The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-10-28
X-(Continued.o

~N~ p~SS VASA - oASAs IA AASu
to think Of Colonel Leslie and his dread
full death. Then came the handsome
face of the Youngest son Of a noble
house. She would have married him
had he possessed any money; but he
had none. So she let him ride away,
leaving the best part of his life be-
hind him. Then came the face of the
man she married, a city knight, whose
wife she had been for n short year.
An old, storm face it was, full of
wrinkles, with harsh eyes and lips. But
Sir Heriot Fraser had been a good hus-
band to her, and had left her all his
money without any conditions or stipu-
lations. She never pretended to mourn
his death, but she wore Grape In The
most becoming fashion, resolving to en-
toy herself for a few years. and then
to marry again. In the meantime, Fer
craving for the cruel amusement OF
filtration was at times too strong LOT
her.
Some people had asked who Lady
Fraser was. No one knew anytnlnS
about her. She said herself that she
belonged to the "Lanches Of
but one or two suspected that n was
the daughter of a French milliner, VINO
had married the captain OF q Spanish
ship.
But Lady Fraser was SO beautltul,
and she had so large a fortune that the
world refused to listen to any scandal
about her. Had she been plain or dow
erless. it would have refused to De-
lieve that she was n OF the Lancnes
Of Durham; but with such a race anu
such q fortune she might nave ciallheu
to be whom she would.
Quickly enough she passed the por-
trait of the city knight who had Deen
her husband for one brief year. Then
came others-dark, fair, young, old-ail
men whom she had slain as surely as
though she had used poison or steel.
She ceased to smile when she came 10
the portrait of Count Tieschi-a man
with a handsome, passionate, cruel race
"a ma with pitiless eyes and sensual
lips. She fingered some over that.
There came to her a host of memo
ries. Last year she had gone to Italy
with some friends, and they had stayed
at Ravenna. She thought of a moon
lit night there, in the garden of the
Palazzo Michel, when the handsome
count had seemed to fight with himself
over his love for her. And at last-at
last he had sacrificed his patriotism and
everything else to love; while She had
lured him on, and then refused him,
because he could not keep her In the
luxury she loved. She remembered an
other evening when the fiery love Of
the Italian had urged him into a tenn
pest Of anger-it was the night before
her return to England-and he had said
to her:
'"Take care! If you go, I shall follow
you. If I follow, l shall find you. If I
find you, I will kill you before your
beauty has power to mar the life of
another man."
Her laugh had floated away on the
soft summer ~breeze-sweet and soft as
the rose leaves stirred by the wind, but
there was no smile OF his face, and no
mercy In his eyes.
If vel he finds me, I am lost" she
said to herself. But he will not; I am
safe enough. And IL he finds me-this
is the nineteenth century-he will not
harm me-"
Still she was glad to pass over the
cold, handsome, cruel face.
'That was about the only mistake /
ever made; I will forget it."
She looked at many other faces, and
then came to a vacant space.
Here" she said to herself, with a
smile, Il will put Alan Branston, squire
Of Elmsthorpe Grange" and then, with
a sigh, she put down the album, and
turned her attention to the dressing of
her hair.
She had forgotten every graver on
sideration, and was wondering what
style would attract the squire most.
1t was a beautiful morning that fol-
lowed, and at breakfast time Lady
Rosedene proposed that her guests
should visit an old ruin called Elm
hurst-an ancient priory Of which only
walls and windows remained. The
proposal was agreed to.
"Will you walk or drive, Hyacinth:"
asked Alan. 'Whichever you prefer, /
will be your companion"
Then Lady Fraser spoke, her dark
eyes all bright. her smile so brilliant
and sweet. She turned her graceful
head to Alan.
II will tell you what would really be
a treat to me-" she said. Il hear that
YOU are a capital horseman. VIII you
ride with us-that is, with Miss Vane
and myself?"
Il do not like riding" put in Hya-
cinth, quietly.
The beautiful widow smiled.
1.-THE more you have of it the more
YOU will like it," she said.
And Hyacinth mentally hoped Alan
would refuse; she ever felt aggrieved
that any n should offer to interrupt
their tete-a-tetes-Lady Rosedene never
did. ~. -
But Alan was fiattered. The voice
had not said much, but those bewich-
ing eyes said plainly that she admired
his riding and wished to ride with him.
How do you know I ride well?" he
asked; and she saw the pleasant I'M
preston her words had made on him.
Some one told mel do not remem-
Der who it was" was the careless re-
ply; but I should like to see you put
to the test"
81 will ride with you with pleasure"
he said. Hyacinth, you have your
habit here; you will not be long In
dressing, / know"
Lady Fraser smiled sweetly.
rs Miss Vane an adept at dressing
quickly Z" she asked.
Miss Vane Is perfection" laughed
the young squire; and Hyactnth went
away to dress, but not with her usual
alacrity.
!. Why should Lady Fraser disturb
their plans and go with them? Iiya-
cintn was not q good rider, and rs an
equestrian was always more frightened
han pleased. Lady Fraser, on the con
trary, was never seen to such advan-
as On horseback
Tho o Hyacinth thought Of the
plan proposed, the more she disliked 1t.
She had pictured herself by her lovers