Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1903-03-05

make figure in her eyes,"
| Arabella came In very quietly, hut
she seemed to take possession Of tle
room as she entered 1t. She had
bright, pi1uant face, a tall, graceful
form. and that air of high fashion
which Is perhaps quite as captivating.
Arabella made Hyde pretty. mock
ing courtesy, and he could not help
looking with some interest at the wo-
man WHO might have been his wife.
katherine was ignored in the con-
versation that followed, and Hyde did
not feel any desire to bring even her
name into such a hooking, jeering,
| perfectly heartless conversation. He
was content to laugh and let the hour
go past in flim-fams Of criticism and
persihage.
A couple Of hours passed; and then
1t became evident, from the paving
and snortinS outside. that his horses
patience was quite exhausted. Hyde
went away in an excitement OF hope
and gay anticipations. A momentary
glance upward showed him Lady
Capel and Lady Suffolk at the window,
watching him; the withered old wo-
man in her soiled wrappings, the
youthful beauty in all the bravery of
her white and gold poudesoy. He
made them a salute. and then, in a
clamor of gathering hoofs, he dashed
through the square.
| During the next six months society
made an idol Of Capt. Hyde, and, IL
he was not at Lady Arabella's feet,
he was certainly very constantly at
her side.
Hyde loved his wife. loved her ten
DERBY and constantly; he felt himself
to be better man whenever he
thought of her ard his little son, and
he thought of them very frequently;
and yet his eyes, his actions, the tones
OF bis voice daily led his cousin, Lady
Suffolk. to imagine herself the en-
press Of his heart and life. Unfortun-
ately, his military duties were only
| on very rare occasions any restraint
to him. His days were mainly spent
In dangling after Lady Suffolk and
other fair danes. And 1t must be
remembered that the English women
OF that day were such as England
may well hope never to see again. In
the higher classes they married for
money or position, and gave them
selves up to intrigue. They drank
deeply; they played high; they very
seldom went to church, for Sunday
was the fashionable day for all kinds
OF frivolity and amusement. And as
the men Of any generation are Just
what the women make them, Eng
land never had sons SO profiigate, so
profane and drunken. The clubs,
especially Brookes, were the nightly
scenes OF indescribable orgies. Gam
| bling was their serious occupation:
duels were of constant occurrence.
Such a life could not be lived ex.
cept at frightful and generally ruinous
expense. Hyde was soon embarrass-
ed. Towards Christmas bills began
to pour in. creditors became impor-
tunate, and, for the first time in his
| life, creditors really troubled him. The
income from Hyde Manor had never
been more than was required for the
expenses of the place; and the inter.
est on Katherine's money had gone,
though he could not tell how. He
was destitute of ready cash. and he
foresaw that he would have to borrow
some from Lady Capel or some other
accommodating friend.
He returned to barracks one Sun
| day afternoon, and was moodily think
ing over these things. when his order
| ly brought him a letter which had ar
rived during his absence. 1t was from
| Katherine. His face flushed with
| delight as he read 1t, so sweet and
tender and pure was the neat epistle.
''She wants to see me. Oh, the dear
one! Not more than | want to see
her. Fool, villain, that l am; l will
/ go to her. Katherine! Kate! My
dear little Katel" So he calculated
as he paced his narrow quarters, and
tried to arrange his plans for Christ.
mas visit OF his wife and child.
He had determined to ask Lady
Capel for hundred pounds; and he
thought 1t would be the best plan to
| make his request when she was sur
rounded by company, and under the
| pleasureable excitement of winning
rubber And II the circumstances
proved adverse, then he could try his
fortune in the hours Of her morning
retirement.
The mansion in Berkeley Square
was brilliantly lighted when he ap.
preached It, Sunday night was Lady
Capers great card night, and the
rooms were full OF tables surrounded
by powdered and painted beauties
intent upon the game and the gold.
The odor of musk was everywhere,
and the sound of the tapping Of gold
fans. and the sharp. technical calls
of the gamesters, and the hollow
laughter of hollow hearts.
Not very hopefully he approached
Lady Capel. She had been unfortun.
ate all the evening and was not ami
able.
Dick, I am angry at you. have
mind to Danish you for a month"
Il am going to Norfolk for two
weeks, madam"
THAT will do. II Is worse punish
ment than I 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 duh company"
81 am very sorry that you have been
losing. I came to ask for the loan of
hundred pounds, grandmother"
mo, sir. will not lend you hun
dred pounds; nor am in the humor
to do anything else you desire"
Il make my apology for the request.
| ought to have asked Katherine"
aNn al ur,. ~, chi not - haua