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

make figure in her eyes,"
Arabella came in very quietly, but
she seemed to take possession of tle
room as she entered il. She had a
bright, piquant face, q 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
| name into such a mocking, jeering,
| perfectly heartless conversation. He
was content to laugh and let the hour
go past in fiim-fams Of criticism and
persiflage.
A 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 gathering 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
derby 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, the tones
OF his 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 it must be
remembered that the English women
or 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 Sc profigate, SO
| profane and drunken. 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 d..
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 it, so sweet and
tender and pure was the neat epistle
"She wants to see me. Oh, the dear
one! Not more than l 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 a 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
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
Capel's 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, am angry at you. have
mind to Danish you for month"
II am going to Norfolk for two
weeks, madam"
That will do It is a worse punish
ment than I should have given you.
Norfolk! There is only one word
between it 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