The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-04-26

Row-was most amusing; but Kittie
Hamer Joined us, and it's horrid riding
three abreast-one has to shout so.
left them at the top of the Row and"
Leighton rides with you, does hep"
queried Lord Evesham, looking over
the top of his letters.
Yes, dear, almost always" And
then an utterly unaccountable, foolish
blush rose from the edge of her linen
collar to where the tendrils of her
tawny hair kissed her white brow, I'M
til throat and ears and cheeks were
alike bathed in the crimson tide.
Hum said his lordship, while Lady
Evesham, furious with herself at the
trick her unruly self-consciousness had
played with her, took refuge in her
breakfast. Silence reigned, broken
only by the faint tinkle of the silver
and china and by the rustic of Lord
Eveshams letters.
Suddenly he started, grew pale, then
red, looked from his wife to a slip of
paper in his hand, and back again.
What a strange coincidence.
Watch your wife" in typewriter
characters, stared from the paper be-
fore him; opposite was the downcast
face of his wife-the face which had
been but a moment back dyed with
guilty blush at the chance mention of
the name of mere acquaintance.
The next moment he gathered up his
letters and left the room. Lady Ewes
ham, too, sprang from her chair.
'Why was l such fool?" she cried
to herself in a tall mirror. What
made me do such a hateful. stupid, I'M
derbred thing as to blush like a
gawky schoolgirl - and at Rupert
Leighton's name, too "a man
who" She did not speak the
words that rose to her lips. Only the
faint coquettish smile-the smile of
woman who is beautiful, who is fiat
tered, who is beloved-dawned again in
the misty depths of her eyes.
And it was with that smile that she
welcomed Mr.. Leighton in her opera box
that night, and it was with the same
mysterious smile of triumph that, an
hour later, she floated round a ball
room in the arms of the man for whom
she had blushed so strangely in the
morning.
Before Lord Evesham'S eyes and in
his ears were ever the words: Watch
your wife" Ayounger man, one surer
of his hold upon a woman's heart,
would have shown her the shameful
thing. But he was afraid. He tried to
keep the burden OF doubt and disbe-
lief to himself; yet BeatriX Evesham
guessed at its existence, though she
knew neither its origin nor reason.
Only she felt that there was no love be-
hind his courtesy, no warmth in his
kindness, no faith in his generosity.
Watch your wife, Lord Evesham
watched, and Lady Evesham knew it.
One night, at Nottingham, her
wounded pride found vent Rupert
Leighton, as ever, was by her side as
she strolled to the rivers edge, and,
with the petulance of a spoilt child,
for the first time gave words to her
trouble. She was overweight, and for
few moments she spoke Historically,
incoherently, scarcely rocking that she
had listener. Then, with a little sob,
she dropped her head on her arms and
began TO cry, as an angry woman will.
Lady Evesham, what you tell me
shocks me terribly. Are you sure
Am sure? l am logged at every
hour of the day. am questioned about
my moments, then doubted to my face.
1t is most Shameful
1T is most cruel" said Leighton,
slowly. Pardon the question, but
have you given him any cause"
Mr.. Leighton. how dare YOU"
flashed from her through the cobalt
summer night.
He bowed humbiy before he spoke
again.
Then to what do you attribute this
change? Has any other woman
She shook her head.
Suddenly through the shadows
Rupert Leighton's hand stole to Bea-
trix Evesham's arm, and he drew her
so close to him that his breath famed
her hot checks.
Lady Evesham, 1 have an idea.
What if your husband is carrying on
an intrigue with a woman? What if
he fears discovery and subsequent pro-
ceedings and is even now making every
effort to trump up counter charge
against your
''Ah! Mr.. Leighton, how horrible,
how cruel to ruin one woman, and that
his wife, at the expense of another"
Whom he loves" whispered Leigh
ton. do you not see, can you not be-
lieve, that this is the truth-that he is
tired of you-that your youth and in
nocence and beauty are not enough
for him? All! Lady Evesham- Beatrix