The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-11-22

"stt down, my dear, sit down; there
Is nothing so horrible as a 'scene,'
and this looks like one Take off your
cloak and your bonnet. What a strange
headdress"
She unfastened the thick travelling
cloak, and there in picturesque disarray
was the rich evening-dress OF amber
and black, with a faded crimson flower
clinging to it. The lawyer looked on
in utter dismay. This disregard for
dress and appearances spoke more
forcibly than anything else could have
done-told more plainly than words
that something dreadful had happened.
Evening toilet, Hildred! Pray, my
dear, put on your cloak again. | did
not know-I was not prepared-put 1t
on quickly, before any of the servants
come in. What is it, Hildred? What
is the matter?"
mot much, father" she replied,
drearily; my marriage has not turned
out we'll, and I am come home, you
see."
But that is nonsense-you cannot
come home. What is the matter? Tell
me-" and the lawyer, with a very re-
signed expression of face put away his
pate de foie gras, and folded his arms
to listen to his daughters story.
"You have quarreled with the earl.
I hope-that is, you have not left him?"
"He has sent me away" she replied.
and Arley Ransome's face grew very
dark.
There is not much to TELL" she con-
tinued, YEARLY. you misled me-you,
told me that marriage could be happy
without love. l find that love is the
soul of it, that without love marriage
is like a dead body. I being weaker
and inferior was the first to learn to
he has never cared for me-"
"You are too sentimental, Hildred,"
said Arley Ransome, severely.
II have been doing my best for my
husband" she continued" and we were
growing happier. In time l think that
he would have loved me; but someone
else, a fair woman-one Of the kind OF
women that he admires-Lady Hamil-
ton, came, and"
II see," said the lawyer; "the old
story-jealousy and quarreling. Surely.
Hildred, you have not thrown away the
labor of a lifetime by growing jeal-
Gus and vexing the earl?"
II have done worse than that" she
said, "far worse. I was jealous of Lady
Hamilton. I thought that both she
and my husband were deriding me.
I followed them when they went out to
see the sun set over the lake. I hid
myself behind the alder-trees to listen
If they said anything about me; and
them cannot tell how it happened
my husband saw me. He was very
angry; he said / was never to enter
his doors again, but to return home at
ono to YOU"
The lawyers face cleared.
"You r quite sure that o have
told me the whole TRUTH" he said.
Eyes, quite sure. What should I
keep from you? It seems a very hard
punishment for what was merely a
fault rather Of judgment than anything
else. I told the earl I loved him and
that jealousy had driven me mad"
"You told him that? Then rely upon
1t in a few days all will be well. He
will forget his anger and come to md
you"
II do not think So" she returned.
"You are quite sure, Hildred, that
you have hidden nothing from me?''
he INTERCEPTED; adding, 1T is, as you
say, severe punishment for so small a
fault"
She looked up at him in surprise.
What can I have to hide, papa? In
telling you Of my love, and my jeal-
ousy, I have told you the worst"
Then all will come right again. In
the meantime, keep up appearances,
go to your room unobserved and wait
until your luggage arrives. l shall a
that you are come in for q few days
change. Keep up your spirits; all will
come right again. I am sure"
II am very tired, papa" she said. II
think ] will stay in my room today"
(To be continued.)