The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-10-24
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mgs OF Lors, Wine, 10 Cop INC ci:--.,ix, nc WIS,
now, mot only IN herprescnce, but one of his ia
vorite ballads, that had been ringing through
his brain, ever since he had read it en-
graved upon the handle of tho recovered
knife-that very song she was actually now
singing, with voice glorious and strong;
and, yet, so sweet and deeply sympathetic
that it thrilled every fiber of his being with
Q pleasure SO subtle that it was akin to
pain Many did not restrain their tears,
and all were visibly affected. When she
finished, no applause followed. The unusual
silence was far more commendatory. A
gentle pressure Of Natalie's hand by the
Warehouses, and quiet: THANK you, my
dear" from the old gentleman, spoke vol
umes Of praise.
Her cloak, trimmed with ;Thite ermlne,
was thrown over the Princess beautiful
neck and shoulders; her own white fingers
deity e1cased the shapely head in its rich
covering, leaving the far-shining star still
visible
Kissing the Marchioness, she turned to
the guests, who rose unanimously, and,
making pretty bow, took the arm of the
Marquis and walked down the hall toward
the door, AS she passed by, Fairfax heard
her say:
THAT song has haunted me all the even
ing aud can not get rid of it,"
He Involuntary started, for had he not
been In the same predicamentl
"a few hours ago." continued she, ~
discovered that had lost a precious gift
that my brother gave to me, just before he
died The first few bars of that, his ia
vorite ballad, were engraved upon it. am
very sad over its loss''-
Here Fairfax lost her words. He was
seized with an almost uncomfortable desire
TO hasten after her and restore the lost
knife to its proper owner. But the Lady
Lydia, who had been watching him with the
eye of lynx, remarked, sarcastically:
"Suroly you don't intend pursuing an en-
tire stranger after refusing an introduce
ton to herf'
Recalled to his senses, Fairfax regarded
his fair tornentor moment, half in en-
treaty, half i'll Defiance then, assuming his
usual bravado spirit, gave her his arm.
He was filled with joy. lotto" then,
was only her brother and not lover
Success had crowned all the young mans
efforts. He had discovered far more about
the Princess than he had even dared to hope
for, and-far above all had been hopored
by more than passing glance from her.
A wild delirium of joy came over him.
The turn in the tide of his life had, at last,
come He would take it.
Abandoning himself to the delight of the
moment, he waltzed as he had never waltzed
before and found a worthy companion in
/ I .-di.l bp fbrot,f h
marvellous ease and grace. Neither had
ever before met with such partner Their
dancing was SO remarkable that all the
others paused to watch them. The orches.
ira was inspired and the music transport
| ingly sweet
| In the case Of Fairfax, this display was
! simply vent to his suddenly aroused and
violent feeling-the expression of passion
ate joy. With the girl it was the effort of a
will stirred by pique. Wealthy titled, ad
mired, dtedyS accustomed to easy conquest
and flattery, she was, from the first, an
noyed by the lack of interest which this
stranger displayed, 1t was something new
to her. Conquest had begotten in her the
love of conquest All men paid homage tc
! her. She expected and liked their f1attery
and yet, dc3psed them for it, She had now
/ to deal with a strange and mysterious type
of character This man not oaly failed tc
admire her but, also, YVES scarcely civil
Her attention was Immediately attracted
and her love of conquest aroused. She de
termincd to conquer; but in endeavoring tC
interest, she, herself, became interested
and, recognizing the fact, grew angry with
herself for this weakness. She was an
noyed with herself, because of the little
pang awakened at the effect of Natalie's ap
pearance upon Fairfax She tried to laugh
her uncomfortable feeling away, but il
vain.