 (Which one? Oh, that divine sym phOny or color there, en! InaC IS MfS Trenchard."
 And who is Mrs. TrenchardY' ''He shook his head. "She's widow that's all know She is in the swim wonder you haven't met her before. have, half dozen times; but l live ul to my principles. of which the first is Thou shalt not do-anything in thii widow line" .
 l left him grinning. could have kicked him without any remorse. From another man gleaned that Trenchard had been in the Indian political service and had died suddenly. In certain line. men are dolts and women creatures ol genius. A woman there. dear ole dowager, told me in five minutes all wanted to know. Her people were al lno1 cl, x-oc o 1o6v of 1,i,.fh and hrnn6