Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1895-08-01

am told that Hardley Hall IS scarcely
to be recognized in It's new aspect.
when il he coming?' inquired Bea-
trice. Unless be appears soon, /
shall tire Of him before he arrives. one
hears of nothing bnt Lord Hardley."
/, who was In her uncle's secret,
noted with some amusement how care
fully She refIained from mentioning
the young lords name again.
Three days afterwad Mr.. Stuart
came into the library, where was
busily engaged.
Paul. he cried, ''see--here are three
invitations for Lady DeptciI's picnic.
have asked Beatrice, and she will be
pleased to 20. viii you answer, ac-
cepting all three? 1t is quite an m-
promptu affalr-only one days notice,
you see"
Mr.. Stuart fidgeted about--he had evil
IDENTIFY more to say.
Paul" he said, suddenly. Lord
Hardley will be at Burnham. DO not
tell Beatrice | wish II TO be sur
prise"
"Why!' ! asked coldly.
..Well, my reason is founded upon
my experience Of women and their
ways. IT tell her Lord Hardley Will
he there, aud beg Of her to look charm
ing, ten to one she will DE stiff and
formal. Ii she is not enlightened she
Is sure IL be her own natural, charm
ing self"
| laughed at the squlre's policy; yet
when the day of the picnic came / al
most wished it had not succeeded SO
well. Never had Beatrice Stuart
looked more lovely. She was one of
those women who, without appearing
To give much time or attention to the
business of the toilet, are nevertheless
always perfectly and exquisitely
dressed Her little gloves and shoes
alone were study as she stood that
morning waiting for the carriage.
1t was late when we arrived at Burn
ham Woods; large party was already
assembled. No sooner had Lady Den
ton welcomed Beatrice Stuart than she
turned and begged to be allowed 10
introduce her to q man standing by
Lord HalNley.
He could not have bowed more
deferentially had she been a princess.
Her beautiful face flushed as she noted
the keen glance of admiration that he
could not disguise.
went TO a distance ana watched
them; and | could not but own to my
self that the summer sun rarely shone
upon fairer picture. | felt no envy;
perfect love knows nothing mean or
ungenerous and my love for Beatrice
was perfect. II my life could have
made her any happier, | would have
devoted it to her. | thought of her.
not Of myself.
As the long, bright summer day wore
on, there were many smiling comments
upon Lord Hardiey's attention to the
beautiful queen Of the fete. /, WHO
understood so well what love meant,
watched, and saw that he loved her.
| hardly knew whether | liked his
face. 1t was handsome, IN cold.
patrician way; but it seemed To me
that the lips which smiled so swechy
could be stern and cruel even as the
courteous, polished man of the world
could be selfish and mean. Love
sharpened my instincts, bur 1t did not
blind my Judgment.
Ii was day Of triumph to Beatrice
Stuart. Many smiled at the young
lords devotion. She did not seem
much elated over it, but the squire
was almost beside himself with de
light,
After the picnic, Lord IIardley Wis.
tied continually at Arne, rarely Il day
passing without his making pretense
for calling. 1 was not much surprised
to hear at length that he had asked
Hugh Stnart's permission to WOO his
niece.
That summer the engagement be-
tween Lord Hardley and the heireSs
of Arne was made public. | could not
tell whether Beatrice WAS happy. The
fair, proud face never lost its calm;
she accepted Lord Eiardley's attentions
with a dlgnltied composure and easy
grace that satisfied her uncle. Often
and often ] looked ut her as the young
man, bending over her chair. wills
pered compliments and pretty flat-
teries. Sometimes half-amused smile
parted her lips; sometimes again an
expression Of weariness stole into her
dark, dreamy eyes; but Of love or ten
derneSs saw naught,
| wonder now that one thing did not
strike me at the time as strange. she
would never discuss her future pros.
poets with me on before me. IL by any
chance asked a question, She
evaded ii by saying:
Let me have perfect rest with you,
Paul. | hear enough Of the future
from others"
The more | watched Beatrice Stu
art, the surer | felt Of two things
-.