Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-02-08

my with her friend, and the Countess
had not yet completed her toilet.
Ethel looked very lovely on that bright
morning; her eloquent face was flushed
into the fairest bloom by the fresh
morning air, her dark eyes were clear
and true as the morning star itself.
She had taken book from the table
and was reading to pass away the time
until Lady Charnleigh should come.
She had accidentally alighted upon
that sweet love story OF Elaine-the
history Of surely the sweetest, purest
love ever given to man; and, as she
read, the printed words faded, the
passionate melody of the verse had
found an echo in her heart. Even as
Elaine had loved the grand and noble
hero, so she loved Paul Flemyng. Even
as Lancelot had no heart, no thought,
no eyes for any save Queen Gulnevere,
80 he, Paul Flemyng cared for no one
living save the beautiful young count
ess, who was all queen should be-
and more.
1t was her own story-love won, UNI
sought for.
"Only that 7 would never tell him."
she said to herself. II would die, look
ing in his face with smile, rather
than tell him. would suffer torture
greater than that Of marty on the
rack or the wheel, but would never
let him know. | would carry my So.
cret to the grave with me, and 1t
should be buried deeper down than
myself Even in death he should never
know 1t"
She started, for white hand lay on
the OPEN page of the book.
"Ethel, dreaming again! What Are
you reading about Elaine? How strange!
Do you know that in my own mind l
have often compared you to the Lily
Maid? She must have had q face like
yours"
Ethel Dacre made no answer
Just such q face" continued the
young Countess, looking lovingly at
her friend, full of poetry, of love
that had never been told; pure as
lily-leaf, sweet as the face of an angel
sad sometimes with u sadness half
sanity; that is like you and like
Elaine"
The proud head was raised; the fair
voice replied:
ut may be so. You have vivid
fancy, Lady Charnleigh; but l shall
not share Elaine's fate. will not die
of love for one who loves me not
"Heaven forbid" cried Lady Charm
leigh. She kissed the white brow,
looking tenderly at the girl. 81 do not
know how it is, Ethel; but when look
at you, | think that yours is the very
face for q tragical love story, You are
like Elaine and Juliet. / have seen
that same expression on other faces-a
kind of prophecy, as 1t were, written
there, that undisturbad happiness is
not to be the portion of the owner. l
hope | am wrong, but | have this
thought of you.
"You are not prophecies Lady
Charnleigh; you are only a belle and q
woman of fashion. l shall not heed
what you say"
But the white hands frightened 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 sad, sweet secret of your
own that you have never told to others,
but you will tell to me? Is it 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 | love all poetry, and | be-
lieve sadness has a 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, l
love nothing on earth except"
Captain Flemyng, my lady," said q
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. 1T was delightful"
Paul looked from the laughing face
of the young Countess to Ethel, whose
face burned with bushes.
81 do not understand" he returned.
Happily So" said Lady Charnleigh.
as it not time we started, Captain
Flemyng? I have been twice to the OK
hibitlon, and have hardly seen pic
ture."
"How has that happened" he asked.
Il am 80 unfortunate; the rooms al
ways seemed filed with my own par
ticular friends.
"You hold a court there; so that is
why you expressed wish to go so
early this morning"
Yes; perhaps fortune will smile; and
if she frowns, Capt. Flemyng, you must
do all the talking, while Ethel and l
look at the pictures"
THAT is to say, | 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 impossibilities.
do you mean to say seriously that 1
do all that at once?" she inquired.
"All, and more. You can charm
every one who approaches you, but you
cannot expect me to charm for you"
81 do not want to charm any one"
she said, quietly.
Not even one?" he said.
"No--not one; at least" and then
her face flushed, and Leonie, Lady
Charnleigh, with low sweeping bow,
led the way to the carriage that waited