Year: 1871

4 ~
the bookcase and secretary of ebony and
gold wherewith she caused it to be de-
corated, though she was rather puzzled
how to fill the bookcase, as Ouida's novels
and the poems of Owen Meredith and
Swinburne comprised nearly the whole
of her literary possessions. Besides the
entrance to the dressing-roOm, there was
another mode of exit from this library,
a small door which open directly upon a
narrow flight of stairs leading downward
to the ground floor, and at the foot Of
which there was another little door OPEN
ing out into densely-shaded walk, which
led into the most secluded part of the
grounds. This walk and staircase had
been constructed by the former proprietor
for the use of an invalid daughter, who
by this means, when the house was
crowded with guests, could still make
her way to the garden and ground un-
perceived, and there enjoy her usual
daily promenade. There was dead
latch and bolt on the lower door, SO
that when it was not in immediate use it
could be securely fastened.


One stormy day in March I came up
town to call on a business friend at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. When I quilted him
I found the storm had 80 increased in
violence that I determined to return
home at once, though it was still early In
the afternoon, o determination which 1
put into execution at once. As l opened
the front door I heard voices in the par
lor. Gar, wet and muddy, was at my
heels as usual, but, without considering
his untidy condition, I entered the parlor
in search OF my wife. She was seat
ed by the window conversing with
gentleman, and rising at once, though
with slight shade of embarrassment in
her manner, she said


"Ah here is my husband. Richard,
this is one of my Oldest fliends-Mr.
Gordon Arnold"


So, for the first time / looked upon
the man OF whom had heard so much i'll
unfavorable connection with the name
of the lady I had married. Pale, slen-
der, dark-eyed-hantlsome certainly, yet
not the style of man ior whose sake
one can fancy q woman going mad, but the
soft voice and graceful manner pos
&c ,scd an undoubted charm; and 50 I
mentally confessed to myself as he rose
from bis seat ON the sofa and came for
ward to receive my greeting. As 1 ad-
vanced to take his protfered hand, a
growl from the dog startled me, and I
stopped suddenly and looked round.
Car was in the very net of crouching
for q spring The hair upon his back
stood up in still bristling ridge, his up
per lip was drawn back SO as to display
his strong white teeth, and the sidelong
glance of his angry eye showed but little
of the pupil In an instant I had him
by the collar, not one second too soon to
prevent him from flying at Mr.. Arnold's
throat. 1t was evident that Gar had
taken one of those violent antipathies to
him, to which the gentlest of dogs are
occasionally prone, and which teach them
with the subtle instinct Of their hate,
strong as is their love, to detect at once
the presence of their self constituted foe,
by the sound of his step, the rustic OF his
garments, nay, the bare fact Of his ap-
proach.


Mr.. Arnold was visibly startled


"Your dog seems vicious, Mr.. Kerri-
sou" he said, in a slightly tremulous
voice. 1T is a pity that SO handsome a
creature should be SO dangerous"


1 made some apology, and dragged
Gar away, which Twas obliged to do by
main force, SO determined was he upon
seizing Gordon Arnold. Meanwhile
Maude stood by, white and trembling.


"Do have that dog killed, Richard
she cried at last, when I had succeeded
in mastering hin. But only shook my
head and laughed. Car was an old
subject of dispute between Mrs. Kerri-
son and myself but I was not disposed
to sacrifice mf old friend and daily COM
panion merely because she shared my
dislike to my wife's "oldest friend"


l did not return to the parlor after I