Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-02-16

found an echo In her heart. Even as
Elaine had loved the grand and noble
!, hero, 80 she loved Paul Flemynp, Even
as Lancelot had no heart, no thought,
no eyes for any save Queen Guinevere,
20 he, Paul Fiemyng cared for no one
living save the beautiful young count
ess, who was sall Q queen should be-
| and m0re.s
II was her own story-love won, un-
sought for.
-0nly that would never tell him, !.
she said to herself. Iwould die, look
Ing In his face with . smile, rather
than tell him. I would suffer torture
greater than that OF . marty on the
rack or the wheel, but would never
let him know. would carry my ee-
cret to the grave with me, and Il
should be buried deeper down than
| myself. Even in death he should neyer
know It.
She started, for q white hand lay on
the open page of the book.
SEthel, dreaming again! What! Are
you reading about Elaine! How strange!
Do you know that in my own mind /
have often compared you to the Lily
Maid?' She must have had face like
yours"
Ethel Dacre made no answer.
Just such face,s continued the
young Countess, looking lovingly ct
her friend, "full of poetry, OF love
that had never bcen told; pure as q
lly-leaf, sweet as the face of an angel
sad sometimes with sadness half
sanity; that is like you and like
Elaine."
The proud head was raised; the fair
voice replied:
nTk
fancy, Lady Charnleigh; but I shall
of love for one who loves me not.
sHeaven forbid!" cried Lady Charm
leigh. She kissed the white brow,
looking tenderly at the girl. II do not
know how it is, Ethel; but when I look
at you, think that yours is the very
face for p tragical love story. You are
like Elaine and Juliet. 1 have seen
that same expression on other faces-a
kind of prophecy, as it were, written
there, that undistul bad happiness is
not to be the portion Of the owner.
hope am wrong, but have this
thought of you. :
"You are not a prophecies, Lady
Charnleigh; you are only belle and q
woman of fashion. I shall not heed
what you say"
But the white hands tightened their
caressing hold of her.
Tell me. Ethel-is there not some
one you love very much-some one you
care for more than all the world be-
side-some sad, sweet secret Of your
own that you have never told to others,
but you will tell to me? Is 1t not so,
Ethel?"
She drew the sweet face close to her
own and held it there.
will you not trust me, Ethel, your
sister and your friend? All, sweet, do
not turn away: see, your tears have
dropped on the open page. Why did
Elaine's story touch you, Ethel?"
Because I love all poetry, and I be-
lieve sadness has greater charm for
me than joy." She withdrew herself
from the loving arms and looked al
most haughtily at Lady Charnleigh.
How you weave romances!" she cried.
@You had better take to writing novels.
You will make me believe myself ro-
mantle and unhappy, whereas am
nothing of the kind. As for love, I
love nothing on earth except
Captain Flemyng, my lady," said
servants voice at the door, and Leonie
laughed gayly.
If you could only guess how apropos
was the announcement Of your name
she said to the young soldier, holding
out her hand. ut was delightful.
Paul looked from the laughing face
OF the young Countess to Ethel, whose
face burned with bushes.
u do not understand" he returned.
Happily so," said Lady Charnleigh.
us it not time we started, Captain
Flemyng? have been twice to the ex.
hibitl0n, and have hardly seen Q pic.
ture.n
How has that happened?" he asked.
Il am SO unfortunate; the rooms al.
ways seemed filed with my own par.
ticular friends.
You hold court there; 30 that Is
why you expressed q wish to 60 90,
early this morning.
Yes; perhaps fortune viii smile; and
II she frowns, Capt. Flemyng, yon must
do all the talking, while Ethel and I
look at the pictures"
THAT is to say, I must amuse my
Lord Falcon, charm his grace Of Alton,
talk earnestly to Sir Bertram Gordon,
tease poor Maj. Newsham, look senti.
mental with the young poet Give
Dering. No, thank you, Lady Charm
leigh; you ask tmp0sstbilities.
sDo you mean % say seriously that I
do all that Ct onoe?" she inquired;
@All, and more. You can charm
cannot expect mo to charm for you.
II do, not want 70 charm any ONE, y
she said, quietly. .s, 4
Not even onels heisaid.
@No-not one; 8 leastt !" enA then,
her face flushed, and Leonies Lady
Charnleieh, with s low sweeping bow,
led the way to, the CArfieQo fbatWnitAd