The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-10-18
Katherine Blount's love.
ny THE DU CHESS.

cold deneanor forbidden any attempts
at probing her hidden wound
About the end of January Sir Mark
and Lady Warrenne returned to the
Hall, which, by the baronets orders,
had been magnificently restored during
their absence, things having gone more
or less to decay. during all those years
that he had spent wandering In Italy
and elsewhere.
Mrs. Charters was delighted to find
her friend considerably changed for the
better. She had gained flesh, had
brought back brighter color In her
fair face. and would have been
quite the Katherine of old but for her
eyes. In them lay perpetually a weary
dissatisfied hopeless expression, that
told but too clearly how comfortless
was the heart within.
1t so happened that two weeks after
their return Sir Mark had occasion to
go to London for a day. Katherine, not
caring to accompany him, he went on
his short journey alone; and, as he was
strolling leisurely down Regent street
to execute some trifiing commission for
his wife, whom should he meet, face to
face, but Blackwood Craven, looking
changed and careworn beyond des-
cription.
The two men met with an expression
of cordially that on one side was by
no means genuine, although Sir Mark,
who was naturally of most kindly,
open-hearted disposition, was unfeign-
eddy glad to meet his old acquaintance
again.
Why. Craven he exclaimed, heart
lily who would have dreamed of seeing
you herel 4 heard from Blount that you
We're stationed somewhere in the
South
Il got few weeks leave" Blackwood
returned listlessly, "and having moth
ing better to do, thought would knock
about London bit and see some of my
old friends.
IN tell you what to do said Sir
Mark. Come down with me to the
Hall, and / will promise you as good
shooting as you ever had-you cannot
do better And my wife win be de.
lighted to see you; you and she were
always so intimate, you know"
His wifer' Blackwood's face paled
In the old manner. and he WINGED al
most percephbly "His wife!' .Glad
to see hint" Had she,s then, been dis
cussing his misery? Could she really be
so Indifferent to him as all that?'
Thank YOU he said, coldly, ''but l
don't fancy I can manage it,
"Ch. nonsenser' Warrenne broke in,
Hospitality. You can manage it easily
enough; so say Yes at once, and meet
ME at the down train this evening. and
We will take Katherine by surprise and
make her happy eeing you will re-
mind her of old times. Besides, the
change of air will do you all the good
in the world
Every word thus unconsciously utter
ed was stab to- the bleeding heart of
Blackwood Craven, and inWardly he
writhed under Sir Marks comments
with an agony beyond all physical pain.
Old times. old memories, tender by
gone scenes, rose up before him. only
to give place to the remembrance that
she was his no longer, but the happy
c0ntented wife OF this man who stood
waiting for his answer; and then wild
half-frantic desire to see her once more
lin her new home, in her character of
q married woman-took possession of
him, driving away all other wiser
thoughts and resolves.
s'Wen, thank YOU" he decided, sud-
denly; yes, l will come. You are
right; it will do me an infinite amount
of good to see all my favorite haunts
again; so you may expect to see me at
the station
That's right Sir Mark answered,
real pleasure shining in his handsome
blue eyes. as he contemplated Rather
ines establishment and delight. Good
by, then, for the present; and do not be
late, old man, whatever you do
So 1t came to pass that Blackwood
Craven actually Started that night to
spend some days under Katherine
Warreenne's roof. The weather was
bitterly cold, frost and snow lying heav-
lily upon the ground, as they drove
along to Warrenne. Hall. but he scarce
~ seemed to heed it; the whole jour.
ney appeared to him like some ex-
citing dream that would vanish pres
emily and leave him in his own quar-
tiers in London, far enough from the
Hall, and its inhabitants
8 1T was not until they drew up at the
Hall door, and Sir Mark advised him
to alight, unless he had a fancy for
being frozen to DEATH" that he fully
awoke to the reality of the situation.
Come along Sir Mark exclaimed,
eagerly, when the servant informed
him where her ladyship was to be
found. Come along" Craven; Barnet
will see to your gun-case."
At this juncture Blackwood's heart
began to fail him horribly. How would
she meet him? he asked himself. hur-
riedly. Would she faint2 Would she
show any agitation? Or would She
'Warrenne," he said, stopping short.
and endeayoring to speak with uncon-
Germ. "woul,l it not be better perhaps.
to tell Lady Warrenne that-that / am
Gomez"
oh, nonsense. manw returned Sir
Mark. with a half smile OF astonish-
ment, pausing to contemplate his COM
paniOn unsnspicuously. You do not
suppose she requires the news to be
broken to her, do yQu.-you, who were
almost brother? Come on"
80 after this, there being no help for
1t, Craven. with q slDothered groln.
followed his guide into small ele-
CANT apartment, where, at the farthest
end, sat husily embroidering the wom-
an he loved. Lady Warrenne did not
perceive him until she had returned
her husbands embrace when Sir
Mark, said pleasantly:
Katherine, have brought you your
oldest friend" and she, looking up GU
riously, gazed straight into Blackwood
Craven's eyes.
For a moment-for just one brief
moment Of agony-she thought she was
going to faint, to disgrace herself for
ever in her own and her husbands
opinion; and then she found herself
n1oyIna forward and saying something
commonplace to Blaokwood about his
being welcome, and Sc forth-what ex-
actly, she could never afterward re-
member. A cloud seemed gathering
round her, choking, sufsoolling her III
Its cold embrace. from beyond which
her husbands voice came to her, true
and loving rs ever:
"We are starving, my darling! Can
Brander give US something If I ring the
beliy
i will 60 and see myself" she said,
catching eagerly and gladly at the
chance thus afforded her of getting