Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-24
CHAPTER XVI.
PAULINE's BRIGHT FANCIEs.


The ball at Darrell Court was brilliant
success. Sir Oswald was delighted, Lady
Hampton complimented him so highly.
''This is just as it ought to be, Sir Oswald"
she said. 'One who can give such entertain
mentS as this should not think of retiring
from world he is so we'll qualified to adorn.
Confess, now, that under the influence of
that music you could dance yourself"
Sir Oswald laughed.
81 must plead guilty." he said. "How
beautiful Miss Rocheford looks to-nightr'
ut is well for you, Sir Oswald, that you
have not heard all the compliments that the
dear child has Iavshed ON you; they would
have made you vain.''
Sir OsWald's face frightened with pleasure.
lis your niece pleased? / am very glad
indeed. 1t was more to give her pleasure
than from any other motive that | gave the
ball.
Then you have succeeded perfectly. Now,
Sir Oswald, do you not see that what [ said
was true-that an establishment like this re-
quireS mistress? Darrell Court always led
the inequalities of the county. 1t is only
since no lady has lived here that it has fallen
into the background"
sit shall be in the background no longer"
said Sir Oswald. Il think my first ball is a
very successful one. How happy everybody
looksP'
But of all that brilliant company, Pauline
Darrell was queen. There were men pres
ent who would have given anything for one
smile from her lips. They admired her, they
thought her beautiful beyond comparison,
but they did not feel quite at ease with her.
She was somewhat beyond them; they did
not understand her. She did not blush, and
glow, and smile when they said pretty things
to her. Wien they gave her their most brill
liant small-talk, she had nothing to give them
in return. A soul quite different from theirs
looked at them out of her dark, proud eyes.
They said to themselves that she was very
beautiful, but that she required softening,
and that something lovable and tender was
wanting in her. She was a queen to be
worshiped, an empress to receive all homage,
but not woman to be loved. So they
thought who were not even capable of judg-
ing such capacity for love as hers.
She was also not popular with the ladies.
They thought her very superb; they admired
her magnificent dress; but they pronounced
her proud and reserved. They said she gave
herself airs, that she took no pains to make
friends: and they did not anticipate any very
great rejoicings when Darrell Court should
belong to her. The elder ladies pronounced
that judgment on her; the younger ones
shrank abashed, and were slightly tinid in
her presence.
Sir Oswald, it was noticed, led Miss Roche
ford in to supper, and seemed to pay her
very great attention. Some of the ladies
made observations, but others said it was all
nonsense; if Sir Oswald had ever intended
to marry, he would have married years ago,
and his choice would have fallen on lady
of mature age, not on a slight, slender girl.
Besides-and who could find an answer to
such an argument?-was it not settled that
Miss Darrell was to be his heiress? There
was no doubt about that.
That baronet's great affection for Aubrey
LangtOn was also known. More than one
| of the guests present guessed at the arrange
| ment made and said that in all probability
Miss Darrell would marry the captain, and
| that they would have the Court after Sir Os-
| wald's death.
| The banquet was certainly magnificent
| one. The guests did full justice to the cost
| ly wines, the rare and beautiful fruits, the
! recherche dishes prepared with so much skill
| and labor. When supper was ended, the
| dancers returned to the ballroom, but Miss
| Darrell was already rather weary of it ALL
She stole away during the first dance after
supper. L liS itiilpS NtlS lSIGeu III tHe Cou-
servatory, and shed soft, pearly light over
| the fragrant flowers; the great glass doors at
| the end were open, and beyond lay the moon
| light, SOFT sweet and silvery, sleeping the
| flowers, the trees, and the long grass in its
mild light. Without, all was so calm, so
still; there was the evening sky with its myr-
| lad stars, so calm and so serene; close to
| the doors stood great Sheaves of white lilies,
| and just inside was nest of fragrant daph-
| nes and jesSamines.
| Pauline stood lost in delight; the perfume
seemed 10 float in from the moonlight and
| nfold her. This quiet, holy, tranquil beauty
| touched her heart as the splendorof the ball
| room could not; her s0ul grew calm and still
| she seemed nearer happiness than she had
| yer been before.
! HOY beautiful the world so she thought
| She raised her face, so S4renely placid and
air in the moonlight: the silver radiance fe5:
| upon it. adding ali that was needed TO make