Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-25

was reooivtng. was that he must keep her
here until her lover came.
So he shook his head. and directed her
with 1 decisive gesture to cit down.
he. shortly. You shall have tea herewith
PART II.
He saw that her face blanched. "An
right" she said. after q moments pause.
TIN go and tell Mrs. Jock"
mo-" said her husband, quietly, as he
again signed her to sit down. There's
no need can tell her from the door,
"But she 10 deafr' objected Lady Auch-
lean, who seemed to be growing suspicious
In her turn.
| Sir Alexander, for all answer shut him
self outside the cottage. but kept close
to the door. Jock was there, looking more
wooden than ever.
Jock. you id rascalr' called Sir Alex
ander, in a low voice.
Jock came forward obediently, without
moving a muscle Of his face.
III you interfere, or II your wife inter-
feres to warn or to stop any one 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 cottage, and
| stay there Till I call YOU"
"Oh. aye, SIR" said Jock: and he turned
and disappeared Into his own dwelling like
| clockwork figure.
where he found his wife looking more dead
than alive. Although she was sitting in
the chair in which he had left her, he
guessed that she had been trying the in
ner door Of the room. This was, however,
kept locked, as he knew, except when the
house was in regular USE
He went over to the fireplace and stood
with one foot on the high brass fender. fur
tlVeiy watching her. She seemed to be
dazed, Ike q bird that one catches half
dead with fright in chimney, that lies in
rufhed heap in ones hand
He tried to talk to her about trivial mat
tiers, told her some small details of his jour-
ney, which she answered with feeble COM
| ments. He told her of his Ill success with
the show cattle. At that she smiled family
THAT must have gone near to breaking
your heart-or as near as anything can,"
said she, rather bitterly.
Her husband moved uneasily. Even in
| the anxiety from which he was suffering,
something Of self-reproach stung him.
Il thought" she went on. with little
more spirit, perhaps a little more hope.
that something had happened to upset
You. That was it, of course
Sir Alexander looked at her, and felt
more uncomfortable than ever. There was
some shadow Of an excuse for her bitter
ness, perhaps. She was really q very
pretty woman. and pretty women are vain.
and expect good deal of attention This
she had not had from him. certainly.
90 .na: you Wish to imply, Mary said he.
my shorthorns has power to disturb my
peace of mind. you are mistaken, wrong.
Anything which affected you, for instance.
would trouble me much more"
"Oh, but I don't think sol You could
find another wife tomorrow, you know, II
If anything were to happen to me. But
If you were to lose Durham the Third,
take you long time to find another ami
NAL you could be proud Of"
And do you think l am not proud of
your
"Oh, in a sort of way 1 suppose you are,
certainly. I look all right in those old
high-backed chairs. believe. and people
don't look less at the family jewels be-
cause they are on me-"
You are very bitter today. You have
never spoken to me like this before!'
What chance do 1 ever have Of talking
to you. at all? Not that 1 want to COM
plain,'' and her tone changed suddenly.
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 1t Is Of no use to grumble, be-
cause nothing ever comes out quite right
in this world"
She spoke in a subdued voice, but with
much bitterness. Her husband was star
ing at her newly opened eyes. and was on
the point Of making some reply, when Mrs.
Jock came in with the tea.
Lady Auchlean jumped up quickly and
seized the teapot. She was bent on hurry
-,
she was afraid the night would be a wet
one. and that she wanted to get home be-
fore the rain began.
'If you are afraid Of that" said her
husband, I'VE can send Jock for the car
ooh, no, don't do that We can make
haste ever this tea I shall enjoy the
walk
She kept glancing out through the win
dow, opposite to which she sat- Sir Alex
ander jumped up and drew the curtain.
1T looks cherries out there" he said
I'VE will shut out the prospect till we
have to face it of necessity"
And he sat down again.
Lady Auchlean, in whose blue eyes a
strange fire was burning, played with her
teaspoon, but said nothing. She was wait
ing, listening Both husband and wife were
constrained, silent, oppressed by the knowl-
edge of what was coming.
1t came.
There was a sharp rap at the door, and
Lady Auchlean sprang to her feet.
Then the door opened, and pushing away
the screen, handsome young fellow Of
five or six-and-twenty burst into the ROOM
He saw no one but the lady, and he came
straight toward her with an alacrity which
was damning indeed.
capt Tenterden! why, what has brought
you here? Alexander, isn't this an odd CO.
incidence?" cried Lady Auchlean, before he
could get across the room
The young man started stopped short
turned, saw Sir Alexander and held out his
hand reddening very much.
But the baronet, who was standing in an
attitude of great stiffness, did not respond
to the greeting.
"a very odd coincidence" said he, dryly
II should like few words with you, Capt
Tenterden."
And he strobe out of the cottage.
Capt. Tenterden would have fingered e
moment to ask an explanation from Lady
Auchlean. but she wiser than he, shook
her head and signed for him to follow at
once.
Outside the cottage, on the little table
land, with the mists of the mountains all
around them. the two men met Sir Alex
ander was dignified, abrupt and stern.
Answer me at once without nes," said
he. How often have you met my wife
here?"
Never before, on my honor. Ask the
people here?"
"And you arrived tonight? 1t was an ac-
cident, suppose" said Sir Alexander, with
cutting mockery.
Capt. Tenterden hesitated. In an instant