Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1889-08-09

were caught up here and there by clusters
Of the same exquisite flowers.
The dinner bell rang. TOinette glanced
snxiously into the mirror, and charming
smiles Wreathed her deWy lips as she be-
held the girliEh, dimpled face it reflected.
Il viii bring him to my feet by the
witching spell of my beauty, she said
and gathering up her cleaning robe,
swept down the oak staircase to the grand
old dining-rOCm.
The servants looked at her euriously
and were very obseguious, but she found
no one at the long table gIittering with
cut glass and silver.
Where is your master?" she inquired
Of one of the servants IN attendance, after
having waited several minutes for Philip
to appear.
I don't know, mum, was the reply
You are to dine alone, please, mum.
Did Mr.. RaynOr say sO2"
Yes, mum; that's the message he left.
Go and inquire why he isn't coming.
TOinette swallowed a sob. She was bit
terly disappointed. She had counted on
the sOftenlng effect her beauty must surely
produce.
eff you please, mum, said the servant,
returning, master has gone to the village
and wont be back until evening"
Toinette pushed back her plate so alb
ruptly as to overtUrn the cut-glass goblet
beside it. Had he left the house simply
to avoid her?
Let me know when MI. RaynOr returns,
she said, rising from the table preparatory
to returning to her own room.
MissUs looked as If she could have
stFangIed me with them little hands, for
all her innocent baby face, said the ser
want maid afterWard, in describing the
| scene.
It was ten o'clock before Toinette re-
| ceiVed the message for which she waited.
j Descending to the drawing room she sent
/ for Philip to meet her there. The answer
/ came back;
"AIr. Raynor begs to be excused. His
/ head aches, and he has retired to his
room
Toinette's face grew dark with passion;
/ but she was helpless. Philip must feel
/ very distrustful, indeed to carry the mat
! ter SO far.
| The next morning she lay in waiting for
| him as he left the smoking-roOm. Re-
! CARELESS Of the servants passing along the
/ hall, she glided forward and confronted
/ him.
Philip, she quavered, plaintively, the
unnatural life we are leading is almost
| insuppOrtable. I am your We've live
under the same roof, and yet are as
/ strangers to each other"
! He gazed at her cuEiOusly and intentIy,
as if to read her very soul.
1T is no mystery why 1 shun you.
Will nothing convince you that 1 am
Dulcie, the wife for whom you feel such
deep, remOrsefUl lover"
Bring me the ring placed on my dar-
| ling's finger and L viii believe you"
TOinette uttered a hoarse, passionate
cry.
IF am not DuIcie, where is she?"
Dead, I greatly fear, he answered,
groaning heavily.
Even in that case I should be your wife,
bound to you by the ceremony of yester-
day morning"
The miserable man turned upon her and
said, with a sudden derceness that fright
ened her:
If knew you were Toinette, and haC
laid a deliberate plot to deceive me, ]
should hate and despise you"
The next instant he had passed on. The
startled impOstOr glanced after him
trembling in every limb.
He never shall know, she said between
her teeth. There is no help for it now
must keep up this difficult role to the
bitter end"
Philip must be won by gentleness and
devotion.
The unpleasant impression he had re-
ceived would gradually wear away.
He would forget his distrustful feeling
after awhile, and be willing to receive he
as his wife.
She had only to be patient and @shufH
the cards"
She laid her plans with cool delibera-
ton worthy a better cause. A winning
sweetness, that was forbearing without
tinge of servility. had been one of Dulcie'
greatest charms.
Toinette did not possess this, but knew
how to assume it. She would bring Philll
to her feet-make him the suppliant.
The day wore on. and as it was sIOwl
waning the desperate woman took a bOOl
and descended to the drawing-room.
Not to read-her thoughts were in
tumult that rendered close application
impossible. All the windows were ope.
to admit the evening breeze.
She hoped Philip would pass by an
see her there, so assumed a graceful posi-
? ton on the velvet sofa.
Presently she heard the soft fall of foot
steps almost like the patter Of angel fee
and looked up with a startled air as a girl
ish figure crossed the veranda and entere
Z the room through the low French window
ITO BE Continued