Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-06-08

,,h at a"nae' 10y .a, WIN ueeP
You so dearly, feonie s''I Do sp promise s0t to
be my wife forget ali this, and renew
your promise to be my wife"
II cannot" she returned. "Please
Heaven no other false words shall pass
my lips to you while I live. I cannot
marry you because I do not love you;
and l do with all my heart love some
one else. Say you forgive me, Paul"
u forgive you, Leonie," he said; and
then before he could interfere to pre-
vent 1t, she had quilted the room.
CHAPTER NLv.
When I-eonie Rayncr loft Paul she
gave no thought as to whittier she was
going. She never thought OF Florette
waiting for her ut Crown Leighton;
she had made the great sacrifice for
which she had strained every nerve,
and the reaction was fast setting in.
She told the coachman to drive her
to the railway-station; she had some
Vague idea of going to London and los
Ing herself in the crowds Of that vast
city. One thing she knew was impos-
slb g, and that was for her to meet just
brilliant life now passing from her for
ever. She would go to London and
find some employment there; but first
she must have rest-rcst. She said the
word over and Owe again to herself; it
was all she could hope forrest. A
sweet peace seemed to float around her;
she was aroused only when the car
riage stopped at the station. The
coachman came up to her, and touched
his hat.
Have 1 any message. my lady, to
take back to Crown Leighton.:"
She started as the familiar words fell
on her ear.
.No, none. You gave me a title that
does not belong to me, Simmons. lam
no longer Lady Charnleigh. The will
has been found that makes Captain
Flemyng Lord Charnleigh-the heir to
Crown Leighton. He will be your mas
ter now"
Her voice was low and clear, every
syllable distinct. The man looked at
her in establishment too great for
words.
1T is %nosecret, she continued. sYou
a tell all the servants when you re-
turn"
II am very sorry, my lady," and Le-
onie was touched at seeing tears in the
mans eyes. He did not leave her until
he had seen her comfortably placed in
! the London train.
Then she was alone for the first time
since she had trampled on hcr tempta-
ton and put away her sin-alone, with
q strange feeling Of WEAKNESS and
reace- alone with strangely mingled
thoughts. The brilliant life was over
forever. Ieonie, Countess of Charm
leigh, was dead-no such person
existed. How would they speak of her
in that world she had loved SO we'll?
They would say that it was a short,
brilliant reign, and that she had been
much admired; and they say also that
nothing paltry-nothing mean in her
abdication. She had given up entirely
she had not reserved to herself jew
els or purses of gold, as some women
might have done. She was proud as on
that June day when. amidst light and
her the fable of her wealth.
A strange WEAKNESS was creeping
over her; she laid her head back and
closed her eyes: she removed the thick
veil from her beautiful, colorless face,
that the air might refresh her.
Strange fancies crowding on her
mind-strange fancies loated before
her-then a calm, deep brooding dark
ness fell, and the tired senses seemed
to sleep.
Nature must have its reaction. After
q great storm comes q calm. Such
calm came owe Leonie Rayner as she
closed her eyes-darkness and silence
seemed to enfold her, and she knew no
more. The strain upon her nerves had
been terrible; forlong months past she
had known no peace; night and day
she had been at var with herself. Now
the war was over-the evil spirit van
Quished-and she fell as 9 warrior
might fall who had fought a hard
battle and, wearied out, dropped by the
wayside
She remembered no more. The train
was n not much used-there were
few passengers; nor did it stop until
Euston square had been reached.
There 9 porter, opening the door, was
startled to find q lady with q white,
beautiful face, lying like one dead.
q rush of people to the spot. It hap
pened most providentially that in the
booking office, sending a messenger to
Crown Leighton, was Ethel Dacre.
There had been great alarm when
Leonie's sudden Journey was discov-
cred. Lady Fanshawe was amazed,
annoyed and Disconnected.
."such a thing to do in the very midst
Of the season-to rush off to Crown
Leighton IN that eccentric fashion!
What would the world say?:"
But what the world was to gay or
think mattered little now to Leonie
Rayner. Lady Fanshawe could not be
paciied until Ethel had promised to go
horself to Euston square and send q
messenger to Crown leighton.
Send Q letter to Lady Charnleigh
begging her to let US know what she
is doing and when she intends to le-
turn"
So Miss Dacre, who began to have
some faint glimmer of the truth, went
at once and while she was engaged in
dispatching q messenger she heard the
people saying that q lady had been
found In railway carriage either
fainting or dying.
A sudden conviction seized her that
It was Leonie. She found her instinct
had not deceived her-Leonie, cold,
silent and motionless, but with q look
nf noaca m hor whifa fono which Ekho1