Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-02-02

through the broad, fragrant, brilliant
" lighted corridor; @and that Is for
ferns. do not care for them, but she
sees something wonderful In them, and.
ts supposed to have the finest collec.
tion In England; some of the best and
mot wonderful are grouped here.
The duchess wished to make the
world envious, suppose.
The dining-room was lighted with
innumerable wax tapers. which threw
. soft, pearly light; and Leonie, stand
picture. At the ether end Of the room
she saw gentleman standing before .
picture; he was evidently admiring or
criticising 1t. Sometimes the grand
statuesque attitude Of that tall, stately
figure struck her with admiration; he
turned suddenly, and she saw kinglyi
Saxon head with fair clustering hair,
and fair, frank, handsome face.
It was the handsomest face, she
thought to herself, that she had ever
seen-such q face as women love and
children trust, full Of loyalty, of noble
simplicity-a face that could be ~ ten,
der as q woman's. yet stern and severe
when need should bs. With her quick
fanciful imagination Lady Charnleigh
made all men heroes.
A sudden desire seized her that the
light Of that face should be turned upon
her, and then she became conscious
that Lord Falcon had been speaking to
her for some time, and her face flushed.
II crave pardon, Lady Charnleigh;
II your thoughts are really 80 far
away that you cannot hear, / will not
intrude."
Pray pardon me, : she said.
.hs1 She was Just going to add Who is
It would not do to let Lord Falcon
occupied with q stranger while he was
by her side. Leonie, Lady Charnleigh,
was growing worldly wise.
She was saved all further wonder by
the strangers suddenly catching q
glimpse OF Lord Falcon, upon which
he came forward quickly, and the
greeting between the two was warm
and cordial. Then Lord Falcon intro
duced Sir Bertram Gordon to the Coun-
tess of Charnleigh, and q new life-
drama was begun.
The grand Saxon head, with its clus-
tering hair, was bent over her, and
LeOnie's face grew warm as two keen,
clear eyes frankly met her own.
Il have heard so much and SO often
of you, Lady Charnleigh, that it gives
me the greatest delight to meet you. I"
She was accustomed to compliments,
but something in the ring Of his voice
told her he was speaking truth. Sud-
denly the soft, sweet strains Of the
$50 daten Lieder" foated through the
open doors. Lord Falcon looked at his
companion.
Lady Charnleigh, II I were fond Of
quotations / could use one now-sWith
thee conversing, forget oil time.' I
am engaged for this dance to Miss
Hylton, and 1t has begun-what shall
@Hasten to atone for your forgetful-
ness"
.And you?" he said. Sir Bertram at
once stepped forward.
IF Lady Charnley will accept my es.
cort, shall feel most honored."
Her face flushed again, her hand
trembled as 1t touched his arm. What
is coming to me?" thought the girl, Inn
patiently. Surely I am not growing
nervous and awkward"
Are you engaged for this waltz"
asked Sir Bertram, suddenly. And the
next moment, as it seemed to her, she
was floating round the room on the
wings OF zephyr.
The strong arm clasped her, the
handsome Saxon face was bending over
her. What was it came SO suddenly
from his eyes to hers? A sweet, subtle
something that she could not UNDER
stand. Suddenly the sweet face grew
pale; the vague, dreamy happiness was
SO great that 1t became painful.
You are tired, Lady Charnleigh, :"
said Sir Bertram; you have grown
very pale. Will you leave this warm
room? I will find you q cool seat
among the flowers"
She took his arm. Her senses were
all in q whirl; she would have mechan-
ically done anything he told her.
So they walked on in silence, all
tremulous with happiness too sweet for
words; and, as they went, the music
appeared to grow softer, the lights
brighter, the flowers more fair. It
was but the dawn Of love, and they
were unconscious of II. They went
through the long suit of brilliantly
lighted rooms; then they heard the
ripple of fountains, and Sir Bertram
said:
"You will find that ten minutes here
among the flowers will refresh you,
Lady Charnleigh.
He placed seat for her near large
stand of fragrant white daphnes. She
looked at him with smile.
.Did you guess that these were my
favorite aowers?" she asked.
mo" he replied promptly.
well" confessed the young heiress,
II love the daphnes-they are full Of
poetry. The name has associations
that cannot explain, or even UNDER
stand; and the perfume says more to
me than the perfume Of any other
flower"
He was leaning against the white
marble fountain, locking earnestly ct
her radiant, lovely face.
u wish were daphne, he said.
@Then should gather you and wear
you, and then you would die, she re-
turned.
Happy in such death! You would
not throw me away, though, when I
was dead-would you?.
cot what use Is . faded Aowerp" she
asked, laughingly.
Il shall never see . daphne again
without thinking Of you, he said, and