The Eddy current., 1898-09-17

''' ''"'' "'e"Niul' Inc Countess Car
aven was a woman of stately lowell
ness Lady Hamilton OF falry.iikc
beauty.
Tho ball was a marvellous auccess.
Lord Damers. who had come 10 Raw
ensmere purposely for Il. said that he
had never seen anything like Il. ae
went up to the earl. who. looking very
handsome In his evening dress, was
watching the dancers
DO you know. Caraven." ne asked.
who Is the handsomest woman here7"
The earl looked round with a smile.
Amidst 80 many how can docideg"
THE decision does not require mlu-
ute's hesitation" said Lord Damefs.
Look round and you will see that
there Is no one to compare with your
wife. She is by far the most beautiful
woman have ever seen In my life"
The earl looked up wonderingly.
ia sho? DO you know that / have
never thought 80 much OF her appear
ance?"
Then you have been blind. Look at
her now"
Lord Carayen looked up. He saw a
tall. beautiful figure and magnificent
face, with dark proud. brilliant eyes
and lovely mouth. round which
played a hali-grave. sweet, timorous
smile. He seemed TO be impressed
You are right" he said she is
very beautiful"
81 should imagine so. returned Lord
Damers, emphatically, why. by her
side even the brilliant Lady Hamilton
looks faded. Every one Is talking
about your wife; YOU do not know how
many envy YOU"
Lord Caraven laughed aloud. Per-
haps II the world knew all. ne told him
SELF there would be little cause for
envy.
She Ia beautiful" he repeated to
himself. He had suddenly awakened TO
the knowledge OF the fact. lie said to
himself that he must have been blind
Had this woman been any other than
his wife. he would have thought her
perfection. As he looked at her he won
dered that he had ever boasted OF his
preference for blondes what could
compare with the splendor OF those
dark eyes. the exquisite coloring OF
that noble southern face? lie must
have been blind. lie crossed the room
TO where the young countess stood talk
ing TO Lady Hamilton.
"IIildred." he said. simply, will you
save one dance for me?
She looked at the pretty tablets and
then smiled at him.
II am not engaged for the next
waltz" she said.
"Then give II 10 me-" requested tho
earl; and the dark eyes were raised 10
! hla.
III had been engaged I shun aid have
felt inclined to break my engagement, 4"
she said.
Lady Hamilton was not quite
pleased. Two suns could not shine In
one hemisphere; and n Lady Caraven
had any idea Of outshlnlng her. the
sooner that idea was abandoned the
better
IT ls rather odd. she said. with one
OF her brightest smiles. to see hus.
band and wife waltz together one
would imagine you were still lovers"
iilldred was on the point OF retort.
Ing that they had never yet been that.
but prudence restrained her.
you will not forget your promise ?"
said the earl.
And Lady caraven took mp the pretty
tablets again.
fney held many names Against the
waltz she wrote, My husband"
lie was Watching her lntently. and
when she had finished writing he took
the tablets from her hand. How
strange the words looked, There we're
noble names above them noble names
below them. My husband lie won
dered Why she had not written Lord
Carayen" instead. or his initials As he
returned the tablets to her. their eyes
met In long. lingering glance. sud
denly she turned from him with her
face ON nre, and Lord Carayen. with
a strange sensation at his heart. began
talking TO Lady Hamilton.
This ls my waltz, said Lord Cara
ven, shortly afterward. ~ he came mp
TO his wife. She did not raise her eyes
20 his; she was afraid 10 do Ao what
N they should tell him her secret
What II he should read love for him
self shining In their depths
The earl half smiled. half sighed al
the pquant stranzeness Of the situ-
alton. This noble woman. 10 the
knowledge OF whose beauty be had sud
denly awakened. war hls own wife.
They had spent much time together.
boin sang and worked together. yet he
never remembered 20 have embraced
her; nov bis arm was around the sup
pie, graceful figure the lovely face
was close to'hls own. Ne saw before
him the whole time, standing orr clear
and distinct from the Others the two
words. MY husband"
lord Damers had told him that he
was a subject OF envy. The past had