The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-22

than tie me to a man who doesn't want
a wife at all-who only wants his pr
pri-prize cows and-and sheep-and-
and pigs!"
Now, Sir Alexander was by no means
the statue the poor little lady believed
him to be. He had indeed figured In
q terrible romance, in which he, then
q young man of only two-and-twepty,
had been the victim of a designing end
heartless woman. IL was the scar from
that wound which made him close his
own heart, and say to himself that he
would never again let woman gain
an ascendancy over him.
The discovery that he in his turn had
made a victim through this act of sell
fish discretion moved him greatly. II
woke in him the echoes of old thoughts,
old feelings. 1t softened, il unnamed
him.
His wife was sobbing with her head
in the sofa-cushions. Suddenly she felt
herself in the grip of strong arm; q
hand was laid quite tenderiy on her
silky hair.
"Mary, will you Try and forgive me,
II treat you better?" asked her hus.
band. in a shy voice.
She left off sobbing, and turned an
astonished, still fearful face toward
him.
Treat me-" whispered che, "as well
as the pigs?"
"Just as WE'LL" he whispered, with a
smile which had something new in it.
She sat up. She looked at him in.
quisitively.
wonder" said sue. at last, whether
this is only ruse 10 get me away quiet
ly? For you must have been shocked,
surprised, angry!"
$50 angry" answered Sir Alexander,
shat / can't trust myself to scold you.
might say words you would never for
get"
Lady Auchlean looked long and stead.
lily in his face. Then deep blush came
suddenly into her cheeks, and she slid
down to her knees beside him on the
floor.
"Oh, IL you only mean it-if you viii
only sometimes look at me like that,
speak to me like that-if you will only
n doll, to be dressed up to look pretty,
and TO be kept under glass case and
never-t-touched! Oh, il you'll only
do that you never need be afraid OF
my behaving badly; indeed, you need
not. I'm not wicked, really; I'm really,
really not. I've never done any wrong
TO you, and If l had thought you
wotld care. l never should have thought
of'-of-oh, oh, l am ashamed of my
rclf! | don't know what you must
rne in your hcartl"
"Wcll. I'll tell you," and Sir Alexan-
Ger raised her from the floor and seated
her on the sofa and sat down beside
her. ~ think you sillier than had
thought; but don't know that like
you the less on that account. see that
you can't be treated SO well as / be-
1ieved"
"Oh, don't say that"
"And so / shall have 10 look after
you more. / shall have to dance a.
tendance upon you, suppose, instead
of passing so much time at the farm.
j shall have, in short, TO he a more at
tentive husband IL want to keep my
wife"
"Oh. don't say that! don't, don't! If
you know how wicked you make me
feel! And IL can't understand II.
You've always seemed so cold! Are
you sure you won't be just the same
again when you get me home?"
well, you must take your chance of
that"
In spite OF his words, Lady Auchlean
did feel comfoytcd She did not vet
1--we her husband, but she was contrite,
humale, grateful for his forgiveness,
his forbearance, and thoroughly
ashamed of the escapade. which had
so nearly had fatally serious conse.
quences.
Sir Alexander went to the hut to
send Jock for carriage, as the weather
had changed for the worse, and the
Scotch mist had given place TO heavy
rain. There was shrewd look in the
old mans eyes, and even Mrs. Jock
glanced at him with furtive interest.
He felt sure that the pair had seen and
heard something of the recent occur
rcnces.
Jock, you rascal" said Sir Alexan-
der, as he followed the old man out of
the hut, you've been in somebody's
confidence lately, / suppose; not in
mine"
"Nae, sir" said Jock, stolidly, "rve
been in noebody's confidence but my
old woman's."
'But you knew that there was TO be
a meeting nt the cottage? IT'S of no
use 10 deny II, mani"
IL thocht there would be when saw
my lady come. 1t didna seem PROB
nb!e that she'd come 10 meet her bus
hand. since he's mnstly AVA"
She had been here before, then 2"
said sir Alexander, trying TO hide the
feet that be wss suspicious.