Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-03-08

"a fortress that Is easily stormed Ia
never considered a great conquest,
she said TO herself "Bertram must ask
me again and again-he will love me
all the better in the end"
"After the ball. remember" said Sir
Bertram; "LeOnie, / shall count the
hours until It Is over, and yet cannot
help hoping You are too good to tor
ture me; If you meant to send me from
you, you would do so at once. You are
too good and generous to be cruel"
She looked at him with smile. How
little he knew how little he guessed
that he was the very sun Of her exist
ence-that II anything could surpass
his love for her, 1t was her love for
him.
"See, she said, suddenly "the lily
cups are closing, and the dew Is be-
ginning to fell. Bertram, we must go
I'M
II wonder" he said, slowly, show
shall live through these hours. |
could hardly do so but that / believe
in the end you will be my wife. When
Is the ball to take place, Leonie?"
"On Tuesday week-Tuesday, the
nineteenth Of June"
81 shall remember the date; that ball
has suddenly become most important
to me"
Another hour passed before they
walked back over The fallen rose-leaves
to the house, and then there was little
doubt left on Sir Bertram's mind that
Leonie would eventually become his
wife.
"She is so beautiful so peerless, 80
eagerly sought after, / could not ex-
pect her to say yes all at once, but |
know she loves me-she would have
sent me from her If she did not.
Remember" said Lady Charnleigh,
as they drew near the long open win
dow, you are not to speak of this,
Bertram, until"
Until your brain is clear and the ball
is over. will remember" he prom
ised, with a smile. "You like to enter
tain one idea at time, Leonie, and no
more"
"You understand perfectly. See,
there is Lady Fanshawe. Have you
any idea, Bertram, whether 1t is ETH
quette for countess of eighteen to
linger among the lilies with Saxon
prince"
1t was the first time she had ever
battered him, and the fair, frank face
flushed hotly.
For your sake wish | were a
prince" he said.
She looked at him with an assump-
ton of perfect gravity.
you please me best as you are, she
returned, and when he would have
caught that white jeweled hand she
turned away.
My dear Lady Charnleigh," said
Lady Fanshawe; do you not think it
is late for you TO be out?"
please blame Sir Bertram auntie--
he has beguiled the time"
Lady Fanshawe looked keenly at that
gentlemans face.
HAS he anything to tell me?" she
said to herself. mo, he looks exceed
ingly happy, but not as though she had
promised to marry him, Whom does
she like BEST wonder?"
Miss Dacre looked up from her book
as Sir Bertram re-entered the room;
Lady Charnleigh had fingered outside,
pretending TO fasten some dropping
roses, but in reality to hide the beauti-
full bushes that had not yet died from
her face.
He has not asked her to marry him, "
thought Miss Dacre; she looks like
happy lover but nothing more" A
sharp sudden pang smote her. Does
she like Paul Flemyng best? If so, he
will win her"
She laid down her book and went out
to where the young countess stood rails
ing the dropping flowers.
How sad it is that roses die!" COM
mented Lady Charnleigh. Look at
those lovely leaves, Ethel; they ought
never to fade.
But Ethel Dacre went up to her and
cla.ped her white neck.
"Leonie, she said. you are not real
ly thinking about the roses. Tell me,
have you been kind to Sir Bertram this
evening"
The countess opened wide her lovely
eyes,
my dearest child child" she said,
have you been with me so long with
out learning to understand me. | am
kind to no one but myself"
Nor could Ethel get any other an
swer from her.