Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-02

she was Had cannon been suddenly
| fred of beside her, it could not have
! startled her moro than the statement that
! she was in love.
She was simple-minded, unaffected and
! sincere girl. She liked Mr. Fox; thought
their respective tastes were sympathetic,
and believed that each could understand
the other. Her interest went out toward
him in purely friendly manner. But. il
lustrious reader, it must be admitted that
this interest was Of such a nature that
some trivial occurrence, some accidental
news, some carelessly uttered word or IN
guarded tone OF voice. might suddenly cause
her to wake up to, and be almost stunned by
its hitherto hidden and unsupported depth.
The factor love was, ct present, an unseen
quantity in the calculations of the Princess
Natalie Radziwill, worthy daughter of the
race OF the HohenzollernB
One morning, day or two after her
visit to Miss Strong, Natalie was reading to
herself in the music-room and Dolores play
ing with the clumsy, patient Max.
A light, quick step was heard upon the
walk, outside. Max, In an instant, pricked
up his ears and listened anxiously. A
tenor voice was heard humming the air of a
lively song. Max leaped up, overset
Dolores in his eager haste; rushed through
the hall; sprang over the door, the upper
half of which was open and. IN his wild Joy,
almost knocked over the new conner, who
was heard speaking affectionately TO the
animal and calling him by name. Dolores,
too, had recognized the voice and, quickly
picking herself up, ran out and grasped
Fairfax hand, crying gladly:
''My Mr.. Arnold Fox has come back
Come, little mamma; here he is.'
Natalie, with sparkling eyes and a bright
color in her cheeks came quickly and eager
ly forward and took the outstretched hand
of her visitor, who held Dolores upon his
shoulder with the other.
Fairfax had never seen her looking more
lovely. She was radiantly beautiful 1t
required all the will that he could summon
to carry out the part he had decided to play,
and not to assume the natural role of the
lover.
''Oh, Mr.. Fox, your aunt and all Of us'-
who 'iall of us' were she didn't explain
shave been so disturbed by your absence -
''Ah?" returned he, with a slight rising
infection. Il am very sorry to have made
such disturbance. When 1 returned re-
ceived orders to proceed directly over to
Eld-Field, and make ample apologies for my
sins and oelinquencies. / hope / have Miss
Rochefort's forgiveness''-this last with a
graceful bow and frank pleasant smile.
Natalie replied in the same merry vein ::
Certainly, if Mr.. Fox will promise never
to do so again.
81 promise, and faithfully will fulfill" he
returned, again bowling with mock chivalry.
Here continued he, taking q roll of
music from his pocket, '-are several songs
that have just received, compositions OF
an old friend of mine, q college chum, John
Castro, and most charming fellow. I am
anxious to hear them. VIII you not sing
them for me?"
She sang the songs, that proved-one of
them specially-unusually good.
Like almost every other action of his in
connection with his prisoner, this little meet
ing was entirely prearranged. He had re-
turned that morning to Glen Gore, and inn
mediately written note to Blanche.
One sentence in this note ran thus:
when your mistress and Dolores, with
Max, are all together this morning in the
mushroom, and likely to remain so for a
half hour or more, throw open the blinds Of
the windows of the north chamber, toward
my cottage; then so down stairs and open
the upper half of the hall door"
His instructions had been followed to the
letter, and he was again successful.
1t was nearly an impossibility TO him to be
natural, and no one better than he himself
knew this frailty. 1t grieved him. Spring
ing originally from q morbid self-conscious-
ness, it became one of those unfortunate
circumstances connected with his life and
character over which he seemed to possess
no control. AT last it grew to such All ex-
tent that he was quite at n loss to know his
own natural tendencies and inclinations.
He had fitted himself to so many roles that
he could not detect the true from the false
those peculiar to his nature from those for
eign toit
He had for some time been debating with
himself which was the best course to pur-
ms To NxyiTn PT-innaQQf
tons.
Should he work upon her pityl Appear
as the unhappy, imbittered, disappointed
misai.thrope, fighting against fatel Or
should he adopt the character Of sincere,
ingenious, sunny and ight-hearted mana
Better the latter" thought he. 1t
would disarm suspicion. Natalie herself
was naturally bright, hopeful, buoyant and
sunny as the clear sky. Beneath it, he
knew, lay sometimes overpowering and
deep fountain OF melancholy and sympathy
that, once set flowing, flowed to no fruitless
end
How he progressed in the first part Of
his scheme has been set forth. OF
course he had used little Dolores as a cats
paw in forming the acquaintance of Ma
tale. Nor were the latter's suspicious at
all aroused. Again, the remarks of his
aunt with regard to his troubles did not fail
of their purpose. Had this hght-heartcd
fellow troubles? If so, he concealed them
wonderfully well. His must be strong,
unselfish character.
She fell to musing about him. The poison
began to take effect.
The remaining portion of the morning
hours was devoted to music and CONVERSE
ton, so all-a5sorbing that Natalie failed to
note the flight of time.
Suddenly las had been pre-arranged by
Fairfax with Blanche) the door of the
| dining-room was flung open and the table
was seen set for two guests. Blanche, who
also officiated in the capacity Of waitress,
appeared surprised when she saw Fairfax.
and cxclaiming:
20! Madamoiselle, 1 beg pardon!'' has
! tened to close the doors again.
Ac the Princess inn