Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-12-27

ing him.
Had it not been for his self-control, he
would have started violently As it was, a
great wave Of color surged over his foce,
and he quickly looked down again, half turn
ing his back to the staircase to hide his con
fusion.
Coming down with stately steps and lean
ing on the arm Of the Marquis, a courtly old
gentleman Of perhaps eighty, was Natalie,
gazing steadfastly with her great earnest
eyes at Fairfax.
Her figure was encased in a superbly-iit-
ting dress of cream-color. In her right hand
she held a bouquet of roses, white, red and
yellow; while, above her lovely brow, fast
ened among those dark tresses, glittered a
golden star, from whose center pure dia-
mond shot forth brilliant rays, reelected
from the myriad lights below.
The old Marquis, with powdered white
hair and cue, knee-b reeche5 and antique
buckles, and talking to her with the name
less grace of the French school, while he
carried her long cloak on his free arm,
made, with her, so charming a picture as
they came slowly and with graceful dignity
down the steps, that every body uncon-
sciously ceased conversing to gaze admir-
ingly upon the pair.
1t was just ut this moment that Fairfax
CHANGED to look up and catch her eye upon
him She, too, seemed a little confused at
being detected in gazing SO ixedly at q
stranger, and, flushing slightly, turned to
her escort and asked him some impromptu
question,
Lady Lydia, his watchful companion, per-
ceived the confusion on the part Of Fairfax
with evident surprise, and said, quickly:
harr ~ 1rrf af fysif, fIs
Princess, then!"
Rarely thrown off his guard. and wonder
fully quick at recovering himself, he an
swered, slowly and quietly;
"You are mistaken. II you refer to tho
lady coming down Sac stairs, | never saw
her before this evening.
This was quite true FOR Il was after six
o'clock, when she was watering her horse
at the pool
Not so easily forced to retreat, Lydia da-
ternincd TO follow up Eer attack WIKI a
coup d etat Easily ana gracefully slipping
her arm through his, she remarked:
LET me present you, thon.n
Was it intuition, tiInidty or a feeling that
the Princess was being from another
world and must be worshiped al dis
lance what was it thst caused Fairfax to
start back with look Of alarm and hastily
exclaim:
''No Please do not do that
He saw his error Immediately, as did
Lydia. Smiling sarcastically, she re-
marked in ironieal tones:
''You appear to be extremely disturbed at
thoidea OF meeting mere stranger, Mr.
Fairfax; and one So attractive, too"
Just here the MaFchioness entered from
an adjoining room and. seeing the Princess
prepared for departure, hastenod toward
her saying;
surely my dear Natalie, you are not
going, without, at least, one song. / have
stopped the waltz for the express purpose
Of hearing you sing
Smiling sweetly, her charming guest re
piled
certainly Il you wish it, but Il must be
only one
Going 70 the piano the Princess played a
few soft chords and began her song.
Since the fatal moment every occurrence
had been SO opportune, so peculiarly and
strangely appropriate, thai IL seemed to
Fairfax Us If he were ia d land Of cuehant-
meat OF dreaming But six hours had
elapsed since he had seen, only for mo-
ment, and become he.piessly fascinated
with the most lovely EeaE lie had ever be
held Fortune had also Wiiicd it that he
should not only learn tho name Of this fair
stranger as we'll as the haunts OF her ar
tistic labors, but also should become the
present possessor Of certain valued belong
iags Of hers, while, to cap tho climax, he was
now,noton1y ID herp presence, Dutone Of his Ia
vorite ballads tliat had been ringing through
his brain, ever since h. had read it en-
graved upoI the handle Of the recovered
knife-that very song she was actually now
singing, with voice glorious and strong;
and, yet, so sweet and deeply sympathetic
that it thrilled every fiber OF his being with
a pleasure so subtle that it was akin to
pain Many did not restrain their tears,
and all were visibly affected. When sho
finished. no applause followed The unusual
silence was FAR more Commondatory. A
gentle pressure Of Natalio's hand BY The
/ Marchiopess, and quiet: "ThQnk you, my
DEAR" from the old gentleman, spoke vol
umes Of praise.
Her cloak, trimmed with white crmine,
was thrown over the Princess beautiful
neck and shoulders; her own white fingers
deity encased the shapely head in its rich
covering, leaving the far-shining star still
visible.
Kissing the Warehouses, she turned TO
the guests, who rose unanimously, and,
making a pretty bow, took the arm Of the
Marquis and walked down the hall toward
the door. AS she passed by, Fairfax heard
her say:
THAT song has haunted me all the even
ing and can not get rid Of it,
He Involuntary started, for had he not
been in the same predicament1
"a few hours ago" continued she, II
discovered that had lost q precious gift
that my brother gave 70 me, just before he
died The first few bars OF that, his r.
vorite ballad. We're engraved upon IT, / am
very sad over its loss
Here Fairfax lost her words He was
seized with 40 almost uncomfortable desire
to haston after her and restore the lost
kuife to It's proper owner. But tho Lady
Lydia, who had been watching him with the
eye of o lynx, remarked. sarcastically:
"Surely yuu don't intend pursuing an en-
tire stranger, after refusing IA introauc-
top to herr"
Recalled TO his senses, Fairfax regarded
his fair tormcntor a moment, half in en-
treaty, half in defiance; then, assuming his
usual bravado spirit, gave her his arm.
He was filed with joy "Oa0," then,
was only her brother and cot a lover.
Success he'd crowned Ill the young mans
efforts. He had discovered far more about
the Princess than he had even dared to hope
for, and-far above all had boon honored
by more than passing glance from her.
A wild dclirium Of joy came over him.
The turn in tho tide Of his life had, ~ last,
come. He would take t.
Abandoning himself to the delight Of tho
momont, he waited as he had never waited
before and found u worthy companion in
Lydia who moved through the dance with
marvellous ease and grace. Neither had
eyer before met nth such partner. Their
dancing was SO remarkable that all the
others paused 70 watch them The orches-
ira was inspired and the music transport
ingly sweet.
In the case of Fairfax, this display was
simply vent to his suddenly aroused and
violent feeling-the expression of passion
ate joy. With the girl it was the effort Of
/ Will stirred hy piqUe. Wealthy, titled, ad-
mired, asgays accustomed to easy conquest
and hattery, she was, from the first, an-
noyed by the lack Of interest which this
stranger displayed. II was something new
to her. Conquest had begotteh in her the
+ love Of conquest. All men paid homage 70
her. She expected and liked their fiattery,
end yet, despised them Tor it. She had now
to deal with strange and mysterious typo
Of character This man not only failed 70
admire her but, also, was scarcely civil
Her attention was Immediately attracted
and her love Of conquest aroused. She de-
termined to conquer; but id endeavoring to
interest, she, herself, became interested,