Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-12-10

that beautiful eountenanee; there was
the very abandon of hopeless, agoniZing
misery in her altitude. Never before
had Edgar CHANGED to see her thus,
when, su2posing herself quite unOb-
served, she had forgotten all around
her, and given herself up TO her despair.
Silently as a shadow he was at her
side before one of the three noticed his
entrance; heart-Wrung and sore dis
mayed as he was, il was an ungOVerna-
bic impulse that made him grasp the
hand that hung so lifeless, and hold it
close between his two palms, while
he gazed at her with devotion in his
eyes
She was not Shareholder thoughts
had been too far of for that She
slowly came back to the present and
looked at him with recognition-a
strange glance, that seemed TO appeal to
him like a murmur Of pain; not asking
him for help, but needing it as the
drowning mute needs rescue.
Then. with faint quivering sign, she
re eased her hand and signed him to a
place on a couch, luxuriously cushioned,
which had evidently been prepared for
him
@Ah, You are not strong yet; be docile
and recline here beside me, she said
with sweetest solicitnde And then she
raised her voice aud ca led Viva, who
turned round with little bright cry Of
surprise, and came swiftly down the long
room, smiling welcome
She wore a dark-blue transparent
dress lucid as the mountain mists. and
threaded here and there with god; her
slender waist was also girded with god,
and her biue-black hair, dressed for the
ei ening, was fastened by a comb of
pretty gold flagree. His whole heart
went out TO her as she came smiling TO
VI ov,1r h. 10 Oh,
but such modesty and truth. ami gentle
womanhcOd, that all that was nOblest in
him bowed down before her.
This fair woman doomed to loYeless
solitude?
BY that nobility which he had ever
found IN Inchcape-noi
Yonder dark-lined, lowering face be
longed to traitor, that was easier TO
believe.
Now you shall soon be well, " said
Viva, giving him her hand while her
lustrOus eyes beamed pure friendliness
upon him The worst is passed when
you can leave the SICK room; before the
week is out prOphesy that you will be
exploring all the wonders of this old
fortress with Mr.. Sircombe, who is an
enthusiastic archeOlogist
Mr. Sircombe, from his distant vantage
ground. bowed here as Edgar glanced at
him; and a queer smile, just the end of
one, Gickered about his mouth.
~And are you also arch8 ological?"
asked Edgar GENEROUSLY, as a vision of
that charming girl wandering by his side
chOked corridors rose before his minds
eye.
She had seated herself close TO Lady
DunraYen, and was spreading out the
meshes of some exquisite bit of needle
work she had been busy oyer, on my
/ ladg's knee. Edgar watched the fairy
| nimb eness of her fingers, small and
pointed as a Spaniard's, but ivory white.
/ with rosy nails; not ring marred their
/ delicacy, not bracelet spoiled the PER
/ feet arch of her wrists; her gauZy
| bodice chung about her warm pearly
/ shoulders like the daphanous yelling Of
/ a chiselled water-nymph. He watched
| her with the feeding gaze of enraptured
| admiration, hectic fire kindling in each
wan cheek.
1t was the beautiful hour of first love;
/ poor Edgar's heart was at her feet
al am nothing so severely intellectual, d"
/ replied she lightly to his last question;
though of course L am interested in all
that belongs to my fathers race, and l
| believe this ancient sea-toWer has been
in our hands 800 years. 1 have been
I in all the holes and corners that MIR
| SircOmbe would allow me TO explore,
[ but the best are sealed mysteries to me.
| There are chambers cut in the solid rock
beneath the tower-beloW the level of
the high tide mark; in old days we
smothered our enemies there. "
Il should like TO explore them" said
Edgar, thinking less of the death-tra ps
than OF the ruby lips that spoke of
them.
Mr.. Sircombe abruptly stepped through
the window beside him, and leaned over
the broad stone balustrade. gazing at
the glittering waves which Tapped
against the base Of the cliff below
The conversation proceeded between
the youthful pair, Lady Dunraven lean
ing back in her carved chair and listen
ing or seeming to listen less than she
looked at each animated face. Some
times she reused herself to take part;
and then Edgar, with mOurnful regret,
could trace the signs of a once brilliant
and accomplished mind, now smolder-
ing down 10 dull Indifference. He had
heard much of this unhappy lady's spirit
and fascination in the days when she
reigned as queen OF the social circle in
the Inchcape FOsse; like so many of her
cOuntryWOmen, she had created a Juror
| by her intellectual graces as much as
by her refined and spirituelle type of
beauty. No women in the world are
more fervently admired than American
women of culture when they come to
D t.u
the peculiar power Of soul, and their
delicacy and vivacity are rare charms in
stately England.
Edgar YVES quickly adding links 70 the
chain which bound him TO Dunraven
Tower. Love attracted him, but a more
generous sentiment subiugated him
this wrOnged lady needed help.
That strange glance of hers which
seemed to follow him like low murmuI
of pain, how could he check il? She
asked no help, she only pinned and suf-
fered for lack of it.
To this chain, fastened upon him by
his own feeling alone, he could oppose
no considerations of selfish caution.
Sitting there between the girl he now
boldly acknowledged to himself that he
RdOred, and the woman who had reused
all that was most generous in his nature,
he said to himself:
q must. 1 will do my best to bring
back her happiness.
CHANGING upward with the fire of that
inspiring resolve in his eyes, he met the
gaze of Mr.. SircOmbe fastened upon him.
Caught unawares, Sircombe had let his
very soul look out through those win
dows, his eyes, and Edgar started In
pure amazement. 1t was like glimpse
through the windows of hell.
But even as he stared the expression
changed to a natural one, and Mr.. Sir
cOmbe sauntered along the balcony out
of sight L ooking into the garden when
he came to the corner of the tower, he
saw old Kenmore training up his young
lady's roses upon their trelljs
Mr. Sircombe entered the building by
a summer portal upon the balcony, and
very soon sauntered into the garden and
came to a halt by Kenmore He had
!. liz \ II.