The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-01-17

Aboyne Court are radiant with per-
fume and the house too is filled with
sweet fragrance, for Lady Gertrude
worships beauty in all its forms, and
roses are her especial passion.
Curious old china bowls from
almost every known pottery manu-
facturory both in and out of Europe,
stand about in unexpected hooks and
corners and are filed everywhere
with the queen of flowers.
But in the library is the greatest
profusion. 1t is Lady Gertrude's
room, as it vas Sir Louis,
perhaps for the reason that it is the
sunniest in the house and from it;
French windows open on to a terrace,
beyond which lies the lawn and a
panorama of fertile scenery stretch
ing far away for miles.
The library is scarcely, however,
the staid, bookwormy room it was
before the old baronet died. With
new heirship have come new ways
and, Sir Clement processing himself
to be absolutely Indifferent as to
what changes are made, Lady
Gertrude has filed the room with
her woman's knick knocks, almost
to the obliteratiou Of the ponderous
tones which still hold their own on
the bookshelvps. 1t is in the library
that Lady & rtrude receives her
intimates for five O'Clock tea, the
drawing room being reserved for
gala days, Of which as yet there had
been m
Sir Clement is averse to any large
gathering, giving az an excuse, the
plea that it is too soon as yet after
his uncle's death tor them to invite
their ui,rds, except quite quietly.
In thl,, no one can gainsay him,
yet it is -caroe,y Clement Dunraven's
real motive for directing to society.
The TACT IS b." is q changed man
since his marriage, is p~erpetually
afraid ~,GsHt,ons, and the Intercourse
with ii, fellows in which he used to
delight, row ir2ltens him.
He sku.k, about the grounds for
the most pant alone, and is the very
shadow of the once genial Clement,
in spite OF liz jorrssion to wealth
and title and the fact of his being
the possessor ,E he most charming
little wife in all the country side.
Everyone notices the change, even
Lady Gertrude, so backward as u
rule to think there is aught amiss
with her Clement.
They are standing together at the
library window, looking out over
those broad acres which are all hi,
own. Her hand is on his shoulder
her pretty eyes are looking up into
his face.
"What ais you, Glenn darling, !
feel sure that You have some worry.
Why not contide'in your W Gerty?
You will never have a truer or more
sympathetic friend than your wife,
There is nothing the matter,
Gerry, | have told you a hundred
times. What a nuisance il is to ask
these foolish questions"
She shook her head and pretended
not to see the irritability of manner
by which these words were accom-
panied.
"You are deceiving me, you
naughty darling. If nothing is
worrying you, why are you not CHEEKY
and laughing as you used to be?"
81 suppose because | have respon'
sibilities now which | had not then
One cannot always be . boy, my
child. A good deal depends on m'
now which | had not to think of ;
few months ago, You forget that
am a staid Beuedi k.n
She turned from him with a pout.
"That is just it, you are sorry yor
married me, and you never cease
~regretting it,"
What could he say? How answer
this unexpected outburst? Was il
not the truth?
His auswer somewhat astonisheC
her, it seemed to come so really from
his heart,
"Gerty, never, never say tina
again. Unless YOU wish to make mt
horribly unhappy, never upbraid m'
by saying regret the day I married
you"
And yet, die he not regret it mor'
and more, each hour he lived? Az
regretted il the more ~inteusel,
because he was learning to love after
a fashion, this dainty, bewitchine
little Gertrude, who loved him SC
well.
She was not the passionate desire
of his heart, rs had been Lisbeth, mol
could he ever feel that ardent longing
for any other woman; still, he loved
sweet Gertrude. And by the strang,
anomalous c~rookedness of his nature
it was Lisbeth not Gertrude whom
he had of late begun to regard as the
intruder.
If the truth ever came out, h,
would lose Gertrude-there lay hi
fear.
He could trust Lisbeth, ay, to the