The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-23

down. There is no need. | can tell
her from the door
Put she is deaf objected Lady
Auchlean, who seemed to he growing
suspicious in her turn.
Sir Alexander, for all answer, shut
himself outside the cottage. but kept
close to the door Jock was there, look
ing more wooden than ever.
Jock, you id rascal" called Sir
Alexander, in low voice.
Jock came forward obediently. with
out moving a muscle of the face.
IF you interfere. or if your wife in
tcrferes to warn or to stop anyone who
may be coming to the cottage. I'll put
Bullet through the pair o ye. Get us
some tea and then get back to your cot
tage. and stay there, till | call you"
'Oh, aye. sir" said Jock; and he
turned and disappeared into his own
dwelling like clockwork figure.
Sir Alexander reentered the cottage.
where ne found his wife looking more
dead than alive. Although she was sit
ting in the chair in which he had left
her, he guessed that she had been try
ing the inner door of the room. This
was. however, kept locked. as he knew.
except when the house was in regular
use.
lie went over to the fireplace and
stood with one foot ON the high brass
fender, furtively watching her. She
seemed to be dazed. like bird that
! one catches half dead with a fright in
~ chimney that lies in ruffled heap in
gnes hand.
t,,t. 80 1n1 n, o. l. .l.A 4
tters, told her some small details of
journey, which she answered with
1reble comments. He told her of his
i'll success with the show cattle. At
that she smiled family.
That must have gone near to break
Ing your heart--Or as near as anything
can" said she, rather bitterly
Her husband moved uneasily. Even
In the anxiety from which he was suf-
fering, something of self-reproach h
stung him.
II thought" she went on, with lit
tie more spirit. perhaps little more
hope, that something had happened to
upset YOU. That was il, of course
Sir Alexander looked at her. and fell
more uncomfortable than ever. There
was some shadow of an excuse for her
bitterness. perhaps. She was really a
very pretty woman. and pretty women
are vain, and except a good deal of at =
tention. This she had not had from
him, certainly.
eff you wish to imply, Mary" said he.
earnestly. that nothing but what con-
Germ my short horns has power to dis
t!irb my peace of mind. you are mistak-
en-. wrong. Anything which affected
YOU. for instance, would trouble me
much more
"Oh, but don't think so! You could
find another wife tomorrow, you know,
Tiff anything We're to happen to me.
But II you We're to lose Durham the
Third. why. YOU would be inconsolable
1t would take you "a long time to find
another animal you could be as proud
Of
And do you think I am not proud o.
you?"
''Oh. in a sort of way 7 suppose you
are, certainly. I look all right in those
old backed chairs. I believe. and
people don't look less at the family jew
els because they are on me-
''Youa very bitter today. You have
never spoken to me like this before.''
What chance do I ever have of talk
ing to you. at all? Not that | want to
complain" and her tone changed sud
denly. You can't help yourself. of
course. We can none of us help our
temperament. We all have to go on
just the best way we can. and it is of no