Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-06-05
IRENE'S vow
BY CHARLOTTE NJ BRAEME.
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.

Exactly So" he replied, with care
less nod.
"If ! had known that" she said, in a
passion OF tears, IL would never have
come to England"
You will he very happy, sweet. There
Is grand old house at Kew to let. The
Countess of Horland used to live there.
The lawn slopes down to the very bank
of the river, and the nghtingaes sing
lin the trees. 1t is beautifully furnished.
| thought Of taking it so that can often
run down there. could spend quite half
of every week with you and take you out
| occasionally"
But, Hubert" she pleaded "why
could we not go to your house in London
and live thereY"
"If we did that, l must introduce you
to the world as my wife; and at present
you know, that cannot be-"
She looked at him wistfully.
when will it be, Hubert? IL can.
not go home to Branslea until that is
done. | cannot ten how it is, but | seem
to have lost half the pleasure | used to
have in calling myself Lady Irene Est
mere"
She tried to smile ms she spoke; but her
lips quivered and her hands trembled. He
turned away with a careless smile.
light laugh that Jared upon her.
You are impatient, Irene. | have al
ways told you how uncertain the time
was Can you not make yourself happy
with me?"
| He bent down to kiss her; and all the
passion and love in her heart surged over
her now. She had no more objections, no
more hesitation she would live Just
| whore he wished her, and do all that he
desired.
Beechgrove was taken, with all its lux
urious pontments-furniture, decora-
| ton and hangings-a home fit for Ouch
| ess. For the first time Irene felt at
home.
| One evening Sir Hubert suddenly be-
came dissatisfied with the quality of his
cigar.
There Is but one thing in the world
| that am fastidious over" he cried, "and
| that is my cigars Irene. There is a case
| in my pocket, the pocket of the coat
hanging up in the hal--wll you look for
| it? have not patience for these things.
There are no rosebuds this time, can
certify"
| She went at once to do his bidding.
/
| but there was something worse. Out of
the pocket of the overcoat fell pair of
| lemon-tinted gloves, and delicate ivory
| tablet that had been used by some lady
at n ball.
Without thinking, she hastily read it
| over, and the name of Sir Hubert was
repeated over and over again. This, then
was the reason why he could not take her
to the theater the evening previous; he
had been at a ball with someone else She
did not stop-poor child, to consider or
to think; she forgot all about the cigars,
her beautiful face flushed holly. She
went back to him at once, and laid the
pretty tablet before him.
Now | understand why you would
not take me out she said. Your en-
gagement was ball. You would not tell
me where. Doubtless it was with the
lady to whom this belonged-is it so?''
shadow of pride, anger, and defiance
passed over his face; then careless,
half-scornful smile crossed his lips.
ut was so. You are right in both sur
misses. What then?"
What then?" she repeated ''How
cruel, how heartless, how unkind."
Il do not see it, Irene, my position
in the world obliges me to fulfill obliga-
tons. What folly to quarrel over it."
Does your social position oblige you to
go to balls, while you leave me here
alone, and treasure even such trihe as
thisy she asked, angrily. IL see name
on it. What is it?-'Lady Lira Gerant.'
Hubert, who is Lady Lira Gerant?"
The dark face flushed, and an angry
light famed in his eyes.
IF Lady Gerant be nothing to YOU"
she said why have you kept this? You
must have kept 1t for her sake
Il can safely aver did no such thing.
Irene. did not even know it was In
my pocket. | danced with the lady last
evening, IL Is true as you can see for
yourself, wrote my name on her tablet.
can only imagine that she left it in my
hands, and put it away with what is
much more precious to me-my own cigar
case. If you were less jealous, Irene,
could trust you more. liz l had told YOU
last night that | was going to ball there
would have been scene, as YOU know !;
you would have been jealous, and |
should not have liked that II you were
reasonable, and | could speak to you
without fear, should tell you every
thing"
IL am not jealous" she said, but it
seems to me | have a right to know
where you go and what you do Hubert.
who is Lady-what is the name ?'--she
took up the tablet again and re-read it
Lady Lira Gerant,' Who is she, HUI
bert?"
lie laughed carelessly.
Some people consider her the most
beautiful woman in England Irene.
do not. think you hold that place of
honor"
But who is she?" asked Irene. 81 do
not want to know what. but who is she?''
"She is the daughter of one of the most
powerful earls-Ear Gerant, man sec
ond to none" he replied, earnestly. He
is the greatest power in the State"
Il have read about him." she said.
thoughtfully.
You have asked me who Lady Lira is,
J | can tell you in very few words. The
Countess of Gerant died few years
J since, and Lady Lira, who was then but
seventeen years old, took the entire com
mand OF her fathers household. She is
just twenty. She is accounted by many
the loveiest woman in England; she hold.
} one of the highest positions in the land