Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1892-09-16 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

MARGARET HESELTINE."  Sybil handed this letter to Sir Arthur after she had read it without remark. The baronet scowled. "Of course it's the most inconvenient day she could come," he said, sullenly. "We go this evening to Lady Ackland's to dinner." Lady Heseltine raised her eyebrows languidly. "I have no wish to go," she said. "I can remain at home with your mother." Sir Arthur rose, pushing his chair back from the breakfast table with an oath. "No," he said, "I'll not hear of it. You must show your beauty and your diamonds this evening, my lady. You haven't had much opportunity of doing so as yet. If my mother chooses to spring a march upon us in this way she must just take the consequences." Then he strode out of the room whistling, his hands in his pockets. Lady Heseltine's lip curled scornfully, as she glanced for an instant after him. She looked at her letters again, and taking up one which had been beneath the others she read it through carefully more than once. A curious smile came to her lips as she did so. "Can I afford to throw away what appears to be real affection for him !" she murmured VI herself.  Sir Arthur Heseltine felt very sore at the evident coolness of the neighbouring families towards him. The suicide of poor Alice Graves had done him no good. Almost everyone in the county looked coldly on the master of Heseltine Towers. Although his wife's beauty was admired and wondered at, her chilling manner was unpopular. The bride and bridegroom had been invited nowhere, until they were asked to dine by an eccentric old lady who lived about four miles from Heseltine. Sir Arthur had left the Towers immediately after the tragic death of Alice Graves. He had gone up to town on the pretence of special business. Lady Heseltine had also disappeared. All letters were to he left unopened until her return. She gave the servants no address. Even her own maid, Matilde, remained at Heseltine during her absence. Lady Heseltine would endure no questioning, no interference. The servants wondered among themselves as to their mistress's movements. The Dowager Lady Heseltine duly arrived at the Towers about five o'clock in the afternoon. She was at once ushered into the large drawing-room where Sybil was reclining on a couch. Afternoon tea was daintily laid out, on the most elegant of tables, in the choicest china. Sybil rose slowly and languidly, and submitted to her mother-in-law's embrace. The elder lady was even thinner, paler, more anxious-looking than before. A shade of disappointment crossed her worn face as she could not but note the chilliness of her reception. Her keen eyes sought Sybil's with an enquiring gaze. "Arthur, my son, is at home is he not ?" she asked, a little hesitatingly. "I have no idea," Sybil said calmly. "We see very little of each other. You take sugar and cream. I think ?" " Yes. But, my dear, surely you otten accompany your husband in his rides and drives ?" Sybil laughed carelessly. "Oh, no. I never ride. We go our several ways." Then she suddenly raised her brilliant eyes, and, fixing them steadily on the elder lady's face, she said, "If you take the trouble to consider a moment, you will see that it is as well that it should be so."  "My dear Sybil, what do you mean ?" Sybil made no reply to the question, except to raise her dark eyebrows, and shrug her graceful shoulders a little. After a pause, she said quietly, as she rang the bell. "No doubt you are tired, and will like to go to your room. My maid shall show you the way." When Sybil, Lady Heseltine, entered Lady Ack• land's drawing-room that evening, leaning on her husband's arm, a low murmnr of admiration went through the room. Perfectly self-possessed, she moved with her peculiar languid grace and stateliness. Her proud head was crowned with thick coils of glossy raven hair, thickly intermixed with diamonds. Her white shoulders gleamed out of the rich folds of her yellow satin dress. Dia/r.nds glittered on her bosom, on her snowy arms, on her dress. Her statuesque face was cold, but very lovely. "By Jove! What a splendid woman !" the men said to each other.  "Look," the ladies whispered together, "at her diamonds !"  Sir Arthur could not but be proud of his wife. He, himself, was dressed with unusual care. With his tall figure, broad shoulders, and face that would have been handsome but for the coarseness of its colouring, the heaviness of his lower jaw, the sinister lopk in his eyes, he passed muster very - was