The Dickinson press., 1892-01-30

Westwood on Tuesday. the twentieth Of
May. Lady iorke had ordered q lavish
supply of magnificent flowers to be placed
in Lady Severne's room.
"That is one pointin her character which
I like" said Lady Yorke; 'she is very fond
of flowers. 1t pleases me always to see a
woman fond OF flowers" Then she con-
tinued, with something ola conscious blush
on her face, Miss Chester, l know l shall
be very much engaged while the Severnes
hope l shall never fall again into that ter
rible apathetic way of thinking ofno n
but myself. lift be really impossible for
me to leave home, you will undertake any
little commission for ME, will you not?"
l would have gone anywhere for her: l
expression on the face that had once re-
vealed nothing but self-love and discomfort.
Every preparation had been made for our
visitors. Lady Mary Avon and her brother
Sir Charles were two handsome, fashion,
able persons. rich and popular: Lady Mary
the word marriage Sir Charles was look
ing out tor a wife. Captain Forces
ter was Representative to an earl
dom, and was consequently much sought
after. Sir Harry de Burgh was a young
Irish baronet, one of the most popular men
in England, and Lady Grey was a young
widow with a large fortune.
Lady Yorke, complacently; and the great
beauty ofthe arrangement is that they will
amuse each other. Lord Servene will gener-
ally fall to my lot. ifthc same thing hap
pens here that tool place invariably in It.
ally. He liked to saunter by my side in his
grave melancholy fashion, while Lady
Severne generally attracted all the men to
herself. She will do the same here. l am so
glad" continued Lady Yorke, that you
sing so beautifully, Miss Chester. Lord
/ u, ,,cy 1t1,o. ,,,,,tn 1Ts, ,xsFn ~ kat Io
does notcare for her style, and always dis
courages her"
Tuesday came, a bright morning, out
with the warning ola coming rain-storm
on its face. There was a low wall in the
wind, a darkening at times of the sky, a
strange stiffness in the air such as always
precedes q storm.
1t was midday when a message came
from Woodheaton; asking help for q poor
family, one of whom the tatller-was dan
gerously ill. the wi. had met with a severe
accident, and the children were destitute.
The poor We're beginning to know to whom
love Lady Yorke, for they knew that no
one ever asked her help i'll vain. She came
to me and asked me to act tor her.
~ must be here to receive our visitors"
she said, ~ give you carte blanche, Miss
Chester"
|, $50 it was as Lady Yorke's almoner that
I went out on that day. Lord Yorke babe
me beware OF the threatening storm, but
told him l did not think it would break
until the morrow. But, when | was OH the
point of returning from Woodheaton, the
rain descended i'll torrents. For an ordinary
shower l should not have cared in the
least, but this storm was terrible. 1t SEEM
ed as though the heavens were opened, snch
a tempest ragged on that fair, tranquil coun-
try-side. The sky was like lead, the wind
blew tiercely; and then lightning flashed
and thunder came. The storm lasted some
hours; and when the sky cleared and the
rain ceased it was night. Lady Yorke, who
was always thoughtful, sent a closed car
rage q ter me.
stopped suddenly and the coachman sprung
down from the box and came to me.
do you see what has happened, Miss
Chester" he asked.
Looking out, l saw by the pale watery
CLEAN OF the moon thai a great beech-tree,
said to be the largest and finest of its kind
in England, and called ''The Pride ofWest-
wood" had been blown down.
Why, his lordship will be more grieved
over this tree than ii half the GUS had
been blown down." said the coachman, in
a grave voice. am very sorry, miss. but
you see the branches reach all across the
drive. l cannot take the carriage any fur.
ther; | must go back to the courtyard"
l saw that the honest simple man, a
faithful retainer of the House of Yorke,
was deeply distressed. He shook his head
as he led the frightened horse away.
81 never like such great trees to fall,
Miss Chester" he said. They are the
glory Of house. always think bad luck
follows"
1 cannot tell why, but, as l
went to my room a sense of oppres.
not believe in the superstition that the
falling of a great tree must mean evil.
That was nonsense. But my heart was
heavy, my brain oppressed.
Fortunately for me. l was a great tav-
orite with Mrs. Masham, the h~ousekeeper,
and when she heard that l had returned.
she fastened to my room. Any idea l
might have had of so;nu to the draWins-
room was speedily abandoned. She sroo,
before me, stern as a judge.
you look ill.,, Miss Chester. You have
taken cold. You must go to bed. and ]
will send you something warm to
drink"
1 murmured a few words about the
visitors and music, but she was peremp-
tory.
mo, miss not tonight. You must take
care of yourself: you have been aut in the
wet all day amongst those poo people. ]
know what it is; you must res now. Her
ladyship would desire it l am sure"
There was nothing for it but to obey.
1eC l COulu nOC Steep. lne
vi Xind na mgrnfu red 81 sal'snly through
rustled.- My thoughts were full of the mis-
cry that l had witnessed that day, of the
terrible storm, of the fallen tree, OF the
guests now under the some roof. When
ever the door opened, 1 heard the sound
of music and laughter; the house seemed all
brilliancy and merriment. Mrs. Masham
told me that the visitors had come. All
words had failed her in trying to describe
Lady Severne: she raised in speeches. won
der her hands and eyes.
Beauty does not come near it, Miss
Chester, "she said, after a time. "Our Lady
Yorke is a beautiful woman, hut Lady Sew.
erne's face dazzles one. The husband, Lord
Severne, seems quiet;he is a handsome man,
out very melancholy.
She contrived to give a fair description t.
all of our visitors, and, very much to my
surprise, finished by saying-
"Ah, Miss Chester. you would have been
queen OF them all If You did not look so sad
and would moi always wear m%ourning!'
That night terrible dreams came to me OF
Mark. Mark was out i'll the storm, and
could not find him. Mark was struck by
was under the fallen tree, .mangled and
crushed. My dreams were always Of Mark
in peril, in danger, and dead.
CHAPTER TX.
Wednesday morning-a day never to be
forgotten; the twcn y-tirst OF Maya date
ever to lie remembered! 1 rose with the
sun. The morning was so beautiful thai
one could hardly believe in the clouds and
storm of the day before. The air was sweei