Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-02

her? A new and double Consciousness
came over her that for a moment prevented
her from meeting his honest eyes. She
felt the shame OF being an accomplish min
gled with a fierce Joy at the idea Of a climax
that might separate him from his wife for
ever.
Luckily he did not notice It, but with a
continued sense OF relief threw himself back
in his chair, and, g~lancing familiarity round
the walls. broke into his youthful laugh.
Lord! how | remember this room in the
old days. II was Kitty's own private sit
ting room, you know, and | used to think
1t looked just as fresh and pretty as she.
| used TO think her crayon drawing wonder
full. and still more wonderful that she should
have that unnecessary talent when 1t was
quite enough for her to be just Kitty.
You know, don't you, how you feel at these
times when you're quite happy in being in
ferior-' He stopped a moment with a
sudden recollection that Mrs. Horncastle's
marriage had been VIGOROUSLY unhappy. Il
mean.'' he went on with a shy little laugh
and an innocent attempt at gallantry which
the very directness Of his ample nature made
atrociously obvious. 81 mean what you have
made lots of young fellows feel. There
used to be a picture of Colonel Brigg on
the mantelpiece, in full uniform. and signed
by himself for Kitty and. Lord! how
jealous / was of 1t, for Kitty never took
presents from gentlemen. and nobody, even.
was allowed in here. though she helped her
father all over the hotel. She was awfully
strict In those days" he interpolated, with
a thoughtful look and a half sigh; but then
she wasn't married. l proposed to her in
this very room! Lord! l remember how
frightened l was" He stopped for an in
slant and then said with a certain timidity:
do you mind my telling you something
about it?"
Mrs. Holncastle was hardly prepared to
hear these ingenious domestic details, but
she smiled vaguely, although she could not
suppress a somewhat impatient movement
with her hands. Even Barker noticed it,
but to her surprise moved a little nearer to
her, and in a half-entreatingly way, said:
Il hope | don't bore you. but it's something
confidential. DO you know that she first
refused me?"
Mrs. Horncastle smiled. but could not re-
sist a slight toss Of her head. IL believe
they all do when they are sure of a man"
Nor said Barker, eagerly, you don't UNI
derstand. l proposed to her because l
thought | was rich. In a foolish moment |
thought | had discovered that some old
stocks | had had acquired a fabulous value.
She believed it, too, but because she thought
| was now a rich man and she only a poor
girl-a mere servant to her fathers guests
she refused me. Refused me because she
thought | might regret 1t in the future, be-
cause she would not have it said that she
had taken advantage of my proposal only
when | was rich enough to make It,"
WELL said Mrs. Horncastle. incredu-
lousy. looking straight before her, "and
then?"
I'm about an hour l discovered my error,
that my stocks were worthless; that | was
still a poor man. l thought it only honest
to return to her and tell her. even though
| had no hope. Then she pitied me and
cried and accepted me. l tell it to you as
her friend" He drew a little nearer and
quite fraternally laid his hand upon her
own. II know you won't betray me, though
you may think it wrong for me to have told
it; but | wanted you to know how good she
was and true"
For a moment Mrs. Horncastle was
amazed and discounted, although she saw,
with the inscrutable instinct of her sex, no
inconsistency between the Kitty of those
days and the Kitty now shamefully hiding
from her husband in the same hotel. No
doubt Kitty had some good reason for her
chivalrous act. But she could see the UNI
mistakable effect of that act upon the more
logically reasoning husband, and that it
might lead him to be more merciful to the
later wrong. And there was a keener
irony that his first movement of unconscious
kindness toward her was the outcome
of his affection for his undeserving wife.
You said just now she was more practical
than you" she said dryly. apart from this
evidence of it, what other reasons have you
pendence or her dealings in the stock mar
ket?' she added with a laugh.
NC" said Barker seriously, 'for / do not
think her quite practical there-indeed, I'm
al III she is ABOUT dS Dtu as 1 all. but ! III
glad you have spoken, for now l can talk
confdentially with you, and as you and she
are both in the same ventures, perhaps she
will feel less conjunction in hearing from
; you-as your own opinion-what l have to
tell you than if | spoke to her myself. | am
afraid she trusts implicitly to Van Loo's
judgment as her broker. | believe he is
strictly honorable, but the general opinion
of his business insight is not high. They
perhaps l ought to say behave been at
least so unlucky that they might have
learned prudence. The loss of $40, 900 in
three months"
Twenty thousand!' echoed Mrs. Horn
castle.
yes; why, you knew that; It was in the
mine you and she visited; or, perhaps" he
added hastily, as he flushed at his indiscre-
ton, she didn't tell you that"
But Mrs. Horncastle as hastily said, Eyes
-yes-of course, only l had forgotten the
amount" and he continued:
THAT loss would have frightened any man
but you women are more daring. Only Van
Loo ought to have withdrawn. Don't YOU
think so? OF course | couldn't say anything
to him without seeming to condemn my own
VIE; couldn't say anything to her because
it's her own money"
Il did not know that Mrs. Barker had any
money of her own" said Mrs. Horncastle.
well, | gave it to her" said Barker,
with sublime simplicity, land that would
make it all the worse for me to speak
about it,"
MIS. I1OIHCdStie was silent. a new theory
} flashed upon her which seemed to reconcile
all the previous nconsistencie of the sit
uation. Van Loo, under the guise of a lover,
was really possessing himself of Mrs. Bar
ker's money. This accounted for the risks
he was running in this escapade, which
were so incongruous to the rascal's nature.
He was calculating that the scandal of
an intrigue would relieve him of the perils
Of criminal defalcation. 1t was compatible
with Kitty's innocence, though it did no
relieve her vanity of the part it played in
this despicable comedy of passion. All tina
J Mrs. Horncastle thought of now was the
effect of its %eventful revelation upon the
man before her. OF course, he would over
! look his wife's trustfulness and business ig-
norance-it would seem so like his own I'M
selfish faith. That was the fault of all I'M
selfish goodness; it even took the color OF
adjacent evil, without altering the nature
Of either. Mrs. Horncastle set her teeth
tightly together, but her beautiful mouth
smiled upon Barker, though her eyes were
bent upon the tablecloth before her.
II shall do all | can to impress your views
upon her." she said at last, though ! fear
they will have little weight If given as my
own. And you o~yerrate my general influence
with her."
Her handsome head dropped in such a
thoughtful humility that Barker instinct
lively drew nearer to her. Besides she had
not lifted her dark lashes for some moments
a-l h. lal tha. tsl 90 fnIi Oh ~ InAly