Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-02-08
permission, bring the General and Miss
Dacre to see you,
Here Lady Denham joined them.
CHAPTER XVII.


particular time to name the happiest
woman in London society, he would
surely have named the Countess OF
Charnleigh. She had youth, eXcep-
tional beauty, wealth, position, every
thing, in fact, that the human heart
could wish for. There was not cloud
on her sky.
One beautiful morning the young
Countess was sitting alone in the cool,
fragrant drawing-room. The rose-col-
ored blinds were drawn, and the light
that came through them was mellow
and rich; the odor OF white daphnes
filed the air. The windows were open,
and she could hear the song Of the
birds and the distant roll OF carriages,
Luxury, magnlfcence, and grandeur
surrounded the young girl.
She wore pretty morning-dress OF
white, shining material, trimmed with
lace and blue ribbons; her golden hair
fell in waving masses on her beautiful
neck and shoulders. She held book
in her hands, but she never turned q
page. Leonie, Lady Charnleigh, was
thinking. Before her minds eye fitted
many and various fgures--Lord Falcon,
Paul Flemying and Sir Bertram. She
was thinking long and deeply; present
ly her face flushed and the beautiful
lips trembled.
II will be true to my love-" she said
to herself come what may, will be
true to myself"
Then she started up in sheer sur
prise. Capt. Flemyng stood beside her,
smiling at her evident abstraction, and
by his side was II young girl. Gen.
Dacre stood near.
Lady Charnleigh, let me introduce
Gen. Dacre and his daughter, Miss
Dacre, to you" said Paul.
The young countess looked and saw
face that attracted her at first sight;
it was beautiful, intelligent, full of
poetry, with clear, dark eyes that had
something of sadness in their depths,
She looked earnestly in the eloquent
face, and then clasped the girls hands
in her own.
Capt Flemyng told me that should
like YOU" she said, impulsively; Il do
not think he was wrong"
Then she greeted the General, who,
like every one else, fell captive to her
lovely face.
"You will stay and spend the day
with me- Miss Dacre? Capt Flemyng
has promised to take me to the Botan-
ical Gardens; it will give us both 80
much pleasure If you will go also. We
shall know each other better if we
spend day together than if we only
met among strangers"
1t was q remarkable fact that people
seldom refused to do as Lady Charm
leigh wished. Ethel Dacre did not at
tempt to resist.
Two hours later they were at the Bo-
tanical Gardens. Had Lady Charm
leigh searched the world over she
could not have found companion who
convrasted 50 strikingly with herself.
They were both lovely, but in style
quite opposite, Lady Charnleigh was
fair, bright, and radiant, there was
sunshine in her face and golden hair.
Miss Dacre was dark, with somewhat
of poetry and sadness in her features.
Their appearance in the gardens
caused no little sensation. To Lady
Charnleigh's annoyance, the Duchess of
Rockhampton and her son, Lord F'al-
con, were there, and would insist upon
engrossing her time and attention.
She had intended to devote herself to
Ethel, but the Duchess urged her so
pressingly to go with her to look at
some Indian flowers that she could not
refuse.
Paul and Ethel were left together.
Miss Dacre looked long and earnestly
after the frank, imperial girl; then her
eyes grew dim with tears, and she
turned to her companion.
"You are right, Captain Flemyng,"
she said. "The Countess of Charnleigh
is indeed beautiful.
rs she not, Ethel? But to me her
beauty is her least charm Her frank,
gay, bright manner, her kindness, and
the winning fascination of her speech,
are greater than her beauty"
How you love herl" said the girl,
wistfully. 81 must confess that do not
wonder at it.
"We are very dear friends" replied
Paul, all unconscious of the pain in that
gentle heart
lam told, she continued, shat Lady
Charnleigh has many lovers"
The smile that answered her seemed
to the girl full of happy triumph.
"She knows how to keep them in Or
DER" he said.
And so much homage does not spoil
her?" pursued Ethel.
"No-she has frank, imperial man.
ner with her which nothing can spoil.
All, Ethel, am so pleased you will be
friends. Lady Charnleigh does not go
into raptures, you must understand,
with every girl she meets. She liked
you at first--I saw it in her face"
at is for your sake, A" she said gently
and the sweet flattery was most gra-
cious to him. "You have studied her
face we'll, she added, with some little
bitterness, ito be able to read her
thoughts upon it."
They are 80 plainly written" said
the captain.
"Do you remember the old lines?"
she asked, trying to speak lightly:
my only books we're women's looks,
And folly all they taught me-"
"Ah, Ethel" said Paul Flemyng,
"the words speak falsely-a wise man
may learn the highest lessons and the
truest wisdom from woman's face.
CHAPTER XVIII
OF Ethel Dacre, Lady Charnleigh
had grown very fond; there was a
warm and sincere attachment between
them. They were useful to each 9th
er. From Leonie, Ethel learned many
of the worlds ways, little lessons in the
art Of SAVIOR vivre; she acquired more
rnvatv. Craatar hriohtness of look and