Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-03-15
AT WAR With HERSELF.
The Story Of a W6man's AtOnement,
by Charlotte N. Braeme.
CHATTER XXY-ContInned.

CHAPTER XXV-COntlnued.
Ali preparations were completed
then, and Crown Leighton had never
looked so magnificent, never even in
those days when kings and queens had
held high revel in the vast apartments,
Lady Charnleigh's vivid imagination
had been allowed to riot: every beauti-
full combination of flowers, lights, vel
vet hangings, and marble statuary
which il was possible to imagine was
there. Nothing was wanting, There
were endless vistas of light and
blossom fountains, the silvery spray
of which reflected manifold hues; per-
iume so sweet that it seemed to fill one
with ecstasy; music so clear, so har-
monious, all assiduOus and attentive,
rejoiced in this return of olden times.
All the elite of the country had been
invited, and Lady Charnleigh remarked
with pleasure that scarcely one invita-
tion had been declined. As she went
upstairs to dress, satisfied with the
tour Of inspection she had made, she
met Lady Fanshawe
81 must express my surprise, Leonie,"
said that lady, with an amiable smile.
81 have never seen anything in better
taste; the decorations are superb. My
dear child, where have learned to az
range all these things? have no wish
to Halter you, but you We're indeed
born TO rank 1t would have been a
thousand pities if such talents as yours
had been lost to the great world.
And Lady Charnleigh, well pleased,
passed on to her dressing-room, whore
her maid, with Il NEST anxious face
awaited her. There lay the superb
costumes ready for the chara1es and
the ball; Jewels CLEANED from their
velvet beds; satin, lace, velvet and
glistening silk lay in picturesque dis
order, Lady Charnleigh glanced round
with smile of content. All this was
hers, The proud feeling of possession
swelled her heart as it never had be-
fore An this was hers to give and to
take, to do with as she would. This
brilliant festival had sprung from one
word OF hers: these people, the aris-
tCcracy of the county, we're all assem-
bling at her bidding and to do her
honor.
Presently her eyes fell on the two
bouquets, both placed ON the toilet
table, and a Slight shade Of perpleXity
crossed her beautiful face
divide those flowers, she said to
her maid; 81 shall wear some of each
If Bertram had brought me only Il
bunch of wild bluebells,' she added to
herself 81 would rather have them
than eXotics from kings garden, but
| cannot make Paul unhappy tonight"
A magnificent toilet, in which was to
receive her guests, had been prepared;
it could be changed aGterward for the
Charade costumes.
81 have never seen you look so well,
my lady said the maid, when the
arduous duties of the toilet were com
pleted and Lady Charnleigh, looking
in the glass, felt satisfied.
Her dress was of fresh white, glisten-
ing silk covered with silver net, and
trimmed with green leaves; with this
she wore the Charnleigh diamonds,
known by connoisseurs as the finest
stones in England. She was u marvel
of beauty, light and brightness
As she descends the stairs she saw
Sir Bertram; he approached her very
humbly.
"Do not be angry because I have
waylaid you" he said, Il could not
Eest until had seen my queen, Oh,
Leonie, how lovely you are. Your
beauty dazzles me-"
IF it pleases you, Bertram," she
said, gently, 81 am pleased to be beau
tiful.'
His response was one that brought
vivid flush to her face, and sent Lady
Charnleigh into the drawing-room
looking more radiant than ever.