Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-02-08
ATVAR With HERSELF.
The Story Of a WOman's AtOnement,
by Charlotte M. Braeme.
CHAPTER XVI.

DO you hate me, Captain FIemyng9"
she asked. az,
"Do | hate you?" he echoed, "Oh,
Lady Charnleigh, what q strange,
cruel question. Why should hate
Because have come between you
and "a magnificent inheritance" she
replied. But for mo Crown Leighton
would have been yours; you would
have been in the place you could 80 no
bly, hll."
His face flushed, and light came
into his dark eyes.
Lady Charnleigh, believe me, no
thought of repining has ever entered
my mind. am happy in the loss, see
ing that it is your gain"
SIhave often wished that / knew you
and could write and say it have al
WAYS intended to say 1t to you the first
time we met. Captain Flemyng, let US
forget how distant Is our relationship,
and try to imagine we are both mem
bers Of one family"
81 am more than willlng-l am
honored beyond words.
"And now what am almost afraid to
saw II we were brother and sister, !
could say to you out of the wealth OF
my abundance, out of the amp 10 means
that would have been yours, take what
you want. Will you let me- say that
now? You would make me the hap
piest woman living If you would.
Again the dark handsome face
flushed
81 am not angry, dear Lady Charm
leigh. for understand the noble, gen.
erous heart that prompts the offer; but,
while | thank you for it, let me say 1t
would be easier for me to die than to
accept it,
Have I annoyed you?" she asked,
anXiously.
mo, you have shown me how gener-
ous YOU are. II had inherited the
fortune, should have been just as anx
ious to share it with you. No, most
generous lady, ! shall carve my own
fortune. You remember those glori-
Gus words, There is no fate in life save
such as a strong hand carves or weak
hand mars My hand Is strong"
81 am sure Of it, she said, looking
at him with admiration. II am very
proud of my kinsman; you will be diff
ferent from the rest Of the world to me
something apart. You must never
fatter me, but treat me as you would
younger sister of your own-we are of
one race, you know.
"Your frankness makes me happy,
Lady Charnleigh. | shall esteem the
offer you have made as the highest life
can hold" Suddenly he broke off and
exclaimed, II know that FACET is
Bertram Gordon's.
And the next moment the two friends
had casped each others hands. II
Paul Flemyng had seen how the beau
tiful face flushed, he would have
guessed that Lady Charnleigh was not
Indifferent to the grand, noble man
whose friendship had always been q
keen source of delight to him Then
the three whose lives were so strangely
interviewer sat down by the bank Of
the river
"This is different from Malta" said
Sir Bertram; "how ones eyes long,
when away from home, for sight OF
English green"
Eyes, people talk of the grandeur of
tropical foliage. | do not think, for
delicacy and beauty of color, there is
anything to compare with our English
trees; and their greatest beauty, to my
mind, is in the spring time, when the
buds are tender, Do you not agree
with me, Lady Charnleigh?"
81 am sure everything you say is
right, she replied. His question had
aroused her from deep reverie, and
both gentlemen laughed at her abrupt
candOr.
"You will cause me to weigh most
carefully everything that say, Lady
Charnleigh. You have been very kind
to me-may ask favor of your"
Her face cleared,
yes, twenty if you will; it would
be great happiness to do anything
for you.
Sir Bertram had at first felt half in
cLined to be Jealous of his dark haired
handsome soldier, but the frankness
and kindness Of her words disarmed
him. 1t was not thus, he felt sure,
women talked to the men they loved.
When she look at Paul Flemyng her
eyes were full of admiration, of kindly
liking 1T was seldom that he himself
won one glance from those violet eyes;
when he did they wore quite differ
ent expression.
Il have some friends coming to Lon
don very soon General Sir Huntley
Dacre, and his daughter, Miss Ethel
Dacre. Lady Cha Neigh, will you al
low me to introduce her to you, and
willyou help herr"
81 shall be only too pleased to show
allpOssible kindness to friends of yours.
nwhat way can l help her?"
"She is very young, and in my opin-
ion, very beautiful Her mother has
long been dead, and she has been alone
with the General for some time. She
has not seen much of this great, gay
world of yours, apd 1t would be kind of
you to introduce her to some of your
many friends, and to let her spend as
much of her time as possible with
you"
She looked up at him with smile he
did not understand.
Il am going to weigh your words"
she said laughingly; "why do you call
this great, gay world mine?"
Because 1t seems to me that you are
one Of its queens" he replied.
"Doyou say Miss Dacre is beautiful"
II, have looked at the sun, and so
cannot see the stars"
Your poetry Is hattery-we agreed
that you should never fatter me-"
Then Sir Bertram interposed. This
handsome soldier, with his reputation
for bravery, was likely to prove dan
gerous rival, and her friendly liking
81 \ ~, ~; rrLh dav oloY, into inV