The Dickinson press., 1894-01-13

had lacked interest, and that there wa
a want Of novelty in some of the scenes.
She was more than delighted when Mrs.
Morley introduced her to Hyacinth
Vane; here. indeed, was a novelty-a
girl more beautiful than any she had
ever seen; with a voice that was like
sweetest music, and q smile that wal
like sunshine; a girl whose every move
ment was full of sweetest harmony,
as though she were following q strain
of hidden music.
Lady Rosedene fell In love with her
at once.
Your father is a scholar and a gen.
tleman; they tell me he lives amid
his books, and counts this outer world
Us nothing. To invite him to Dene Hall
would be IN empty compliment-ho
would not come; but I wish he would
let you visit me. Do you think he
would?" said Lady Rosedene to her.
Hyacinth raised her happy eyes to the
kindly, comely face.
II think he would be delighted" she
answered. my father is not quite like
other men; he does not seem to live
In the same w0rld-I doubt whether he
would understand ut oil the kind Of
world in which you move."
Probably not" said Lady Rosedene,
delighted with the girls ~earnestness
and beauty; but you will understand
it."
She smiled Mt the fervor with which
the girl clasped her little white hands
and replied:
II should love it, I think, more than
any other world"
A dainty flush covered her fair face.
her eyes shone with the brightness Of
stars.
'"Then," said Lady Rosedene, you
shall see what it is like. Come and
stay with me for q month, IL you can
be spared for 81 long. I have no wish
to tiatter you, but with q face like
yours, the world ought to be at your
feet"
Hyacinth Vane never forgot that day.
She had been accustomed to hear Lady
Rosedene's name mentioned always ne
that of n of the powers of the land,
and now to lind that great and mighty
solutely asking for her society and her
She did not know that Lady Kosedene
pretty faces, and that she would Don
SOAAoAASA ASA pASStiSS SOACS uuASSS SuC
could introduce some new beauty. IIya-
cinth knew nothing of this. and won.
dered why the clever, dainty, exclusive
lady should be so anxious for her
friendship. She was delighted; her
charming face seemed to grow more
beautiful, her eyes brighter, her smile
sweeter.
The day Of the picnic was never to
be forgotten by her; all the details of
it she remembered: and in the dullest
hours of her life those details came
back to her with a torture all their
w
When Lady Rosedene took her homo
that evening she said:
II shall take you Mt your word, Miss
Vane, and drive over tomorrow to
ask your papa If he a spare you for
q month. You will enjoy yourself ut
Dene Hall, / am sure"
II know that I shall" replied Hya.
cinth, simply.
Lady Rosedene was perfectly happy.
She would be able to introduce a beau.
ty such as no one had seen in that part
of the country, and she should recover
the prestige she had almost lost from
q scarcity of beautiful faces.
sais4 noth ing to te'iG ier a nEeae: about oyttct Tie
impending visit. For the first time she
realized in what a different world they
both lived.
Something of the deep silent mystery
OF night seemed TO 1ihger round her
MS she entered the quiet house. She
went at once to her fathers study,
the ring Of happy voices, the sound
of music, the silver strains of. cOmpli-
ment and homage, (all sounding in her
ears; the brightness Of fair faces the
sheen Of rich dresses and jewels, still
before her eyes. Her father, his work
ended for the day, was seated at the
window, his eyes fixed on the lime trees
beneath which his young wife slept.
She heard him mulnur, MS she opened
the door:
"How long, Elsie-how long will it be,
dear?"
A great solemn hush fell over her.
1t was as though she had suddenly en-
tered n grand cathedral aisle; the world
seemed to fall from her.
She forgot Lady ROscdcne and the
promised visit, and went with u gentle
step to the lonely man, whose heart
was buried while his body lived on.
She put her arms round his neck, and
bent her sweet face owe his.
Papa" she whispered, shall you
never forget, even ever so little?"
mo, my darling, not even ever so
little. I live more in that green grave
than I do here. There is a shadow Over
me to-night-a presentiment of coming
evil-and In my mind I an going over
and over again every happy day Of my
life spent with her. Sit down here
NJ nv, foot LJroo;r<y, orJ Tot ,no toll
you how she lived and died.
Seated in the solemn. beautiful dusk,
| while the trees moved and the wind
| sighed in unison, she listened once more
to the story of how her mother had
been more like u spirit or an angel IL IN
a woman-how she had loved the white
h%yacinths, and how she had died with
her little child clasped in her arms.
No wonder that the girl forgot the
coming visitor and the coming visit.
the last incident of that eventful day
which she remembered was her singing
in q low, sweet tone to her father
until the look Of unsatisfed longing
faded from his face and he slept.
1t was such q different world this
from the bright, laughing life that only
that afternoon had been unrolled be-
fore her. 1t seemed stranger still when,
on the day following, Lady Rosedene's
carriage stopped ut S~weetbriars, and
the footman in his gorgeous livery
raped sharply at the door.
How strange it seemed to see the
brilliant lady, with her bright face,
her superb dress, in that oom where
tho solitary man always sat, that he
might be within sight Of his wife's
grave!
With that tact that distinguished her,
Lady Rosedene at once made her way
to his heart. She laid aside her pretty
caprices, her pride, her half-sarcastlc,
%half-laughing name She recognized
that she was in the presence of a deep
sorrow, and 1t impressed her. This
pale studious man, with the grief Of a
lifetime on his face. made a great i'm
preston on her. She was earnest, sin.
cere, kind and true. He appeared halt
startled at the idea Of Hyacinth's spend.
ing a month at the Hall.
II am afraid" he remarked, that it
will give my daughter tastes that can
H. z-,AsS-I ~