Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-03-10
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49, BRAEME
CHAPTER XVIII.


her plans of reform, her schemes for the
benefit of others, that she had not given
much thought to her own position as
wife whose husband made no pretense OF
loving her. The knowledge of her real
status came to her now with keen
sense of intolerable pain, yet she would
have borne it's bitterness but for the fear
lest the brilliant, beautiful blonde should
become as wise as herself. That would
have been intolerable.
A trifing circumstance brought Hill
dred's jealousy to climax. The Earl was
going out in a great hurry one morning
when he found that the button of his
glove was hanging by thread. Lady
Hamilton. who was now engaged on some
kind of fancy work, with needle and SILK
In her hand, sat by. He went to her at
once.
Lady Hamilton, be kind to me-give
this one stitch She laughlEgly COM
piled: she would not let him remove the
glove.
"You need not take that trouble" she
said; 81 can do it as it is"
With a pale face and darkening eyes
the young Countess watched the little
scene. Why had he gone to her for this
small service? Why should she hold her
husbands hand and look with laughing
eyes into his face? She could not endure
it, She went up to them.
"I thank you, Lady Hamilton" she
said, 81 will do that for Lord Caraven.'
Lady Hamilton looked up in amaze
ment, but there was something in the
young Countess face which made her
yield at once. She drew back coldly.
"Lord Caraven asked me to do it, she
said.
'In all probability he had forgotten
that was here" she returned, in high,
clear voice.
The Earl, like prudent man, remained
quite silent He looked at his wife's face
as she bent over the glove, and he saw
something there that, shrewd as he was,
puzzled him. Why was she so pale?
What was it that shone and cleaned in
the dark eyes? Why did the proud lips
tremble? What was in her face? He
gazed in silent wonder. She had finished.
'"The button will not come off again"
she declared.
81 hope not" said Lady Hamilton, in a
peculiar tone of voice; ''and, if it does, do
not ask me to help you again, Lord Cara
ven"
He turned away with a laugh, but the
mischief was done; the sight Of her
guests golden head bending over her hus-
bands hand had famed the jealousy Of
the young wife into a fame-nor did
what followed extinguish it.
The Earl had laughed to himself, think
ing the occurrence pretty bit of by-play.
He was smiling still when, an hour after
ward, his wife met him.
"EIildred," he said in tone of gay
banter, "were you jealous of Lady Ham
ilton"
Then the idea seemed so absurd to him
that he laughed aloud. To his surprise
she grew deadly pale; her lips quivered
with emotion.
EYES," she replied, bitterly-'1 scorn to
speak falsely was jealous Of her. You
may think what you like of me-"
Still he would not be serious about it.
He said jestingly:
'T always thought until now that jeal-
ousy presupposed love-"
''Did your questioned his wife, with
proud indifference. II always thought
love presupposed perfect trust"
"You are good fencer, Hildred,"
laughed her husband; and he thought no
more of the matter. But she did. 1t had
wanted but that trifing incident to fan
her jealousy into n flame.
How the hours of that day passed she
never knew. One picture filled her mind
that of Lady Hamilton's golden head
bending over her husbands hand. She
could not bear the thought of it. He
might not love her, but he should not
love any one else. He should not laugh
because she was jealous, he should not
admire this fair woman while he so cruel
~ neglected her. She worked herself into
q frenzy of jealous despair, yet was out
wardly calm and proud as usual.
The dinner party at the castle on that
day was not a large one; many Of the
guests had left, Lord and Lady Damers
had returned home. Sir Raoul was in
his room. Lady Caraven had dressed
herself with unusual care and attention.
During dinner she watched her hus-
band and Lady Hamilton. More than
oEce she saw them laughing and heard
them talking merrily. Was it of her?
Was the Earl telling her that his wife
was jealous? And was she laughing be-
cause the very cream of the jest was that
her husband did not care for her?
For the convenience of one Of the
guests who was leaving they had dined
. little earlier than usual. When the
ladies reached the drawing-room the
room was filled with rudy light from the
sun setting in the western sky. It
would be cruel, they said, to spend such
warm, lovely evening indoors. The
gentlemen, thinking the same thing, had
hurried from their wine, saying that it
woald be pity to lose the last CLEAN of
sunlight.
But before they went out someone
prayed the Earl to sing one song.
Il will sing duet" he said, ST Lady
Hamilton will help me-
1t was useless, he thought, appealing to
his wife. The last time he had asked her
10 sing with him she had refused.
Lady Hamilton was only too pleased.
SAe went to the piano, and very soon the
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