Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-04-06

must give as some moro charadss, LADY
Charnleigh, and more balls"
She laughed again. How little he
knew that this was the last night of
her reign-that with the sunrise Of the
morrow all her wealth and magnifi-
cenoe would vanish into thin airSthat
henceforward he would rule at Grown
Leighton, and give balls and PARTIES
that he would succeed to the glorious
inheritance she had valued so!
They shall remember my last night
at Grown Leighton" she said to her.
self: they shall talk of it, and tell each
other that l died q queen"
With Leonie. to will was to do. She
called all her magnificent courage into
play. she resolutely trampled under
foot all remembrance of the oaken
chamber and what it contained, she
remembered only that this was her
leigh, and that people must not for
get it.
Such was She case: no one SO brill
liant or beautiful had been seen there
for many long generations. She danced,
and the grace, the perfection of her
movement, was marvellous: she talked,
and men gathered round her. charmed
out of themselves. She had never been
sc brilliant. Her anecdotes, her re-
partees, her sparkling sallies we're re-
peated n to the other; her beautiful
face grew brighter and more radiant
every minute. People no longer won
dered at the spell she cast around her;
there we're men in that room who
thought that to have won a smile from
her they would have gone through any
difficulty. AS the cloud of homage rose
and seemed to float round her, she
smiled bitterly to herself, saying:
ut is my last triumph; Tomorrow the
dark wave of poverty will rise and in
gulf me, and the world will hear no
moro then Of Leonie, Countess OF
Charnlcigh."
CHAPTER xxIx.
1t was when the ball was drawing to
a close that Paul Flemyng found an OPP
portunity Of slipping a folded paper
into Lady CharnleighTs hands.
"Read this, Leonie," he whispered,
and permit nut to call for the answer
tomorrow"
She took it and placed it in the folds
of her dress. To. morrow he would
~ wv A0 WOu1N U0 AOEU
Charnleigh, and she Leonie Rayner;
their positions would be reversed.
Then came the faint gray dawn of
the June morning, and one by one the
guests departed from the brilliant
scene Each visitor expressed SO much
pleasure, and seemed so truly delight
ed, that no greater compliment could
have been paid to their hostess than
their regret at leaving.
Give us another ball coon, dear Lady
Charnleigh," whispered one of the
younger girls; this has been SO de-
lightful!"
Leonie laughed aloud; the young girl
started back at the harsh, unnatural
sound.
Il am tired, my DEAR" said Leonie,
seeing the startled look; remember
that / have been making myself amia-
BILE ever since nine O'Clock this morn
ing, and to be constantly amiable is the
hardest task in the world"
Sir Bertram came up to say farewell.
Il shall come for my answer to-mor-
row, Leonie; you have given me hope
Not tomorrow, Bertram," she
pleaded, piteously. II am SO tired
wait until Thursday. I shall have re-
covered then"
81 will wait just as long as you
please" he said. "You will be mine in
the end, Leonie; that is all 1 care for"
A sudden impulse came over her to
throw herself into his arms and tell
him all-he would console and comfort
her; but she set her foot resolutelY
upon the impulse. This night should
pass over without her secret being
known.
So she stood until the last of her
guests disappeared, graceful, bright,
and charming to the end. her gay
words never faltering; then she was
left in that brilliant ballroom alone.
She looked around, with a flush on her
face, on the flowers and the lights, the
wondrous combinations of color that
she herself had effected.
II have died a queen" she said. II
have not given way for one moment.
I have smiled with the bitterness Of
wrath in my heart. I have talked and
laughed when like Cesar, I would fain
have folded my mantle round me and
died. Now I look my last on the brill
liant paradise that will know me no
more"
-~ H