The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-12-20
CHAPTER VII,

"rhe proudest girl in England" Vane
Wharf found himself repeating that
phrase over and over again. He could
well imagine that it was true. SO peer
lessly lovely, so dainty, $50 fair and tine"
in her delicate grace, an EarPs daughter
too, and great heiress, she would natur-
all kinds of rank; and every one could not
be nobly born
He found himself wondering what she
had thought Of him when her calm proud
eyes had rested on him. His face flushed
as he tried to imagine what her ideas had
been like. Had she "seen" him, or had
she calmly looked over him as one not OF
her world! Had she thought him passsa-
blel Had she given even the faintest
thought to hmi lie Was bending over the
balustrade in the moonlight, admiring the
wealth of climbing plants, and he started
on finding his eyes blinded with a hot
mist Of tears.
"What has come to mc:n he cried. al
have been here only five hours, and the
whole world is changed for me. | have
looked for one moment upon a woman's
face, and have nearly lost all seli-control.
| am dazed and blinded. What has hap
pened to me!"
In the aftcr-days he could never remem-
Der how that night passed. lie did not
sleep; it was TO him long waking dream;
and the only thought quite clear TO him
was that he was under the same roof with
her.
He was reminded in the morning that
she was to accompany Lord Audley and
him self A phnpgp a q fn the hrinpp H..
could hardly realise, hardly understand it.
What should he say to her: Would She
deign to notice himf
Vane saw her at the brcaktast-tablc,
fair and radiant as the morning Itself her
dead gold hair gathered in simple knot
at the back of her quecnly head, and wear
ing morning dress OF white muslin, with
red rose at her white throat. she gave
INN kindly smile and graceful bow
When he saw how she held out her hand
to colonel Gordon, he longed to be in that
gallant officers place. She spoke to him
at last, asking him, IN cool graceful FASH
ion, whether he would take tea; and he
hated himself because he flushed and trem-
bled when he answered her.
Presently the carriage came TO the door.
Ii was bright warm day in June, the
sky was cloudiess, the air redolcnt Of per-
fume and full OF summer sounds, and the
lovely green earth lay smiling In the SUD.
Lord Audley said to Vane-
snow, Mr.. Wharf, we are ready. The
morning is so beautiful that we shall have
three or four very pleasant hours"
Vane caught glimpse of pretty morn
ing costume aud Of All exquisite face under
o Galnsborough hat.
"Will you help Lady Lilias, Mr.. Vi
bart?" said the Earl.
Her hand touched his 50 lightly that he
hardly felt its weight, and the next mo-
ment he was in the carriage, sitting, by
the EarPs desire, facing her. The golden
sunlight gave him courage, and nc ven.
tured to look nj her. How could he help
Il when everything around him was -
beautifully He was not the nrst man who
had looked into that lovely face and so lost
himself for ever. He WAS not the first
who, looking into the depths OF those
proud sweet eyes, lost himself In them
He was charmed and fascinated. The
gentle breeze brought = most delicate and
beautiful color to the fair face. Lady
Liliss carried an exquisite parasol, with
handle Of superbly-carved ivory, and with