Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-01-18
CHAPTER X.

walked on. He would not admit that
he was disappointed; he said to him
self that n soldier must bear the buff
fets OF fortune as he bears the blows Of
the enemy, without fiinching. AS he
walked on beneath the sapphire sky,
the sun pouring down golden floods Of
light upon him, he thought much of
the lovely young countess who was now
mistress OF Crown Leighton. Flo re-
peated her name to himself.
"Leonie," he said. "The face that
goes with the name should be bright,
fair and dainty l wonder what the
richest countess Is like. Only Is, and
one Of the richest heirosses in England,
she should have some one to take care
OF her"
Not until he reached the Generals
handsome house did Captain Flemyng
cease to dwell upon such thoughts;
then he was reused from his dreams Of
far-off England, and returned to the
everyday practical duties of life.
General Dacre was not at home, but
Miss Dacre was, and the young soldier
followed the servant into the drawing
room. She was not there, but through
the long French windows he saw the
CLEAN OF her dress in the balcony.
Even as he crossed the room he
thought to himself what a perfect pic
ture was before him. The golden sun
light came brokenly through the cool
green vine-leaves; the light iron bal
cony was one mass Of blooming flowers,
and the lovely girl in their midst
looked like their queen, Tall luscious
roses twined round the slender pillars,
and purple passion-howers lay at her
feet
"A flower among flowers" he said,
laughingly. Il called to thank you for
one Of the happiest evenings / have
ever spent, Miss Daore.
"You owe me little gratitude, Captain
Flemyng; the ball was pGpa's idea, not
mine, Will you come out here on to
the balcony 1t Is 30 much pleasanter
than in the warm room. think July
Is q month that tries ones temper So
verely."
81 do not think you have any temper
to try" he remarked, pushing back the
roses while he found place by her
side.
She looked at him with flashing eyes.
You are mistaken, Captain Flemyng,
A mans idea of feminine excellence is
always inanity. Now, do believe me,
a woman without temper would be
simply insipid and UNDESIRABLE"
He laughed at her earnest, vehement
words.
"You must allow one thing-even il
she has little spice of temper, she
must not show it,
Il shall not agree even to that, she
replied. what would tire any ono
more than continual diet of sugar?"
He smiled to himself, wondering II
the young Countess in far-off England
was OF the same opinion, and she, look
ing up at him suddenly, caught the
smile. He had not noticed that while
she spoke to him her beautiful face
turned shyly away; he never saw how
the white hands trembled and the dark
eyes dropped, so he did not read their
secret. He was blind to all thse signs,
that would have been so we'll under
stood by man Of greater vanity. She
caught the SMILE and fastened to
change the subject.
Captain Flemyng," she said, Il won
der If I may ask you question:"
"You will do me honor" he replied.
81 know the English mail was in to-
day, and-pray, pardon mel heard
papa talking about you to my aunt.
Shall you think me very inquisitive if
/ ask you whether the Charnleigh case
is settled?"
Looking at her lovely face, and the
clear, true eyes bent so kindly upon
him, the impulse came to him to tell
her the whole truth. She listened,
even as he read his letters, with calm
face; but when his story was ended,
there was little Of calm In the flushed
face and trembling lips.
'Then you have lost entirely" she
said; there Is no chance for your"
"None at ALL" he answered; "the af-
fair is finally settled.
And you knew that only two hours
since, when the mail came in2"
Il received my letters and learned
my fate then" he replied.
yet, with that knowledge, you
could come here calmly to fulfill a tri-
fling social duty, and never once men
ton what must have lain heavily on
your heart"
Il assure you," he explained earn
estly, that since have stood in this
balcony until you asked me about it, l
have never given it one thought"
She was to be forgiven II she mis-
understood him; her lovely face flushed
and her eyes dropped with a glad,
happy look which she did not seek to
repress.
So the sweet, fragrant sunshiny
hours passed while the two conversed
among the flowers. To the young girl
disc, they were 30 full of happiness;
they few like golden moments; she
could hardly realize that they were
ended when Captain Flemyng said that
he must 60.
He held the little white hand in his
for ons minute, then he was gone; and
to the girl 1t seemed as If all the sun
shine, the fragrance, and the beauty
had gone with him. He had been
standing with one had lying lightly on
the iron railing; when The was gone,
she stopped down and kissed the place
where his hand had lain, and then a
hot blush burned her face.
1 would I were u queen" she said,
that might give him all the riches
that wonld be mine. wish I had the
largest fortune ever given to woman
that l might share it with him.
CHAPTER XII.
Captain Paul Flemying never spoke
Of his disappointment; he had not
| mentionad his lamentations hut auary