The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-07-28
CHAPTER VII.

'Now, says Miss Middleton, pausing BY
the piano.
'.Now what ?" Hereward a.ks, standing be.
side her.
':Now sing You must really"
':Must!" Hereward echoes in his turn,
with o mutinous smile. q
''Yes, must will take no excuse"
And what shall sing2"
''Whatever you like,
Hereward sits down to the piano and sings
1.-The good Rhine" in splendid style. Miss
Middleton feels that she would give her right
hand could she have won in exchange his
perfect time and tune, his grand voice, his
perfect dpt0nb. The Countess reclines in
her easy chair at the distant fire; the great
room is but dimly lighted, scarcely enough
to bring out the ruby glow Of the crimson
velvet. Lady Gladys stands In the far-off
window. looking at q ja,diniers Of rare plants
with Mr. Cartwright, the Ffaulein is explain
ing new box Of kindergarten toys to Evie,
the Doctor and Lord Heriot are listening to
the song from little distance, standing on
the rug-there are fires ct each end of the
room-Miss Middleton listens from her OTTO
man close to the piano. The spirited song
takes them all by storm i il mpturouslY
44040W6GU 0o8O.
'Now sing something foE me-" Miss Mid
dleton pleads softly.
'FOr y0u!" he repeatA and there il a
touch of coquetzy In his eyes % he begins,
looking up as her.
Love thee, dearest-lovs thee9
Yes, BY yoadsr star swsaFr
And Bah Middleton, listening 10 the words,
fancied that this dark captive il chained to
her chariot wheels at Last.
Il wish I could sing like thlt!" Lord
Heriot admits frankly. 'sWhy, Hereward
you're no end of aswell at it. Il was too
bad Of you to keep it to yourself all this
Lady Gladys stands by the jarain;sre, and
tells Mr.: Cartwright, one by one, the names
OF the rare flowers it contains.
She is looking straight before her at the
group by the piano-only because they come
directly within her range of vision perhaps.
But the first notes Of the song arrests her
attention. and now she listens, though an
swerlng her companions questions all the
while. She is dressed in white-white silk
with swansdown trimming that looks like
snow there is no color at all about her-for
she IS very pale tonight except the intense
blue of her eyes.
''Win you give me sprig Of that myrtle ?"
MIR. Cartwright asks insipuatinely, stretching
out his large white hand
"Would you not rather have this lilac
ipomoea? It is very beautiful"
"No. Give me bit of the myrtle. Don't
you know what it means? Iwant nothing
but that"
Lady Gladys plucks q spray of myrtle
and gives it into his hend. But she has never
removed her eyes from the other end of the
room. Mr.. Cartwright fears that his elegant
little speech is thrown away. But he puts
the myrtle in his coat, making large dis
play of the signet ring on each Of his little
fingers as he does SO, and looks very senti-
mental
Rereward leaves the piano when he has
sung his second song, and Miss Middleton
takes his place. She sings very we'll and
Hereward, with his head resting easily against
the velvet cushion of the ottoman, listens to
''Thc Message" and ''When Sparrows Build"
and others of his favorites
Lady Gladys, who has heard her friends
songs many times, looks at Mr.. Cartwright
with less dreamy eyes, and answers him with
less absent words and presently they be-
think themselves of the ball and the necessity
of putting in an appearance thereat. Lord
Herlot, gives his arm to his mother, Lady
Gladys follows with Mr. Cartwright as mat
ter of course, and Evie runs to his friend.
'.I'm going to take you down Miss Middle
ton You promised to dance with me-" he
exclaims earerlv. seizine her hand.
70 nE coN1uum.1