Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-04-29

Suiuc uTcdmS WeT
oeinx realized. As the father of Lad
C1ravea. people Thought it worth thei
wh1ie TO conciliate him. He @s in
vfted to houses which before this mar
rage he had never hoped to enter; Il,
mad been made welcome in the drawn,
rooms OF Belgravia and Mayfair. Wha
was even better, his practice was in
creasing. Arley Ransome was a hap
py man.
He was shown into the library where
the young countess sat alone, royalty
beandful, in close fitting dress OF
olack velvet-velvet that fell in rich
1oids and swept the ground around
ner. The charming head and face
were set of by the dark drapery she
held book in her hands, but she had
not read one word it contained. She
looked mp when her father entered and
ne was struck by the dependency of
her young face, the WEAKNESS of the
dark eyes, the dropping attitude. He
went up to her, and, as usual, COM
phmented her. She was looking so
wei. SO beautiful, he must say, and
What a success she had achieved
No smile answered-the WEAKNESS
3and the dependency deepened. He took
~ seat By her side, and told her all
that he thought would interest her
host WAS sshe listening? He did
not know, for she made no reply. Sud-
denly, and the shock Of it quite star
tied him-she raised her eyes to his
'eaee. ~ Hts
"Fathsr," she said, "do you know
what manner of man this is to whom
'yo9 have sold me?"
MY dear Hildred, hush! Pray be
more guarded in your speech"
I II repeat, do you know what manner
ef man my husband is?"
'fOh. now you put the question in
better. form, can answer it. You
:.;eally should not use the word Sold as
' though you were a slave; We do not
rel people in England"
She laughed-surely the most dreary,
the saddest laugh that ever fell from
asuch ynlng lips. M
We win not dispute about a word,
papa Answer my questionable you
know what manner of man my hus-
band Isl"
81 know the earl is considered
very handsome, fascinating man by all
who are acquainted with him." he re-
Piled ~ H
."Handsome!" she repeated, sorrow
fully ''What has that to do with it?
DO YOU know that he is utterly incor-
rfgibIe-that he spends his days and
nights in playing and betting-that he
comes home at sunrise-that he neg
Iects every duty"
Little foibles, my DEAR" he replied
quickly: 1,yon must not think too much
of then."-
She folded her hands and they lay
iistlessly on her dress.
Little foibles, papa? If men call
those things little foibles should like
to know what you consider great
a1hs?"- il!
I'VE will waive that, my dear-it is
rot matter for discussion" said the
lawyer. almost wishing that he had
not called on that particular morn
ing. i~f
But she was not to be silenced.
did you know what he was when
you allowed me TO marry him." she
continued. ...t,
Il knew that he was Lord Caraven-
and surely that was enough-a peer OF
the rcalm, a man of ancient descent"
did you know that he liked gam
bling and betting better than anything
else in,lthe world?" she asked.
"Mere foibles. All men have their
MANIFESTATIONS are his. You must
have patience. my dear"
"Did you know" she continued,
that he does not even like me, and
,nsver did,"
Nonsense, Hildred! You have all
that you require" he said hastily.
~And dead heart" she murmured-
"a dead heart! Papa, did you remem-
her that / was young, and that youth
lives ON lover"
! ~Nonsense!" he replied. "You have
RIOWu bElLlluCutdl tniOu6h hdN Is
nothing to 10, Hildred."
ut was a cruel thing, this marriage
I was SO young-I might have been
spared. 1t was a cruel deed"
'.My dear Hildred," said Arley Ran
some, growing alarmed II did not de-
ceive you. never told you that Lord
Caraven loved you. He asked you tc
be his wife; there was nothing said
about love-"
you told me that could live with
out it," she said, in low voice.
at did" he assented.
She struck her hands together with
passionate fervor.
"I can not" she cried. "Heaver
help me, l can not. My heart is emp
ty. my heart is dead, my life Is vain
You deceited me when you told mt
that. You, my father, who should
have saved me-who should have
taught me better-you deceived me
and wish that l were dead"