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

HIM so completely That she n
asked no questions about his past.
1t was therefore a terrible shock to
him to discover that she fancied he
regretted his marriage.
He did not regret it; was not Lady
c. + rude the woman in the right
p ace, far more fitted to be chatelaine
# Aboyne Court than the lowly
Li,both? He could be perfectly
happy and contented with his lot if
fear and remorse, those twin
demonesses, would not obtrude
themselves so freely and render his
life one long agony.
And If Gertrude's voice were to be
mingled upbraidingly with these
c~easeless reminders, life would
become utterly unbearable. Hence
the sharp cry he uttered in answer
to her suspicious.
She knew at once that she had
wounded him and tears of sorrow
and repentance came into the eyes
that gazed into his.
"My Glenn, my beloved she said,
''forgive me 1t vas mere foolish
ness that made me speak 30. You
have spoilt me until | have grown
reckless of speech and tainted you
with what l know does not exist.
Forgive me-you will?"
Her arms were about his neck and
his head drawn down to her level, so
that she could imprint a loving kiss
on his lips, when the door opened
and the burly butler announced
"Mr. Pierce Vaughan"
Always. as usual, on the wrong
spot at the wrong moment, Pierce
Vaughan walked in with the stereo-
typed Mephistophelean smile which
usually irradiated his sinister cunt
enanc
The husband and wife sprang
asunder, both thoroughly annoyed.
To be caught spooning by Pierce
Vaughan was another drop added to
Clements cup of bitters, while Lady
Ger rude, who, owing to his assumed
air Of superiority, was always a little
bit afraid of Pierce writhed under
the conviction that he was laughing
at her for being a little fool.
50 he was, but for a very different
reason to any little Gertrude would
ever have guessed. He did not
appear to have noticed anything
unusual on his entrance and held out
his hand to the present owner OF
Aboyne Court with much apparent
cordiality.
Eve have not seen you for some
+ time Pierce" said Sir Clement a lit
5 tie drearily, "Where are you stay.
=, ila?"
} AT Lady Marcia Foljambe's. She
: the only individual about here who
ever invites me now Sir Louis is
dead.n
What a .reproach," cried Lady
Gertrude, ''unmerited too for we
have been away so much and are
scarcely settled here even now. OF
course you know you are as welcome
now as you We're in Sir Louis time,
Are you not Clements cousin"
She looked round at her husband
expecting him to endorse this almosr
gushing welcome, but she was dis
appointed by the very cool manner
in which he said,
every glad to see you, Pierce"
He would not have said it at all i
he had not been absolutely compelled
and no one knew this better Than
Pierce, although he smiled ant
showed his white teeth and to al
2 outward appearance accepted in al
good faith, the very general invita-
[ ton that had been given him.
For a few minutes they all three
talked cordially enough on topics o
interest in connection with thei
neighbors. Then, Lady Gertrud,
having rung for tea, Sir Clemen
r rose when it came in and said, no
being a ea-drinker, he would leav,
Pierce to her tender mercies as h
wished to give his bailiff some order
1 before the men left off work.
Had Sir Clement Dunraven been
man who thought seriously before h,
acted he would probably not hav,
been weighed by the heavy load o
trouble which now oppressed him
and very certainly it was not TN
least foolish thing he ever did whel
he left Pierce Vaughan alone will
Lady Gertrude, not that Pierce hac
any idea of making love to her
although he had protested himself tt
} be one of her suitors before her mar
riage. He was far too careful a MAJ
, to commit himself by a Irritation
r with another mans wife, but there
: are other ways of running conjuga
peace besides love making. He haC
had a long walk and was rather tireC
he remarked, and the lady havin,
} nothing to do but amuse and b,
amused, they settled themselve
down for a good chat about every
thing and everybody.
What Pierce Vaughan said, h,
would probably eve have said, i
the opportunity had not been as |