, 1899-02-10

and makes him an answer IN a t0
low. for even those nearest to her toV
It Is a sort of challenge, a tact ckno
edgment that they two are alo syeT
the midst Of all these tiresome lie
Baltimore accepts it. Or -
grown a little reckless. "
against circumstances has been foodrfdck
for him. He has gone under. per-
sistent GOODNESS of his wife, her refusal
to hear or believe In him, has had its eff
feet. A man of a naturally warm and
kindly disposition, thrown thus back upon
himself, he has now given a loose rein to
the carelessness that has been q part OF
his nature since his mother gave him to
the world, and allows himself to swim or
go down with the tide that carries his life
upon its bosom.
Lady Swansdown is lovely and kind.
She leans toward Baltimore, her lovely
eyes alight, her soft mouth smiling. Her
whispered words, her only half-averted
g~lances, all told their tale. Presently it is
clear that a very fully developed Irritation
Is we'll in hand.
Lady Baltimore coming across the grass
with a basket In one hand and her little
son held fondly by the other, sees and
grasps the situation. Baltimore, leaning
over Lady Swansdown, the latter lying
back In her lounging chair In her usual In
dolent fashion, swaying her feather fan
from side to side, and with her white lids
lying on the azure eyes.
Seeing 1t all, Lady Baltimore's mouth
hardens, and a c~ontemptuous expression
destroys the calm dignity of her face. For
the moment only. Another moment and
1t Ii gone; she has recovered herself. The
one sign of emotion she has betrayed Is
swallowed up by her stern determination
to conceal all pain at all costs, and, If her
fingers tighten somewhat convulsively on
those of her boys, why. who can be the
wiser for that? No one can see 1t.
Dysart, however, who is honestly fond
of his cousin, has mastered that first swift
involuntary contraction of the calm brow,
and q sense of indignant anger against
Baltimore and his somewhat reckless COM
panion fires his blood. He springs quick
ly to his feet.
Lady Baltimore, noting the action,
though not understanding the motive for
1t, turns and smiles at him-so &C strolled
a smile that 1t quiets him at onceNA
II I'm going to the gardens tc\ and
cajole Mcintyre out Of some ros says
she, In her sweet, slow way, stop linear
the first group she reaches on til lawn-7
the group that contains, among others,
her husband and-her friend. She would
not willingly have stayed where they Were
but she Ia too proud to pass them by with
out a word. who will come with me
Oil no." as several rise to join her, laugh
Ing, though rather family. at is not con
p~ulsory-eyen though l go alone, | sha
feel that l am equal to Mcintyre"
Lord Baltimore had started as her first
words fell upon his ears. He had been
so preoccupied that her light footballs COIN
ing over the grass had not reached him,
and her voice, when 1t fell upon the AIR,
gave him a shock. He half rises from s
seat.
"Shall III he is beginning, and th(n
stops short; something in her face checks
him.
Your she conquers herself half a sec
ond later; all the scorn and contempt Is
crushed by sheer force of will out of ldbk
and tone, and she goes on as clearly ahd
as entirely without emotion as though 4he
were a mere machine-a thing shd fad
taught herself to be. "Not you" she rs,
gayly, waving him lightly from ~ ou
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