Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-10
CHAPTER XL.

Monsieur Dudevant had made for
himself a great reputation as an artist;
his portraits were like life, every one
said and so Monsieur Dudevant had
always more work on hand than it was
at all likely he could accomplish. 1t
was owing to this pressure of business
that the commission given to him long
ago by Captain Paul Flemyng was still
unexecuted-the commission of copying
the portrait of Pauls mother which
for 80 many years had hung in the late
Earl of Charnleigh's room.
LeOnie would insist upon Paul's ac-
cepting the original, but he said no."
he seemed to have some superstitious
feeling about the gift He was CRATE
full to be allowed to have copy of it,
but he never seemed to like the idea
Of taking it from the. place which the
late earl's meditations had made sacred
He wrote to Monsieur Dudevant, who
placed his name upon the list requiring
early attention, and promi ed to write
when his turn came. 1t was now that
the artist wrote saying that if the
picture was sent at once he would at
tend to it.
Captain Flemyng had been summoned
on military business to Weldon, where
he was expected to remain for some
days. He went over himself to Crown
Leighton, and most carefully packed
the picture. 1t was sent to Lady
Charnleigh, in London, as she had
promised to select a new frame for it.
The case containing the picture ar
rived one morning when the countess
was preparing to attend a royal gar
den party. She looked superbly beau
kiful in her cloud-like dress of lace and
tulle, white, with the faintest soupcon
OF blue. Her brilliant face was flushed
with animation. She was at the pin
nacle Of glory. She had received
royal invitation, and she knew that
there would be few present at that
party more admired than herself
To think that | should receive an
Invitation from queen?" she said to
herself. 81, who three years since was
lnsulted by servants and despised by
schoolgirls am invited by the queen
Of the greatest country in the world.
! wonder II her Majesty will have
leisure to speak to me, and, If so, |
wonder what she will say
She had been moro than usually So
licitous about this PARTY.
"Ethel, " she said to Miss Dacre, you
have such superb ia ste in dress, design
something for me more elegant than
has yet been seen.
And Miss Dacre did as she was re-
.uested, the result being something
xquisite.
"Are you satisfied with me?" asked
HSeOnie, simply as child, when the
carriage was announced
Ethel Dacre, with sudden warm
impulse, kissed the lovely face.
"You look, she said, lust as though
you had come out of white cloud,
you are so fairy-like. hope you will
enjoy yourself very much, Lady Charm
leigh"
"There is not much fear of that, re-
turned Leonie, with light laugh.
They remembered that day afterward
as the last Of her bright, brilliant life.
She had never looked so lovely, she
had never been so greatly admired.
The light, ethereal style of dress suit
cd her to perfection, the light, fairy
like hat was like q crown on the gold
en- head, the clouds of rich white lace
fell gracefully round the perfect figure,
and the exquisite lace seemed to rise
from them like a blossom from pale
leaves.
She had never been so much ad-
mired. People said to each other af-
terward how kindly the royal lady had
spoken to the beautiful Countess;
princes, dukes, and ambassadors paid
homage to her. She was queen by
right Of her beauty and grace. Wher-
ever a little group of the most eminent
men Of the day were gathered together,
there in the midst was Lady Charm
leight to be seen.
On that day, too--the last of her
brilliant reign-she excelled herself in
wit and repartee. Her bon mots were
repeated on all sides. Great men went
away from her smiling, and saying to
themselves that Lady Charnleigh was
peerless in wit as in beauty. She had
never been so successful in society as
on this day, which was, in some re-
spects, to be her last. Royal prin-
eesses were most gracious to her; and