Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-03
CHAPTER VII.
THE INTRODUCTION.

1t was a neVer-tO-be-iOrgOtten evening
when Captain LangtOn reached Darrell Court
an evening fair, bright, and calm. The
sweet southern wind bore the perfume of
flowers; the faint rippleS Of the fountains,
the musical song of the birds seemed almost
to die away on the evening breeze; the sun
appeared unwilling to leave the sapphire sky,
the flowers unwilling TO close. Pauline had
fingered over her books until she could re-
main indoors no longer; then, by Miss Hast
ing'S advice she dressed for dinner which was
delayed an hOur-afterward went into the
garden.
Most girls would have remembered, as
they dressed that handsome young officer
was coming; Miss Darrell did not make the
least change in her usual toilet. The thin,
fine dress of Grape fell in statuesque folds
round the splendid figure; the dark hair was
drawn back from the beautiful brow, and
negligently fastened with her favorite silver
arrow; the white neck and fair rounded arms
cleaned like white marble through the thin
folds of Grape. There was not the least at
tempt at ornament; yet no queen arrayed in
royal robes ever looked more lovely.
Pauline was great lover of the pictur-
esque. With single flower, solitary knot
of ribbon, she could produce an effect which
many women would give all their jewels to
achieve. Whatever she Wore took kind of
royal grace from herself which no other per-
son could impart. Though her dress might
be made of the same material as that of 9TH
ers, it never looked the same. On her it ap-
peared like the robes Of queen.
AS Pauline was passing through the cor
ridor, Miss Hastings met her. The govern
ess looked scrutinizingly at the plain evening
dress: it was the same that she had worn
yesterday Evidently there was no girlish de-
sire to attract
pauline we shall have a visitor this even
ing" said Miss Hastings. .'vou might add a
few towers to your dress"
She passed on, with a smile of assent. Al
most the first thing that caught her attention
out of doors was large and handsome fuch-
STA. She gathered spray of the rich purple
and crimson flowers, and placed it negligent
ly in her hair. Many women would have
stood before their mirror for an hour without
producing the same superb effect. Then she
placed another spray of the same gorgeous
flower in the bodice of her dress. 1t was all
done without effort and she would have
been the last in the world to suspect how
beautiful she looked. Then she Went on to
the fountain, for the beautiful, calm evening
had awakened all the poets soul within her.
The grand, sensitive nature thriIled-the
beautiful, poetical mind reveled in this hour
of natures most supreme loneliness. A
thousand bright fancies surged through her
heart and brain; thousand poetical ideas
shaped themselves into words, and rose to
| her lips.
So time passed, and she was uncoL seious
| of it, until shadow falling over the great
white lilies warned her that some one was
near.
Looking up quickly, she saw a tall, fair,
handsome young man gazing at her with
| mingled admiration and surprise. Beside
him STOOD Sir Oswald, courtly, gracious, and
! evidently on the alert.
Captain Langton," he said. ''let me in
| troduce you to my niece, Miss Darrell"
Not one feature of the girls proud. beauti-