, 1871-05-18
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Tie festivities went on just as Lady
Claveriag had described. Everywhere,
somehow, was felt the spirit and the pres
encr of the beautiful lady. The weather
was bright, cold, crisp and frosty not too
cold for there was peace in the air 1t
felt af the whols earth, with its rebellious
hrsEAs and boisteFous Winds, bad bccdme Z
hushed this Christmas; willis in Clavpr.
ing Castle, little suspected, a story was
working itself out to the end. The brau-
tifui stranger was the center of everything.
How it had so suddenly grown 10 BE- 50,
NJ one knew. She never sat at their ta-
bles she had never been seen to eat or
drink; and she was always wrapped in
the cashmere shawl. Everything that had
been done had owed something to. her
doing; everything that she said was felt
instantly to be right; everything shs
touched appeared Immediately to put OH
a new beauty. 1t was power so oinstant-
ly felt, and so unhesitatingly recognized.
that the inmates of the house sought after
her for help for advic', for final approval,
for courage and strength. Even their
very enjoyment seemed to grow greater
from her presence. In the adventures Of
the great ball her words worked magical
ly. She stood at the top of the great
room. and led off the first dance with Lord
Claveriug; but when the end came, ev>
erybody felt that each had had a full
share Of personal qualification every
body's ambition seemed to have been ful>
filed, everybody's hopes graii6td. After
the first few minutes the beautiful lady
had not, brea seen in the dance any
longer, and had only again been visible
when :he help of some wiser head or cum
ming hand was wanted.
Everything was successful. Every
thing was so absorbing that there was no
time to stand still and wonder over tha
new inmate, who had come SO strangely
to the castle; but everybody felt the
bright influence. and some found tins
10 whisper that, anyhow, she had coms
for good.
But slight yet distinct chauge had
come over Lady Clavering. She, whose
rule had been perfect and indisputsble,
beosuse geutle and good ruled 10 more.
1t was felt, in some way quite impossible
to describr, that she waited and ob-yed.
Thus the day came for the great conn
ty ball, which time hopore1 custom had
caused to he held at the castle. Tho
Shurts and the Greysous were ready with
their tablranx. and perfect in their parts.
All tho necessary was fixed, and there
was to be final rehearsal of tue new one
suggested by Madame, and eagerly in
dcrsed on all sides-THe marriage of
Stronghold. The genius displayed in the
arrangement Of scenery was a match for
all the rest. No one felt any doubt; ev>
eryone admired and applauded and longed
for the final show-the PROSTATE warriors,
the gravely clad monks, the exulting by
ISLANDERS, tire troop of beautiful maidens.
1t WAS most popular idea, this Marriage
of S!rongbow. 1t took all the pretty
girls in the house. who had nothing TO do
but stand still and look beautiful, which
everyone Of them in their secret hearts
felt themselves unqnestiouably capable of
doing. But the bride was to be Madame;
crowned, and clad in pure white she was
to be; and whether any one there could Z
look lovely BY her side was very doubt
full matter in Lady ClaveIing' mind. Aud
then came the question, who was to be
Strong bow 7? Lord Clavering? Madame
would have no one else. Her lips had
spoken it; and though Lord ClsveriDs
trembled, he obeyed. Never was there
such rehearsal as the las. aud the full
dressed one, in the ropm darkeoed for the
purpose. How Madame fixed her Strong
bow with her alffearful asking. modest
glittering eye! 1t was not the mere nerv-e
business of acting that made the strong
man quiver in every nerve. se
Then it was over, and people said that
it would do perfectly; that it was the
grandest idea and the finest tableau that
had ever been seen.
To be cOntigSe2.