The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-01-10
the words that had cut him OF and cast
him from her--''lt can never be-"
Lord Charnwood had not noticed his az

him from ner.-''It can never De.
Lord Charnwood had not noticed his az
itation; he went on
.Lady Lilias is to my mind perfect
Have you ever seen her. Her hair Is like
dead-sold, and her eycs-well, you must
see them 10 appreciate them. She has been
the reigning beauty for the last three
years. There is no one to come near her
| am great adnrer Of beautiful womcn,'
added mis- iordshp frankly.
Then the question that had been burn.
ing on Nane's lips found voice.
.'if she is so beautiful, how is il that she
has not married:"
The voice WAS not like his own, and his
face had the palIor Of death.
81 do not know. At first people said
she was too proud to marry even prince,
but hear she has changed very much
during the last year, and the general opin.
ion is that beautiful Lady Lilias loves some
one she is too proud TO marry"
Vane was silent again, for he could find
NO words; and, when he did speak, it was
to change the subject, Would the beau.
tiful face that he had seen bending over
the meadow-sweet have smile for him?
"NOu look far from well, said Lord
Charnwood, when they separated. "Per.
haps you would rather not join the Ia.
diess"
"Such change as that would do an!
one good. We have no ladies at Lul.
WORTH" said Vane laughingly; but there
was no laughter in his heart.
Lady Charnwood was very fond Of .
tive-o'clock tea. 1t was TO her one of the
most pleasant hours Of the day-an easy
happy hour.
The tea was served IN a pretty room
known as the white room, bright, warm,
sunny apartment always full Of sweet
flowers. On this June afternoon, the long
French windows of the white room were
open, and the curtains of fine white lace
were gently stirred by the wind; the
fountains in the pretty rose-garden played
merrily, and the song of the birds made
sweeter music than the ripple of woman's
laughter.
Lady Charnwood, q most fair and gra-
cious lady, presided at the little table, and
dispensed cups Of tea and choice fruit
lear her sat Lady Fayne, whose face was
not beautiful, but was SO full OF expression
that no beauty of form or coloring was
equal to il. Near the window, surround
ed as she always was by a little circle of
admirers sat Lady Lilias Audley, looking
more beautiful, more queenly than ever
There was some subtle change in her face.
1t was even lovelicr, but its color was some
what lcssened, and the expression was in
fnitely sweeter and softer. She looked
like fair young queen in her dress OF
cream.colored silk with trailing white
lace, and spray of white jessamine in her
dead. gold hair. She held q peach in her
hand, and was admiriug the down on 1t,
when the door opened and Lord Charm
wood, with Nane entered the room. The
young Duke of Raysiord, the greatest mat
rimonial prize in England, was bending
over her, thinking that this lovely woman
with the dead gold hair, holding the peach
in her white hand, formed the fairest pic
ture he had ever seen. He saw her start
suddenly and grow deathly pale, and the
peach fell from her hand. He saw her
SILVER as with cold, and the beautiful tg-
ure trembled.
"You are i'll, Lady Lilias," said the
Duke.
ono; am tired. The room is warm,
and there are too many flowers"
She rose abruptly, but fate was not pro-
pitious. There stood Lord Cbarnwo0d,
and with him the man that loved her
more than his life.
"Lady Audley," said the master OF
Kings Clyffe, 'may introduce Mr.. Wharf
to your"
She summoned all her courage, and rails
ed her eyes to his, then held out her hand
to him.
AZ have met Mr.. Wharf BEFORE" she
said gently. "He is an old friend" and
Lord Charnwood LETT them together.
~ did not know that you were expected
here" she remarked.
"Nor did ] dream Of seeing you, Lady
Lilias,' he answered.
She walked to the window and he fol-
lowed her,
of my presence annOys you," he said;
81 will make some excuse and leave Kings
ClyfIe, at once" and there was a ring OF
passion in his voice.
"Why should you'" she returned. "lou
must know it is pleasure for me to see
you again" She spoke as though she were
compelled to tell the truth even in spite
Mr.. Wharf" she added.
81 am not we'll, Ht GFplicus ~ hHu
life very hard, harder than l had ever
dreamed"
~ have not found it very easy" she said
gently. She half hcsitated, and then adj
ded, =" have thought of you very often
since that morning
"And | have thought Of nothing but
YOU; :" lac said. 81 have tried to forget you !;
Eve tried to drown all thoughts of you, but
might az well have tried to live without
a heart beating in my breast What cru.
city Of fate has brought me hither to suf
fer all the old pain and anguish over
again"
Her exquisite face was raised Sliyly to his
"Perhaps you will not suffer. Life
teaches many things. | have learned one
lesson since YOU went away"
Then Lady Charnwood joined them.
81 had no idea that YOU were old friends"
she said.
"Mr. Wharf was with us for a short
time at UlyerScrott," answered Lady Lii
las "The beautiful bridge over the river
was his design.'
She decided that there should be no mis-
take this time. He should not think she
was ashamed Of him. For she, the proud,
est girl in England, had found out for her.
self one secret, and il was that with all
her heart she had learned 10 love the ar