The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-07-11

is better, and that it would be wicked
to take her away from a place that is
doing her good2"
Lady Marcia shook her head.
u am afraid you are deceiving
yourself, Clement. l, too was de-
ceived for a while; because l wished
Gertrude to be better, l thought that
she was 30. But I am forced to say
that think she is very i'll, and that
she has not even the strength to
wish to live."
"Wby have we not had n doctor
to see her2" he askel. "Watson
must be a fool; since he could not
cure her, let us try German"
"1f you will, but l doubt any med
icine doing her much good. Her
physical strength is 80 slender that
she cannot stand against trouble
that overshadows her llfe."
"You r always abiding to
trouble. What trouble has Gertrude
got, l should like to know. OF
course it was a sad aud unhappy
thing that the boy died, but she
ought to have got over that by this
time. 1t is absurd to imagine that
she is going to die because the baby
did not live. What trouble has she
got that is go hard l should like to
know. She has money, position,
loving kindness, everything a woman
can possibly want, and yet you and
Elvira are constantley prating about
trouble. What is it, l demand to
know?'
Sir Clement felt desperate, and
spoke desperately, almost taking
Lady Marcia's breath away by the
rush of his words, but she was not
easily repulsed when she had a fixed
purpose in her mind.
She answered him with an assur-
ance that staggered him, trembling
as he did under the weight of so
much secret knowledge.
'If you will make a clean breast
of it, and tell me what troubles you
have, then l shall be better able to
assign a reason for Gertie's state of
bealth."
"Nothing troubles me. How dare
you insinuate perpetually that I am
troubled" he answered testify, hav-
ing taken just n moment to recover
from the blow her words had given
him.
He was in an irritable mood that
day. OF late Sir Clements moods
had been very changeable; from
black despair to high spirits, to be
succeeded within an hour by an
irritability that was almost unbear-
able to those with whom he came in
contact was no unusual occurrence.
The latter phase vas in the ascen
dant now and Lady Marcia WAS moi
to be exempted from suffering by it
He wen on talking rapidly ant
almost in%coherently, with every
utterance increasing in Lady Marcia'f
mind the suspicion he was 30 anxious
TO allay.
"Why people get up theories ant
fancies about o her peoples affairs
puzzles me. | Eve interfere; yor
might have any worry you liked
Why can't you let a fellow alone2 Il
had an annoyance, which I have
not, you would only make matters
worse by worrying about it. 1t il
my belief it is all these illusions
which are making Gertie i'll. You
had bettor take her to England, and
and SOC if you care cure her without
me. / prefer to stay here. In my
present state of mind ! am only Al
to be alone"
Here was an avowal OF guilt Il
Lady Marcia had had any real sus.
picion that guilt existed. Her fxet
idea, however, was that he wal
going cut of his mind.
She broke in with a few sympath.
etc words, interrupting what she
considered his rhapsody.
"My dear Clement, pray do not be
annoyed by any remarks of ours
You know full well, my dear fellow
that both E,vira and | are mos
deeply interested in you and Ger.
trude; that we love you both very
dearly, and would do any thing il
our power to help you"
She held out her hand to him al
she spoke. Softened by her tone
he took it and pressed it warmly.
81 am a brute" ha muttered
"always saying and doing the wronf
things to those who love me best
I will be guided by you, Lady
Marcia-you shall decide what il
best for Gertrude and for me-"
/ "Well, l should certainly sa,
, what is best for Gertrude is to &C
home. She seems to crave for it
poor thing, SO very earnestly, and o
course, Clement, l think you ough
to accompany her. 1t is mos
3 absurd for you to talk of stayin,
here alone; Gertrude would b,
absolutely miserable without you"
t GAS | said before, / will be guidet
2 entirely by you. Gertrude's healtl
, and well being are my first consider
atoms in life."
n lNTL,,a ,,.l1 An - 49, -.