The Dickinson press., 1894-02-17

DAWN.
lfancies about 1t. She could say ii hun
lr9l quaint and picturesque things
where another would have been silent.
ITO whom shall l give it," she said,
,Ooking round with dark. laughing eyes.
Who deserves 1t most?"
Each gentleman urged his claim;
Alan alone said nothing. She turned
to him with a smile. .
You have not spoken" she said, Il
will give You the prize"
Their eyes met as their hands met,
while he took the spray Of apple bios
soms from her.
There was than n look Of
wonder. more than Que significant
smile. 1t vas so Well known that Alan
was to marry Hyacinth that more than
one curious glance sought her face,
and saw that 1t had grown pale. She
laughed the impression away; after all,
1t was not .Alan's fault that this dark
eyed oma admired him; who could
help it? She told herself that she ought
to be proud Of 1t; she said to herself
that she would be jealous.
Lady Fraser found out that afternoon
that there was no voice blended 80 well
with her own as the young sources;
they had been trying a duet. and she
had said to him. in an ecstacy Of de-
light:
What Il superb voice you have, Mr..
Branston, and how strange that 1t
should blend so perfectly with mine!
Do try some duets with me, will yOu?"
II shall be only too pleased" said
Alan, for whom her ladyship's contralto
had a wonderful charm.
The result wal that the hour before
dinner, always hitherto appropriated
by the young lovers to themselves, was
spent with Lady Fraser, who sung
like a siren; while Hyacinth sat in her
dressing-room trying to understand the
terrible pain that was eating her heart
away.
What was 1t? Alan loved her-what
could it matter whether he sung with
Lady Fraser or not? He. was. not In
the least changed TO her.
One evening, just before dinner, she
went into the drawing room. She had
generally been first there. and Alan had
been accustomed to join her; he did so.
he said jestingly, to see If the flowers In
her hair were all right. This evening,
on entering suddenly, she saw Lady
Fraser leaning back In her chair. dia-
monds shining in her dusky hair and
a pomegranate blossom on her white
breast, and Alan bending over her, talk
ing earnestly to her. She could not dis
Germ that it was q mere scene which
Lady Fraser had put upon the stage, as
1t were, for her benefit. She had called
Alan to her side. and was questioning
him about Elmsthorpe Grange, when
Hyacinth saw him talking so earnestly.
She hesltated for half a moment, while
her fair young face grew pale. Lady
Fraser looked up with a CLEAN Of tri-
umph in her eyes. Hyacinth said,
gently
Il beg pardon; I hope"
She had no time to finish her ger
tence; two or three others entered, and
she walked to the other end Of the
room, where no one could see the pain
she could not control.
Through some witty, playful nonsense
Lady Fraser had her chair placed next
to Alan during dinner, and the little
anecdotes she told him were so bright
and clever that he allowed her almost
to engross his attention. 1t was after
that that. Lady Rosedene made the IA
tai mistake Of speaking to Hyacinh
about the widow, and 60 bringing the
jealousy which had until now laid dor
mant, into terrible, active, fiery life.
"Hyacinth," said the kind.hearted
mistress of Dene Hall, II want to speak
to you. Why, child, you are losing
|ycur beautiful color! You look like q
white hyacinth rdeed! You must not
be Jealous Of Lady Fraser"
The blue eyes raised to her face had
something In them of intense pain.
II am not Jealous, Lady Rosedene,"
she said; but the keen ears detected the
ring of pain in the clear young voice.
Lady llosedene went on.
mo one thinks of what Lady Fraser
does or says; If any one else did the
same things, people would be shocked.
She Is a Thorough f1irt. I believe that
she could no more see o nice mar with.
out trying to make him like her than
q cat can see a nice plump little spar.
row without wishing to eat 1t. There
is no sincerity about her; her flirtati0ns
never last. Were I in your place, I
should take no notice of her."
""Then you really think she is flirting
with Alan, Lady ROsedene:'
Her ladyship was rather discomposed
by the very straightforward question.
II think, my dear, she Is trying to do
so: but l do not think she will succeed.
Alan loves you too much to think Of
,nv one else"
"Hc did love niche does love mel"
said the girl; but her voice had the
ring of despair in 1t.
II should laugh at It," continued Lady
lsosedcne-"not take it seriously. Lady
Fraser devotcs herself to the incest
man in tho house, no matter who lie
may be-. Alan ia the Eicest man here"
but h. is mine!" said I%Iyacinth.
Certainly. l know he liz, and always
will be. He cares nothing about Lady
Fraser: but he cannot br rude to her.
Take my advice, Hyacinth. and do hot
be jealous"
II will not" said The poor child; J
am not"
You have no cause" Declared Lady
liosedene; IF I san yDl had, I should
lie tile first to interfer.-.you know
that
But even Lady RESIDENCES faith was
somewhat shaken that evening, when
she saw Alan and Lady fraser singing
together.
cares nothing for the squire. Why
should she make that poor child unhap-
py? I shall speak sharply to her, il
this goes on"
Lady Rosedene had no fear Of Alan's
loyalty; she had no doubt Of his truth
and constancy to Hyacinth; but she
could not bear to s4e the sweet face
lose its brightness aid the tapdee a3ae
their Light.
Little scenes that were nothing to the
outsiders, yet which were full Of trag-
edy to those interested, passed contin-
ually. One lovely morning In the mid
die Of May the guests were out on the
terrace, the widow, as usual, in the cen.
ter Of Il brilliant laughing group. Alan
and Hyacinth We're near her; and she
was pretending to read the character
| nF nnDt. ,,n,,c,n, ,~.~, H., <H,1 aAuy0A