The Grit-advocate., 1903-07-03


And you have been married a whole
year. am struck with admiration
"A whole year-a year Of divine
happiness, | assue you"
Lord, sir, You will be the laugh
ing stock of the town if you talk in
such fashion. They will have you in
the playnouses. Pray let us forget
our domestic joys little. You can
make good figure in the world (;
and as your cousin, Arabella Suffolk
is staying with me, you will be the
properest gallant for her when Sir
Thomas is at the House. Here comes
Arabella and | am anxious you should
make a figure in her eyes"
Arabella came in very quietly, but
she seemed to take possession of the
room as she entered it, She had a
bright, piquant face, a tall. graceful
form. and that air of high fashion
which is perhaps quite as captivating.
Arabella made Hyde a 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
perfectly heartless conversation. He
was content to laugh and let the hour
60 past in nim-hams of criticism and
perslage.
couple of hours passed; and then
it became evident, from the paving
and snorting 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 salute. and then, in a
clamor of clattering hoofs, he dashed
through the square.
During the next six months society
made an idol of Capt. Hyde, and. if
he was not at Lady Arabella's feet,
he was certainly very constantly at
her side.
Hyde loved his wife, loved her ten
derly and constantly; he felt himself
to be better man whenever he
thought of her and his little son, and
he thought of them very frequently;
and yet his eyes. his actions, tb = tones
OF his voice daily led his cousin, Lady
Suffolk. to imagine herself the en-
press of his heart ard 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 it 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 lust
what the women make them, Eng
land never had sons SO profligate. so
profane and G6unken. The clubs,
especially Brooke's. were the nightly
scenes OF indescribable orgies. Gam.
bling was their serious occupation;
duels were of constant occurrence.
Such 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 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 Kate!" 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 it would be the best plan to
make his request when she was sur.
rounded by company. and under the
pleasureable excitement of a winning
rubber. And If the circumstances
proved adverse, then he could try his