Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-02-23
CHARTER XXI.

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Lady Charnleigh was not twenty; she
was as beautiful. as . vision and mis-
tress Of q large fortune and magnificent
estate. She had nothing to do but
frame . wish, and It was gratified.
would cay to herself that she would en-
joy certain pleasure before night, and
It was hers to enjoy. She imagined .
hundred wants for the sake Of crafty
ing them. Yet her pleasure In her
wealth was not wholly selfish. She
gloried in relieving distress; to see .
pale face brighten and dim eyes shine
with happiness was to her keen
source of pleasure. Before Lady
Charnleigh had been many days q
Crown Leighton her name was known
wherever want or sorrow reigned. A
hundred blessings were poured upon
her, q hundred grateful hearts beat
more quickly at the mention of her
name-no light praise for . young girl
who had the world at her feet.
Ethel Daore was with her; and q note
from Weldon told her that Paul FIem-
yng and Sir Bertram were there. Sir
Bertram, then, was only seven miles
from her! The grand old trees in her
woods reached to the town where he
was staying, the same sun shone for
him, the same flowers bloomed, he was
near her. and the world grew dazzling
~ bright as she read the words.
She rose one morning, and said to
herself that she would ask the two
friends to dinner, and she laughed
aloud sweet, ripping laugh-to
think that she had only to wish and to
be gratified.
II Paul were one whit less noble
than he Is, coming to Grown Leighton
would be . trial to him" she said to
Miss Dacre as the two stood on the sum
lit western terrace.
Il believe, in all honesty, were any
question of ownership to arise, that he
would far rather this noble estate be-
came yours than his" observed Ethel.
looking at the beautiful face. And
Lady Charnleigh laughed again. It
was very sweet and pleasant to hear
how much she was loved, and among
all her conquests she rated this one Of
le beau sabreur most highly.
II could not be SO disinterested," she
rejoined, looking around. II could not
give up this lovely home of mine to
any one or for any One."
Then she stopped abruptly. Yes,
there was one for whom she could give
~ up, BIO tnOuSub-Ou0 WQOm 6l0
could follow into that cold world Of
poverty and privation from which she
had been so glad to escape.
"You say you have sent an invitation
to Sir Bertram Gordon as we'll as Cap
tain Flemyng," remarked Ethel. sHas
the baronet been here before? Does
/ he know Grown Leighton at all?n
aNo; it is his first VISIT" and Lady
Charnleigh, bent low over some Bank
sia roses lest Ethel should wonder at
the burning blush on her face.
Sir Bertram was coming that day,
and Lady Charnleigh looked round her
in proud, happy enjoyment of her mag
nifcence-proud that this was all hers
proud to remember the magnificent
dowry she would bring him when he
asked her for the gift he valued most
her heart. She wandered, restlessly
happy, on that bright summer day,
through the sumptuous rooms, chang
ing flowers on the stands, rearranging
vases and statuettes, all to please his
eyes. 1t was to her as though king
were coming-he was her king. The
restless, bright day seemed as though
| 1t would never pass-she wandered.
with sweet snatches of song upon her
\ lips, from the house to the gardens and
back again.
ITO BIZ coNT1NuHni