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

ed up just as woman's voice whispered at
the other side Of the screen this one word:
Harry"
And he recognized the voice as that of his
wife.
Startling, absolutely unexpected as this
incident was, Sir Alexander reaiiz I'd in a
moment what it meant, ard even knew, who
the person was she believed herself to be
addressing.
A certain handsome but fmpacun;ous
young solder, Capt Tenterden, to whom she
had scarcely been allowed to speak in her
rage, the tame cat of the household, de-
spised by the husband as a mere triher, and
apparently looked upon by the wife only as
a runner of errands, and fller-up Of gaps at
the dinner table.
In an instant the truth flashed upon Sir
Alexander, and at the same moment or
only a little later, the significance Of Jocks
enigmatic looks and words burst upon him.
Capt. Tenterden was his wife's lover, this
vas the guilty meeting place.
Even in the first moment Of the unspeak-
able horror, perhaps ,petrified by the awful
discovery, the baronet had the presence of
mind to remain quite still, quite silent
Then, as Lady Auchlean pushed forward
one leaf OF the screen, and came slowly
timidly forward in the darkness. he stepped
round the head Of the couch, and slipped
behind the screen at one end, as she came
round it at the other.
And as she had left the door open, he
open air.
Dusk was come. and the mist was thicker
than ever. Sir Alexander shivered and
staggered against the cottage wall.
Why had ne skunk out? Why mad he not
confronted her? Accused, COMPOUNDED her?
He did not himself know, he did not under
stand why he shrank from coming face to
face with this woman. his wife, whom he
had-well, yes, trusted, and who had dis
hoaored him in secret In spite of his trust
He only knew that an instrumental re-
pugnance to meeting her. to looking Upon
her face in the new, horrible circum stances
had gripped him and held him like a wise
But he struggled with himself, pulled him
self together, and rushed at the door of the
hut, which he pushed quickly open. Jock
seemed to have been waiting for him. He
stared at his master. By a great effort Sir
Alexander, while he could not dissemble the
pallor Of his face, managed to control his
voice.
Lady Auchlean has coma-is inside the
cottage" he said in perfectly dry, calm
manner. "Tell her am here, and will see
her as soon as 1 have made myself pre-
sentable"
Yes, SIR" said jock and he disappeared
like mechanical doll, leaving his master
In doubt whether he ought not to have flown
at the mans throat.
For ne knew Something-muSt know some
thing-had conniyed, perhaps
Sir Alexander, as the thought seized and
goaded him, dashed out of the hut and pre-
scented himself inside the cottage so quickly
message, and Lady Auchlea1 was still suf-
fering from the paroxysm of terror into
which 1t had thrown her.
Her husband, appearing suddenly before
her, was struck by her appearance, by her
startling beauty, as il she had been
stranger. She had lit the candles, two on
the table and two on the high. narrow shelf
over the fireplace, and in their Pickering
light the diamonds in her e&Ss sparkled, and
her blue eyes shone, and herfa hair dis
ordered by the wind, made sort of hazy
cloud about her head and face. She had
taken off her hat, which she held in her
hands, and had loosened the tweed jacket
she wearing.
And Sir Alexander, looking at his wife
with new and startled eyes, realized for the
first time that though there is many a wife
in the world who may be neglected his wife
was not the sort of woman to be neglected
long.
The question was how far had she gone?
Not Jealous of his wifes love, but of his
own honor, he trembled for the answer to
this question How many meetings had
there been in this lonely cottage among the
hills? One or two, perhaps-perhaps a
dozen. He must control himself, and pres
emily he would know all. The lover would
come and then the truth would be out, and
the guilty pair would be at his mercy
And then for the divorce court, Auchlean
VS.. tuchlean. Sir Alexander. in a sort Of
walking nightmare. saw 1t all before him
scandal. worry. disgrace.
Meanwhile, the hesitating manner in
which he stood. his silence, his inquiring
face, put ideas into her subtle feminine
brain.
''Why, Alexander, surely 1t isn't YOU?
Really you? 1 feel If 1t must be your
ghost! thought you were in Buckingham
shire?'
She laughed. perhaps rather Historically,
and came round the table, close to him. He
did not offer to touch her, though she smiled
invitingly up in his face. Jock, with his
eyes in front of him, had taken himself off
dumbly.
II was in Buckinghamshire this morning"
answered Sir Alexander, stiffiy. But I've
come back. as you see. And what-what
are you doing here?"
He tried to speak unsuspiciously not
wishing to spoil his later effect. She turned
to a Turkish mirror which hung on the wall
opposite to the window, and began to but-
ton up her coat.
81 came over for a walk; and I want To
ask Mrs. Jock to make me cup of tea Rrt
1 don't think I'll wait for that now it's
grown so dark" she added, putting on her
hat quickly, and then coming rapidly round
to the door. Aren't you coming with me ."
and she looked at him with a smile which
at any other time he would have thought
winning. TT isn't very often, you know
that get my husband for an escort"
Sir Alexander was taken aback Did she
mean to leproach him? or was this merely
impudence, the effrontery of q brazen wo
man?
He stammered as he tried to answer. He
was bewildered. did not know what to saw.
But he stood between her and the door and
did not move for her to pass out, The
thought which was in his mind, struggling
with certain new Impressions Of his wife