Gilpin observer., 1903-07-02

Of the gamesters, and the hollow
laughter Of hollow hearts.
Not very hopefully he approached
Lady CapeI. She had been unfortun.
ate all the evening and was not ami
able.
"Dick, am angry at you. have q
mind to Danish you for month"
Il am going to Norfolk for two
weeks. madam"
That will do. It is worse punish
ment than l should have given you.
Norfolk. There is only one word
between 1t and the plantations. Give
me your arm, Dick; shall play no
more until my luck turns. Losing
cards are dull company"
Il am very sorry that you have been
losing. came to ask for the loan Of
hundred pounds, grandmother"
mo, sir, l will not lend you hun
dred pounds; nor am l in the humor
to do anything else you desire"
II make my apology for the request
I ought to have asked Katherine"
mo, sir, you ought not to have ask
ed Katherine. You ought to take what
you want. Jack Capel took every
shilling Of my fortune and neither
said, by your leave nor thank you
Did the Dutchman tie the bag too
closer"
Councillor Van Heemskirk left 1t
open, in my honor. When am
scoundrel enough to touch 1t, shall
not come and see you at all, grand
mother"
Upon my word, very pretty COM
pliment! Well. sir. I'll pay you hun
dred pounds for it. When do you
start?"
Tomorrow morning."
make it afternoon, and take care of
me as far as your aunt Julia's. And
daresay you want money tonight.
Here are. the keys Of my desk. In the
right hand drawer are some rouleaus
of fifty pounds each. Take two"
The weather. as Lady Capel said,
was so very Decemberish" that the
roads were passably good, being fro
zen dry and hard, and on the evening
Of the third day Hyde came in sight
of his home. His heart warmed to
the lonely place; and the few lights in
pleasantly than tho brilliant illuumi-
nations OF Vauxhall or Almacks, or
even the cold splendors of royal re-
ceptions. He had given Katherine no
warning of his visit. He wanted to
see with his own eyes, and hear with
his own ears, the glad tokens of her
happy wonder.
The kitchen fire threw great lustres
across the brick-paved yard; and the
blinds in Katherine's parlor were un-
drawn, and its fire and candle light
shone on the freshly laid tea table.
and the dark walls cleaning with
punches of holly and mistletoe. But
she was not there. He only glanced
inside the room and then. with a
smile ON his face, went swiftly up
stairs. He had noticed the light in
the upper windows, and he knew
where he would find his wife. Before
he reached the nursery he heard
Katherine's voice. The door was a
little open, and he could see every
part of the charming domestic scene
within the room. A middle-aged
woman was quietly putting to rights
the sweet disorder incident to the
undressing of the baby. Katherine
had played with 1t until they were
both little flushed and weary and
she was softly singing to the drowsy
child at her breast.
Over and over, softer and slower.
went the melody. 1t was evident that
the boy was asleep and that Katherine
was going to lay him in his cradle.
He watched her do it; watched her
gently tuck in the cover and stand
for a moment to look down at the
child. Then with a face full of love
she turned away, smiling. and quite
unconsciously came toward him on
tiptoes. With his face beaming, with
his arms opened, he entered; but
with such a sympathetic understand
ing OF the sweet need Of silence and
restraint, that there was no alarm,
no outcry, no fuss or amazement
Only whispered Katherine" and
the swift rapture Of meeting hearts
and lips.
ITO be continued