Year: 1879

sadly anu prOuuly, L bHall TelleVe you
of my presence in few days. 1 intended
Writwell to call on You to-day with q
draft of the provisions l have made for
your comfort.


Il could mske no answer. 1 had
thought of many kind things to say; but
now, in his presence, was only fretfnl
and dumb. He looked at me almost with
pity, and said, in low voice, Kate, we
have both been sacrificed to necessity
involving many beside ourselves. I am
trying to make what reparation is posi-
ble. I shall leave you unrestricted use
of three.fourths of my income. l desire
you to make your life rs gay and pleas.
ant as you possibly can. l have no fear
for the honor of our name in your hands,
and I trust it and all else to you without
doubt. If you would try and learn to
make some excuse for my hard position
l shall be grateful; perhaps when you
are not in constant fear Of meeting me,
this lesson may not be so hard


'And l could not say word in reply.
l Just lay sobbipg like child among
the cushions. Then he lifted my hand
and kissed it, aud knew he was gone. ,


'And now, Kate, that you have be-
come the most brilliant woman in Eng
land. what do you intend to do4'


Who knowsp l have such contrary
streak in my nature. l always do the
thing do not want to do.


Certainly it seemed like it; for, in
spite of her confession, when Lord Tai
bot sent, the next merning, to request
an interview, Kate regretted that she
had prior engagement; but hoped to
meet Lord Talbot at the Duchess of
CIfford's that night.


My lord bit his lips angrily, but uev-
ertheless he had been so struck with his
wife's brilliant beauty that he deter
mined to keep the engagement.


She did not meet him with sobs this
time. The center of an admiring throng,
she spoke to him with an ease and non
chalance that would have indicated to a
stranger the most usual and common
place of acquaintanceships. He tried to
draw her into confidential mood, but
she said, smilingly, MY lord, the world
supposes us to have already congratu-
lated each other; we need not unde-
ceive it.


She kept strictly at the distance he
himself had arranged four years ago. 1t
was evident that if he would approach
any nearer to his beautiful but long
neglected wife, he must humble himself
to do SO. Why should he not? In Lord
Talbots mind the reasons against it had
dwindled down to one. But this was
formidable one. 1t was his valet. This
man had known all his masters matri-
monial troubles, and in his own way
sympathized with them. He was bitterly
averse to Lord Talbot's making any con-
cessions to my lady. One night, how
ever, he received n profound shock.


Simmons, said Lord Talbot, very de-
cidedly, 'go and ask Lady Talbot if she
will do me the honor to receive q visit
from NO..


Ny lady would be delighted. She was
in an exquisite costume, and conde-
scended to exhibit for his pleasure all
her most bewildering moods. 1t was
with great reluctance he left her after
two-h hours visit. My lady had no other
engagement, and he quite forgot the one
he had made to be present ut the Mar
quis of Stairs wine party.


The following week my lady received
every morning basket of wonderful
flowers, and little note with them con-
tanning a hope that she was in good
health.


One morning she was compelled to say
that she was not very well, and Lord
Talbot was 80 concerned that he sent
Simmons to ask if he might be permit
ted to eat breakfast with her. My lady
was graciously willing, and Lord Rich
ard was quite excited by the permission.
He changed his morning gown and era
vat several times, quite regardless of
Simmons peculiar face, and, with many
misgivings as to his appearance, sat
down opposite the lovely little lady in
her pale blue satin and cashmere and
white laces.


1t was q charming breakfast, and
during it the infatuated husband could
not help saying great many very sweet
and fatterlng things. Kate parried them
very prettily. 1T is well, she said,
that no one hears us. If We were not
married they would think we were max
ing love.


And if we are married, Kate, why not
make love, dear We had no opportu
nifty before we were married.


'Ah, Richard, in fashionable life we
should make ourselves ridiculous
Every one says that now our behavior
is irreproachable. should have dearly
liked it when was only shy, awkward
country girl; but now, my lord, we
should be laughed at


Then, Kate, let us be laughed at. l
for one am longing for it ying for it.
If 'Time shall run back and fetch the
age of gold, why not love? Let us go
back four whole years and half. Will
you, Kate ?-dearest, sweetest KateY


we should have to run away to the
country, Richard. And now think of
it, I have not been at Esber since
-married-love.'


When such q conversation as this was
prolonged for five hours, it was little
wonder that my lords valet and my
lady's maid received orders to pack va
lises and trunks, or that the next day
Esher Hall was in happy tumult of
preparation.


Love comes better late than never,
and Lady Kate always told herself that
she never could have been as happy in
those sweet old gardens with her lover
as she was with her husband. Probably
they were both as perfectly satisfied as
it is possible for human love to be; for,
greatly to the amazement of the fash