The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-02-08
CHAPTER VII.

stThe proudest girl in England" vans
Wharf found himself repeating that
phrase over and over again. He could
well imagine that 1t was true. So peer
lessly lovely, so dainty, $50 fair md fine"
in her delicate grace, al Earl's daughter
too, and Il great heiress, she would natur-
ally be proud. All, Well, there must be
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 US one not OF
her world? Had she thought him passsa.
bic? Had she given even the ~fuintcst
thought to him? He was bending over the
balustrade in the moonlight, admiring the
wealth Of climbing plants, and he started
on finding his eyes blinded with y hot
mist of tears.
"What has come to me;" he cried. 81
have been here only five hours, and the
whole world is changed for me, l have
looked for one moment upon u wonan's
face, and I have nearly lost all self-control.
L am dazed and blinded. What has hap
pened to mc!"
In the after-days he could never remem-
Der how that night passed. He did not
sleep; 1t was to him u 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
himself to choose a site for the bridge. He
could hardly realise, hardly understand it.
What should he say to heri Would she
deign to notice him?
Vane saw her at the breakfast-table,
fair and radiant as the morning itself, her
dead-gold hair gathered In a simple knot
at the back of her quecnly head, and wear
ing a morning dress Of white muslin, with
u red rose ut her white throat. She gave
him u kindly smile and graceful bow
When he saw how she held out her hand
to Colonel Gordon, he longed to he in that
gallant officers place. She spoke to him
ut last, asking him, in n cool graceful fash.
ion, whether lie would take tea; and he
hated himself because he flushed and trem.
bled when he answered her.
Presently the carriage came to the door.
1t was u bright warm day in June, the
sky was cloudless, the air redolent of per-
fulnc and full OF summer sounds, and the
lovely green earth lay smiling in the sun.
Lord Audlcy said to Yanc-
"Sow, Mr. Wharf, we are ready. The
morning is so beautiful that we shall have
three pr four .cry pleasant Lours.'
Vaie caught Il glimpse Of II pretty morn
ing costume and of aleXquisitc lace under
II Gainsborough hat.
"Wili you help Lady Liiias, MIR. vi
blrt:' said the Earl.
Her hand touched his so lightly that lie
hardly felt its weight, and the next mo.
ment he was in the carrilge, sitting, by
the Earl's desire, facing her. The golden
sunlight gave him courage, and he VEN
tured to look ut her. How could he help
1t WHOM everything around him was 50
beautiful? He was not the first 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 a most delicate and
beautiful color to the fair face. Lady
Ltlias carried All exquisite parasol, with a
handle OF superbly-carved ivory, and with
~ she at times almost hid her face from
view. Then it was to him rs though the
sun mad set. lie never forgot the first mo-
ment In which she turned to him and
ePohe Win u smile. he had quoted some
lines that were new to her, and she turned
her beautiful face and locked at him with
a bright smile.
..Where did you read that" she in.
quired.
Tie told her. One quotation led to an.
other, and she was soon listening with de-.
light to the quaint store Of rhymes with
which he had enriched his mind; aud yet,
though her beautiful eyes were bent upon
him, he felt that the Colonel's words were
quite true-in certain fashion she ..looked
over" lin. There WAS a subtle something
in her manner-he could not tell what it
was, but it showed plainly that she did not
consider him one of her own world. He
watched tile play Of her features, the
curve of her lips, the lines that were at
once SO naughty and SO sweet; and lie said
to himself it was true that she vas ..the
proudest girl in England" Well, what
did 1t matter to him? He was to remain
there for q week; at the end of that time
he would go away and perhaps never see
her again. He would feel like one who
had had q glimpse Of heaven and then
fallen to the Garth. lie had read of one
who had fallen in love with the moon and
died OF the love. He was Just III foolish,
Tie first STRINGS OF an all-absorbing pas
sion were thrilling him, beating in his