The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-06-08
bot Hurst Of Lord sloshire as they

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"DOn't know. l am sure, and don't
care, ether growled his lordship,
who hated Talbot Hurst for a mean
little sneak
But Talbot Hurst's charitable sup
positions were baseless; for. in spite
of countless OBJECTIONS from her ban
ner, Lady Chris, Il her world called
her, did not ride jealous of the new
beauty, as Christabel quickly became.
And yet there were moments when she
would have given a year of her love
illness, a half of her fortune, to read
the heart of the man she loved. For
little Lady Chris had to confess to her
self that she loved Il man who, as
likely as not. had fixed his fancy on
another woman, young, fresh, eminent
ly desirable in every way.
eff l only knew! If l only could
find out.!' she cried to herself in her
dressing room II night. "He is the
same as ever, courteous and kind, but
always a little cold. And apparently
he is the same to Chris. If l could
only guess how he speaks to her, looks
at her, when they are alone together.
He sat out three dances with her at
the state ball on Wednesday and rode
with her an hour this morning in the
Row. wish I knew. l wish knew"
And up stairs in the pink and white
nest that framed the new beauty's
loneliness the words 81 wish l knew"
were breathed to the dawn. Slipped
like a pale wrath from her snowy
satins and laces, Christabel stood,
slender as, a May lily, before her mir
ror, her white hands clasped above her
tumultuous heart, as she sighed: II
wish l knew if he loves me-" The
next day the girl thought she had
found the solution to the riddle. 1t
was the first function of the season
a ball at Malplaquet house. Leaning
on Tregenna's arm Christabel drifted
down the low steps that led from the
drawing room into the GOODNESS of the
uuiet garden. Lanterns danced in the
soft night air, and the swish of wom-
ems gowns trailing over grass, the
coo of distant voices came gently to
ears still ringing with the final crash
of the finished valse. Christabel sighed
as she nestled into a cushioned chair.
"Tired?" queried Lord Tregenna.
"No, sorry," and she sighed again.
.You and sorrow should not meet so
soon," he said gravely. "What's the
trouble?"
I'VE are going away tomorrow"
answered Christabel.
The girls naivete made him smile.
"But there's plenty Of fun ahead:
Are you not going to be the belle OF
Sloshire's yacht at Cowes? Then you
are to have three weeks at Homburg,
supplemented by-how many-visits
in Scotland? Miss Maingaring, are
you growing insatiable?"
She gave a little laugh of self-depre-
citation. ~ daresay it will be pleasant
enough, but-I-mother-we shall miss
you"
Tregenna leaned forward and strove
to pierce the mystery of her sweet
violet eyes. Lady Chris and you will
miss meg" Her voice took a fuller
tone, his eyes a deeper light.
"Indeed, we SHALL" she answered
slowly. .You know, Lord Tregenna.
1 always think of you as my first
friend in London. You were in the
drawing room when I came home. that
afternoon"
"And you will be sorry to lose your
first friend for even a few weeks"
She nodded the reply her trembling
lips could not speak.
"Chris!"-he laid n strong, firm
hand upon the girls nehvous fingers
"Chris, if 1 never left you, If l were
always with you in the future, as your
friend-your-would you be glad"
every glad!" -,
The words scarcely stirred the air,
but he caught them. They were
enough. for he rose and led her baek
to the house.
It was late next morning, almost
midday, when Christabel came dane
ing down stairs, her feet like feathers,
her eyes like stars.
"Lord Tregenna has been here,
miss" said a servant. ."His lordship
asked for milady or for you, but not
s.e.uw either. lett a note in the draw
iny-room. His lordship will come back
to luncheon"
Singing a valse tune, Christabel ran
into the drawing-room. How happy
she was! He had been to see her, to
speak to her mother. He would re-
turn presently, and stay by her side,
lever to leave her again.
Where a the note? She saw at
once tibet tiny corner Of the envelope
sticking from her mothers blotter.
With fingers that grew cold with ex-
citement, she drew it forth. Chris
was scra wled boldly across 1t. She
read the letter:
"Before we part to-day, my darling
Chris. 1 must know my fate from your
own lips. l have longed to tell you OF
my love the whole season through,
but dared not Dearest, will you give
your sweet self to me, and make mo
the happiest Of men! -Tregenna."
with cheeks from which excess of
Joy had chased the pink, Christi el
few to her mothers dressing-room.
Mother" she cried, holding out the
precious letter. "read this, dear. l
found it in the drawing-rOom. He's
coming for an answer in an hour, I
-hoDe--promise me-that you will say
yesv
She had flung herself at her mothers
knees and laid her radiant face above
her mothers heart.
Then suddenly her hope and love
died within her, and she was struck
with the silence of stone. The light
that gathered in Lady Christine's
lovely eyes, the tender little smile that
curved the corners of her childish
mouth, the faint blush that slowly
formed over the fiower-like face,
forced the bitter truth home to the
girls breaking heart even before her
mother dropped the note into her lap
and murmured:
Dear Chris, certainly 7 promise you
I will say 'Yes!' L have hoped for
some time that Lord Tregenna would
be your father"
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