Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07
Written for The EVENING STAR
DIANA'S STORY.
BY LUCY C. LILLE.
Author of man." "Rolf House, "Jo's Oppor-
tunity," ETC.. Etc.
Copyright, 1886

hall at Blake House that the other day when
my cousin Dorothea Blake was married to her
English lover, the eyes and lips of our great
aunt seemed to be smiling wistfui sort of
assent; brilliant eyes they were. dark and lus-
trous and with a fringe of curling lashes, which
lay such a cheek! One hears of a smooth
oyaF'-one can see it in the portrait of Aunt
DOIly's girlhood-Smooth and fair and peach
like; the dainty red lips, proud and smiling,
bring Just a suspicion of dimple into each
cheek; the head is a trfe on one side-but Mis-
tress Dorothea Leigh is looking at you quite
fsarlessly-meeting the chances of all posterity,
with = bewitchng air, and as 1t were, con-
stantly asserting the superiority of her lowell
ness over that of her descendants. When the
ceremony over Doly-Our Dolly-nodded
prettily at the picture and said TO US in her little
daring way
II wonder if she approved; but then she had
an English lover-and didn't grandmamma al
ways think she came very near loving himf'
The eyes in the picture seemed To smile back.
Mistress Leigh wears a dress of pale yellow silk
brocade; the Leigh diamonds are in a little cir
olet around her slim white throat, and besides
there il fine gold chain from which hangs
closed lOcket- When or how we got the notion
do not know, but even as children We used TO
say the locket held the portrait of ''the English
Captain. our Dolly told her husband about it
before they left US, and he said there a def
mite pOeticaI Justice in the second Dorothea CIV
ing her heart TO England; and then Dolly, who
Was growing bit mournful over the thought of
sailing away the next day, proposed our getting
out an old manuscript-the story our great
great grandfather had written of his first love.
lie was one Robert Blake Gent, who lived in
this very house IN the year OF Lord J. S9.
Mistress Blake, his vile. not ONLY noted Tor
her beauty, but well for the wide tenderness
o. her charity; every where there are evidences
OF III, and she was IA woman who lived we'll In
all ways. fancy; whether she prayed or sang,
or ate or drank, there was d touch OF Ilng
what she did i'll the best way and tor the love
of God, and patriotic though she was and no
woman i'll alf Berk shire was more so, every one
against; curious fancy of her life was this. On
the annual Fourth of July dinner, given at
Blake House, alter all the tosists were given,
lovely Mrs. Blake would rise, and looking at
her husband with those tender shining eyes of
hers, she would say, ''Shaii We drink TO the
health of our English cousins now, Robert?'
And the toast WAS given and drank with
hearty fervor, IN spite oil Robert Bake's reVOlu-
tionary lame, and there were those who said
that such times Mrs. Blake had Il wistlul-
ness In her beauty not always seen there, but if
her husband saw 1t he adored her and under
stood every pulsaIIon of her heart, and loved
her doubt not the better Tor IL.
We found the box easily enough with the lit
tie faded manu- script In 1t and read it aloud by
the library fire, which now and then cast a
CLEAN across the picture in the hall touching
lne old-time beauty OF our ancestress with new
Oewlichment- Here is the story just as our
great grandfather wrote it:
ROBERT BLAkEs STORY.
My Uncle Blake a great friend of all the
EnsIishmen i'll the neighborhood OF Marchtown,
anu though this was some years before the out
break OF the revolution, his strong English feel
Ing made hin soInew hat unpopular with the
American residents of the country. He lived
quite by himself III the big oid-iooking house,
but he entertained IN a Sumptuous manner and
Seemed quite contented with his bachelor exist
ence. He nad younger sister, the great beauty
OF the family, and We all knew the sad story OF
her marriage. Sue had runaway with penni-
less young officer, Tom Leigh, and her brother
had vowed never TO speak To her again. But
one day there was great sensation up at Blake
House. Diana Leigh mad died suddenly and
her one child, a little girl, was brought home by
Uncle Blake. How well L remember first see
Ing her sitting in the drawing room; pretty,
proud-iaced little woman OF ten, with a comical
air vi superiority winch impossible to re-
sl,t- She called me Cousin Rob, directly. and
assumed "a sort oi right over HE from the outset.
An air OF good friendship was established be-
tween Us and though WAS nearly Il found
great deal in our country life to enjoy together
had To teach her To ride and drive and nsh and
ali through the golden spring and summer time
We spent the fair days out OF doors; little Di
trudgIng along beside me. on her gray pony
winch she named condescendiugly Tor me. BY
The time she Was ID the whole country knew and
talked OF Miss Leis h beauty and tine airs, but
when went 10 Virginia Tor two years Di held
me AS she promised IN sweet remembrance.
This day have the little notes and letters she
wrote me; play full. scolding, imperious, tender
As the mood found her when they were written,
but always At the end, :" Your tOrila9 little Dir
and the Come back SOON" frequently recurring
was q magnet l tain would nave followed every
time. went back when the autumn days were
lust beginnng-youth and sunshine go easily
sosether. was full OF hope, aspiration anu
ambition. Di was at the heart OF all. Little Di
was by this time a woman grown. The night of
my return drove over TO Uncle BlakeS. How
It all comes back to me! Lights were not yet
brought into the parlor at Blake house; when |
drew near the steps paused morhent for
hearo Dis voice singing within; knew the
song well for 1 had taus ht it her yseii. when
thou art DER the seas, love-" That was the song
had the sweet giriish tones deepened? III
seemed 10 me / stood listening there was
some new meaning in them, some tenderer
cadence than when heard them last. waited
o0ttl the last notes died away and then made
my way into the house and softly opened the
parlor door. She did not hear me and stood "a
moment in silence while every line in her face
every curve Oh her figure, her dress, her simple
Ornaments. the drapery of the window near
which she stood, became indeliDly impressed
upon my mind. Since then portrait OF Di has
been painted. AZ it hangs above now ii
brings her back as she stood before me then, her
iAce uplifted. the eyes proud and sweet, the
brow fair ana noble, the lips rich yet soft in
their curves. Her hands were elasped lightly,
her head poised with that little air of con-
scious superiority born and bred within her,
and she had been young princess going
down your life that she might lead the lille of
sunshine that became her beauty.
While looked al her she sighed softly and
DIP said suddenly.
she turned quickly and giving joyful cry
-praug forward with her hands outstretched.
Robert, dear old fellow" she said, clinging
. me, .how glad am TO see you again.
Had the sigh been for me? held her In my
rms Questioning her face-bu: she dropped
.er head little, and q pink flush stole into her
eneska
We'll Well, d." said, releasing her slowly, $50
"ies," she answered softly and looking at me
with merry smile in her eyes she added:
~How nne you look in your gay clothes, SIR
Twas highly pleased al the approve al in her
voice and manner, and with affection of
carelessness walked about the room better to
display my line suit i paused suddenly before
the window, surprised TO "a stranger IN the
aristocratic In appearance. Were IT not for MS
simpis dress would have thought him an Eng
hsu ofhcsr of rank.
Dir i exclaimed. "Who Is that?"
she gave a quick look into the garden and
then AT me without speaking.
a nne looking fellow, said. "Who is he?''
"A niend oil Uncle BIake's," she said quietly
"A young Englishinan come here on business"
'.Ha. he been here long? What is his manner
Montague. said ID, answering my last ques-
ZION with d certain hesitation. "Roger Mon
Eague. Uncle Blake knew the MonIagues in
England long ago"
And what sort of a fellow is he:" inq uired
with "A sudden feeling of contempt.
IN pursed up ner mouth obviously.
II hardly say, sure to quarrel
when we talk. that let il alone now
'-tiuInph! And Will he be here Iong?"
Sue shrugged her shoulders.
I'm 1 don't know. Come, Robert let
Us talk vi something else. Did Betsy Living
stone send re my tabinet dress? She promised
II last month.
''5he did," / answered, sitting down. "And
your cousin Hensley l. coming up. And ali
Tile Hamiitons are in New York. There is my
budget for you"
Aud they say Kitty Schuyler is quite
Dele, isn't she? said hi, with true feminine
Curiosity about one OF her And Nancy
1hom'ts has gone To Philadelphia"
An true enough, reJoined.
M "A hat hot