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

Auchlean, who seemed TO be growing
suspicious in her turn.
Sir Alexander, for all answer, shut
himself outside the cottage, but kept
close 10 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 muscle of his face.
"If you interfere, or II your wife in
terferes to warn or to stop anyone who
NAV be coming TO the cottage, I'll put
bullet through the pair O. ye. Get us
soms 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 he 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.
He went over to the fireplace and stood
with one foot on the high brass fender.
furtively watching her. She seemed to
be dazed, like a bird that one catches
half dead with fright in n chimney that
lies in a rufiled heap in ones hand.
He tried TO talk to her about trivial
.oll har onvr,a email "details of
mis- Journey, which she answered with
feeble 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 h;art--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
stung him.
'I thought" she went on, with lit
tie more spirit, perhaps 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
bitterness, perhaps. She was really a
very pretty woman, and pretty women
are vain, and expect a good deal of at
tention. This she had not had from him,
certainly.
"If you wish to imply, Mary" said he,
earnestly. "that nothing but what con-
Germ my short-horns has power TO dis
turb 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,
if-if anything were to happen TO me.
But il YOU were to lose Durham the
Third, why, you would be inconsolable.
1t would take you long time to find
opother animal you could be as proud
Of"
"And do you think ] am not proud OF
you2'
"Oh, in a sort of way suppose you
are, certainly. look all right in those
old high backed chairs, IL believe and peo-
pie don't look less at the family jewels
because they are on me-"
"You are very bitter to-day. You have
never spoken to me like this before!"
"Whar chance do ever have of talk
ing to YOU, at all? Not that l want to
complain" md her tone changed sud-
denly. "You can't help yourself, Of
course. We can none Of us help our
tcmpernment. We all have TO go on
just the best way we can. and IL is OF no
Use TO grumble. because nothing ever
come out quite right in this world"
She spoke in a subdued voice, but
with much bitterness. Her husband
was staring at her newly-opened eyes,
md was on the point of making some
reply, when Mrs. Jock came in with the
tea.
Lady Auchlean jumped up quickly.
md seized the teanot- She was bent
on hurrying through the proceeoings.
alleging that she was afraid the night
would be a wet one, and that she
wanted TO get home before the rain be-
gan.
"lf you are afraid of that" snid her
husband, I'VE can send Jock for the
carriage."
"Oh no, don't do that. We can make
haste over this tea. / shall enjoy the
walk"
She kept glancing out through the
windor', opposite to which she sat. Sir
Alexander jumped up and drew the
curtain.
1T looks cheerless out there" he said.
"We will shut out the prospect till we
have TO face il 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 waiting. listening. Both husband
and wife were constrained, silent, OPP
pressed by the knowledge of what was
coming
IL came.
There was sharp rap nt 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
s..s