The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-30

~ N#t#J She was also the
#a loveliest girl Of
- the day. but as
cold and unimpas-
stoned as "a statue
wrought from the
purest alabaster.
Her siren like smiles lured Gerard
Ransford. a young officer of hussars.
to her side. and he soon became cn-
shaved in the meshes Of love which She
heartlessly wove around him
One evening when alone with her
in the earls drawing-room he declared
his passion. She permitted him to
toy with her soft. W. tie hand, and as
size glanced into his enraptured face q
smile played around her lips Gerard
imagined the smile to be an omen Of
success and his delight was un-
bounded.
on the impulse Of the moment he
clasped her into his arms and imprint
ed a warm l1isa.upon her lips.
He was the first lover who had ever
dared to press his lips to hers. soon
her cold nature asserted itself. She
extricated herself from his arms and
turned away disdainfplly. Gerard
saw the dark frown upon her brow
and trembleds but it was against his
nature to recoil. therefore ne deter
mined to learn his fate at once.
ssDear Lady Blanche he pleaded
in tremulous tones, s'pray pardon my
impetuosity. Words are p0werless to
express how devotedly love you. Do
for PHYS sake hold ont one ray Of
hope"
She vOuchsafed no reply. but turned
from him with scorn inehable and
slowly left the room without deigning
TO east even one look behind.
at this time Count de Lornais.
scion of an old and wealthy French
family made his appearance in London
society De Lornais was handsome
man, with polite and fascinating man
ners, and it was soon whispered that
he, too, was enthral1ed by the supreme
l0veliness Of Lady Blanche.
All through one London season the
count continued staunch IN his allie
glance to Lady Blanche. and then it
began to be rumored that the hand
some and wealthy Frenchman had
beaten all his rivals and won the
greatest beauty of the day at last.
ssThe Sinking Frenehman's money
has won her. said Gerard. while
am discarded because of my poverty"
From that moment Gerard became
an altered man. His days were now
devoted 10 the betting ring and his
nights to the card table Formerly
one of the most CHEEKY of companions,
he was now an eager, greedy grasp
ing gambler. caring for no pastime or
amusement unless it led to gain.
which simply means the winning Of
money at all hazards, and the primary
cause of his great change was the
6clzle viii of a woman.
1r-,--7..--.1
tuous beauty. who posed GA horse back
ia Hyde park and lounged in private
boxes at the principal theaters. From
whence she came or to whom she be-
longed no one appeared to know. and
now Gerard Rausford might be seen
bv the side Of Miss MARYLAND I'm all
those places of resort where society
loves to congregatc.
Meanwhile Count de Lornais was
graciously received by the earl and
countess of Rivenham, and the count
himself imagined that his success was
now assured therefore be importuned
Lady Blanche to name a day for their
wedding.
After befooling the count month
after month she one day abruptly in
formed him that marriage was the
very last thought ia her mind.
Monsieur le Comte, she said YOU
surely are not one Of those foolish
moths Of society who imagine that
every lady around whom they hutter
is dying of love for them2s
NO, Lady Blanche replied he.
smiling significantly II am not
moth of that kind" He bowed dis
family and retired and Lady Blanche
saw him no more
,-aeea1 u,1r-
Blanche stiu led cold and un-
sympathetic life. and at last a drcar
sense of loneliness fell upon her and
She became spirit haunted. For night
after night by the side of her snow
white couch phantom stood. and u
words of sadness discoursed of love.
and never before had Lady Blanche
listened to words so sweet as those
which came from the lips OF the
phantom.
one night the phantom babe Lady
Blanche to follow it, and il led her to
a strange country over the sea- and
when She glanced around She found
herself in a sunny land, where the im-
penetrable dome of the skies above
was Of a soft. deep azure without
feck of cloud upon the horizon. and
the violet-tinged sea beat unsteady
against hoxyer-crowncd shore. and
the walks were lined with orange
trees in blossom and magnolias beau
titled the hedges with their pure white
flowers.
They halted 10 front 81 large