The Dickinson press., 1894-02-10
CHAPTER TX.

kCkltIC CulOlSl NkNCC JUL HI Was ONC1s
ruled.
You live out Of the world, and I
live in It," he answered. II e what
Hyacinth wants, and you do not. I
shall think you do not believe In ny
love for her unless you allow me to
send what I will"
The father ceased to demonstrate, and
the gallant young lover lavished costly
gifts on his beautiful fiancee.
Francis Vane had q small legacy left
him, and he gave it all for his daugh-
ter's trousseau. He intrusted 1t to Mrs.
Morley, who was only too delighted to
assist. The most wonderful week Of
Hyacinth's life was the one she spent
in London, shopping with Mrs. Morley.
So the winter months were fully 0ccu.
pied, and some of the brightness of old
times came over the house.
1t was marvellous how many excuses
Alan found for going to Sweetbriers;
he rode or drove owe regularly, on one
preteXt or another. Mr.. Vane and his
daughter became 81 accustomed to see
him that when he was not there the
day seemed robbed of its brightness.
The snowdrops, the violets, the vel.
low crocus, the primroses, all came I'M.
The stern face Of winter gave p,a;.e to
the smile of spring. The hedges bloom.
ed with pink and white hawthorn, the
+ branches We're covered with
leaves, meadows were full OF life, and
when fair sweet May came roD.d Lady
Rosedene filled her house again with
visitors. She had not founl a new
beauty, and she must have Il pleasant
group Of friends to welcome her. she
invited Hyacinth, who gladly promised
to visit her. Said her ladyship:
lou u bring some OF Your pretty
new dresses, Hyacinth. You must 10
honor to the squire's choice"
When Alan Branston heard TINT she
was going to Dene Hall, he besieeed
Lady ROsedene until she ext aided her
to him.
She had a prest ntiment of coming
evil, for she said to him:
"Come IL you like; bd. J. think Won
had better spend your time in making
Elmsthorpe Grange ready for your
wife"
She laughed as she spoke, and he
aughed as ne answered that he would
Tar rather spend his time in making
love to his wife who was to be.
1t promised to be a very pleasant and
party. Hyacinth looked
forward to 1t with the greatest delipht
She was to 60 on the second af Nav.
Alan on the fourth. Francis Vane
parted with her, fearing no i'll, knowing
nat ne would soon lose her altogether.
fet taat night, as he sat watching, It
Deemeo 10 MIN that a strange cloud
rested over his wife's grave.
Hyacinth Vane said to herself that
sne should always love Dene better
man any other place, because it had
Deen the scene Of her love story. It
wa pleasant to linger in tho gardens
and grounds, to look round the rooms.
eno remember all that happened there.
LADY Rosedene was delighted to see
AeE: She was in excellent spirits.
People may well cali my house at.
tractive," she said, II have two Of the
loveliest women in England In It now;
and the wonder Of It is that you are
such foils to each other. You are fai,
as the northern lily; and my new
guest Is dark as any Spanish signora-
the most beautiful brunette I have
ever seen; all other women look plain
beside her. Still I prefer fair women
When Hyacinth went down into thu
drawlng-room, she was better able Il
judge. Many old friends greeted her
every one was pleased to see the fail
young face; Hyacinth saw a supurbly
beautiful! woman, with large liqui(
eyes,, y of fire and passion, and
mouth like a rose. She was a pictur,
OF loneliness, on whom no man coult
look unmOved.
Hyacinth had never seen any on,
like her. She wore n dress of blacl
velvet, cut so low as to show the mar
velous neck and shoulders, with theil
warm tint, and the bare rounded arms
on which shone rich bands of gold
She carried q rich1y-jeweled fan, ant
wore diamonds in the masses of dusk,
iair that sat like a crown on her head
ANA her brilliant face had the imperia
beauty men in olden days gave to til,
goddesses they worshipped.
She read the wonder in the tende,
earnest eyes, and smiled. There wa
more character in her smile even thar
IN her FACET came slowly, and was
to q Keen observer, cruel. Lady Rose
dene introduced Hyacinth to her
Lady Fraser smiled again, and in hel
turn looked intently Mt her golden
haired rival.
Hyacinth thought the sound of he,
voice very sweet. She watched her IL
Wonder. She had never seer any one
SO superbly beautiful, and SO superbly
dressed.
Lazy fraser was older than herself
Dy some years, and the contrast be.
tween the fair, fresh, golden-haired girl
n the beautiful dark-eyed woman was
curious in its way.
She fascinated Hyacinth-it was a
certain fact that, il Lady Fraser once
took the trouble to smile in any face,
sne made the owner of it captive ut
once. Iher was no power to resist;
sne Possessed a marvellous gift of fas-
cinat;On.
She smiled O little at the young girls
unconscious homage.
"We shall see what we shall see.''
said Lady Fraser.
On the fourth of May Alan Branston
came, and when he reached the Hall
Lazy Fraser had gone out into the
grounds She had found for herself q
peasant seat behind the plumed lilac.
sEees: Ihere a soft western wind, O
sweep perfume reached her without the
VI tAc buu s rays. I0efo wal
no n amongst the visitors whom shs
saoaght 1t worth her while to conquer
50 h had given her morning to tn,
study OF some poems.
PRESENTLY, on looking up, she saw
strange who Interested her-a tai
n9so man, young, with a bray
m n,agnt ,, lace, and dark earnest eyes
man VINO was evidently q gentleman
from his erect, easy Carriage ana c0Iir
~ manner Who was he?
She answered her own question. J
was the squire, of course-Alan Bral
; ston-Miss Vane's lover; and a good
; lover he was, in Lady Frasers eve
As they passed by the group Of lila
trees, engrossed in each other, and "a
getting the world. she heard Alan sa
. Il see no beauty in any a Isl
yours, my love. Other faces are {
blank to me-"
They walked on; but with the sou,
OF the words in her carr an evil spil
entered the beautiful woman's heal
ShQ laughed or,,o1 1o,,~i,