The Yale expositor., 1898-03-11

Roche, and her
husbands sudden entrance startled her.
It was a bright morning, and the sun
shone on her graceful head. She wore
pretty morning costume, dainty
white lace encircling the white throat
and arms. A mans heart might have
warmed to her with exceeding great
love-Lord Caraven did not; he never
even stopped to look at her, to make
any inquiries about her, or to speak
few words of kindly greeting.
Captain Fame dimes with us this
evening" he repeated, and then Hill
dred laid down her pen and looked
Into his face.
II do not like Captain Fame" she
eaid, quickly.
'Possibly-but then, you see, that
has nothing to do with the matter"
He spoke quite good humoredly, but
his wife saw a slight flush in his face.
Captain Fame, you may be surprised
to hear, was rude to me when l saw
him at Lady Redsley's ball"
Indeed! 1 have never heard any
thing against him of that kind. II
he really was rude, you must have an
noyed him."
II did nothing of the kind. Lord
Caraven," she replied, quietly.
What did he do or say?" he asked.
81 decline to tell. You evidently dis
believe what 1 say; but, IL Captain
Fame dimes here, shall not"
THAT is as you WISH" he replied.
81 mean it, Lord Caraven. If Cap
tain Fame dimes here, l shall not enter
the dining room"
"Then I must make an apology for
your absence, and say that you have a
headache" he replied.
II will give no orders for dinner for
Captain Fame" said Hildred.
az think you will, Lady Caraven; If
not, they will be given for you. Mind,
there is limit to my patience-you
must not often abuse it. 1t is plain
that you dislike Captain Fame because
l like him."
''No, it is not so, I assure you, Lord
Caraven. 1 was told not many days
since that Captain Fame was strongly
suspected of some unfair dealings at
cards, and would be requested to leave
your club"
81 do not believe it," he said,
abruptly. 1T is mere gossip-it is
not true"
at Is true, for the Duchess of Nor
ley told me. She said she would tell
me whom to know and whom not 10
know; among the latter was Captain
Fame"
at Is all nonsense" he said, but he
began to fear there might be some
thing in the story.
"You are at liberty to believe or to
disbelieve," returned his wife, haught-
lily. 81 will say no more-only that
l refuse distinctly to meet Captain
Fame"
The earl then quilted the room real
ly angry at last. He was naturally of
an even temper. He was perhaps too
indolent to be any other, but he was
really angry this time.
"a school girl like that to defy me
in my own house." he said-"it is
quite uncomfortable"
He rang for the housekeeper and
gave orders for recherche dinner.
"She shall see," he thought, that
those airs will not do with me-"
Hildred had gone to her room. She
would not permit the servants to know
that there was anything wrong. Her
only resource was to shut herself up
in her room and leave them to imagine
that she had bad headache. Shut
up there, she heard all that passed.
She heard Captain Fane's arrival, and
dinner being served. She heard the
sound of laughter-then came a ST.
lence, and she knew, just as though
she had been present, that the earl
and his guests were playing cards.
Captain Fame did not leave the house
until after two in the morning, and
then Hildred heard her husband go to
his own room.
She was deeply mortified. OF how
little use, OF how little value she was
in the house after all! She expressed
decided disapprobation OF a person.
and he was received with all honor.
She had said she would not enter the
room IL he were there; he came, and
she was compelled to remain away.
She had no influence-no command
she was merely a cipher. She walked
quickly up and down the room, her
beautiful face all flushed, her eyes
bright with anger, her fingers inter
laced.
IT cannot bear IL much longer" she
said. II am beginning to hate him
heaven help me-to hate himl What
shall dor"
That night no sleep, no rest came
TO her. She was thinking hour after
hour what she was to do. The pros
pect before her frightened her. She
saw no light in the dark clouds, no
hope. no help-the years stretched out
dark and dreary, and she wept the
silent hours away. She felt half ner-
rous on meeting her husband again !;
although there was no love, no af-