The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-01-31

ent Dunraven, even as he stood
there holding Lisbeth in a strong
embrace he had asked which of the
two ome 80 firmly linked to his
destiny he had injured the most, as
suredly he would have said it was
Lady Gertrude.
After a time their arms were
loosened and they went free of each
other into the house which Sir Gle.
ment had seldom entered during
Josh's lifetime.
The parlour then had been a cold,
hard room, strewn with ledgers and
pipes, and with nothing anywhere to
appeal to the artistic proclivities of
its occupants.
Lisbeth had changed it entirely.
1t was now a true beauty loving
woman's room. Not rich in price
less fabrics and rare porcelain gems
as was Lady Gertrude's library, but
pretty and bright and cosy, it's old.
fashioned attributes helping the
clever hands that knew how to drape
muslin, shape chintzes and arrange
the flowers with which garden and
meadow were then sc richly stocked.
Sir Clement felt thankful for the
transformation; it seemed easier to
talk to Lisbeth among those pleasant
surroundings than in the old dingy
den of which Josh would not have
a chair or ledger moved, and where
luxury loving Clement had always
felt that he was out of his element.
He sat down in an armchair she
had especially prepared for him, and
looked as much at home as though
he were master of the cottage. She
meanwhile placed herself on a foot
stool at his feet.
"Now tell me all the truth about
your life,' she said. care you
happy, is Lady Gertrude good to you,
are you good to her, or do you some
times wish your Beta was by youi
side?"
1t was a fearful ordeal through
which sh, was making him pass, and
his color came and went under hei
scrutiny az ii he had been a bashfu
girl.
II am getting all right" he sale
-vasively, "only we have made {
great mistake. AS for. happiness
that is a thing have ceased tt lool
for"
"NIy Clement, my poor, darling
Clement, what does this mean? VIII,
are you unhappy when you hav'
everything this world a give you
You surely r not grieving for me
| have made a great sacrifice for you
and l glory in it,"
"You have not got the remorse
the dread, the constant fear of dis
covery to carry about with you Al
have, Beta"
"My boy, you must not start a
straws. How can anyone know blu
you and l. Lady Gertrude surel.
does not suspect a~nything?"
81 do not know what she suspects
but she is fearfully changed"
Changed to you? She does no
love you as much as she did? Oh
Clement"
And the expression in L'sbeth'
eyes was more joy than sorrow a
the thought.
"Poor Gerty," he murmured
''perhaps she loves me too well, anC
is unhappy because for some reason
she doubts me-"
81 wonder why she doubts you
She cannot suspect you are caring
Tor me, for you have not seen M
until tonight since your marriag'
with her. Oh! Clement, tell me ar,
you very glad to see me again?
should wish | were dead and out o
you way if | did not think yol
loved me still.n
Had he not wished this more thai
once of late? Yet as he looked dow
into the u%pturned face of the woman
who had once been his sole idol an,
whose life he had SO completed
Nrecked, he felt that he could no
part from her, that she must live o.
to help him when he wanted help
to comfort him when he wante,
comfort.
He knew full well that if he sal
to her, "Gic, thatI may have peace,
= she would obey, as she had obeye,
about her marriage and her child
And, from what he had suffered q
, late, he knew full well that h
should be none the happier for beiu
haunted by the remembrance tina
he died tor him. So fixing, as usua
the selfish view OF another's feelings
he elected that Lisbeth should liv,
not because lie might be a happi
. ness and enjoyment to her or tha
it was wicked and forbidden that sh
= should deprive herself of it, br
) simply because ii she died his weisl
of would be increased In
stead of lessened.
This, at all events, was his presei
t view intensified by the delight b
, took in her superb beauty"
! Had he not seen her sitting thel
with her bright fresh coloring an