Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-06-13
LADY CHRIs's LOVER

A swirl of sillicn skirts across the
rosc-sccnted Mayfair drawing room,
the absorption of n creamy chiffon
frocll in IL dark blue serge embrace,
the juNtaposition of two pretty heads,
one copper-red and the other soft
brown. made up in Lord Trcgennlfs
memory the general effect of the meet
ing between Lady Christine Mainwar-
ing and her daughter Chrislabcl Aft
err IL moment the copper hair and the
chiffon frock rcaSs,lmed Il separate
existence, and Lady Christine Main
warning. a little flushed and disturbed
from her usual serenity. turned to the
privileged witness of the scene.
Lord I'regcnna. you must forgive |
me. but | have not seen my daughter 4,
for a very long time She took the
young girls long. slender fingers i'll
her own small, white hand.
LET me present to you my little
girl"
Miss Christabc Mainwarins dcigned
his lorlslip the slightest and slNest
of bows. then turned to her pretty
mother, and, holding her ut arms
length. cried: Little girl. why. dear,
I'm head and shoulders taller than you
are. and you're so lovely and so wee
you make me feel quite old
Lady Christine raised her fingers
and pa,ted her daughters check.
"Nonsnnsc. you foolish child. Now.
run upstairs. Hcnriettc will SHOW
YOU YOUR room and unpacl for You.
i will come to You directly
From her slender height the giri
lrnnnrd 81 kiss upon her mothers
brow. then lett the room.
.'What do YOU think of her. were
Lady Christines first words as the
door closed.
Lord I'regenna picked up his hat and
gloves before he answered: ''She is
very lovely"
..She is not like me. chg
lie let his cycs-big. gray. rather
cold eycs-wander over the mignohnc
form before him. During all her iif-
teen years unliSputcd position us II
leading beauty. Lady Christine haa
never looked so lovely as ut that mo
ment. With her bosom throhbihS ne
meath her pcrfulncd l.c'cs. her sweet.
red lips apart. her sapphire eyes aslow
with excitement and curiosity.
Lord lregcnn;l looked !; second tune.
"No. Miss Wninwaling is not like YOU.
But | must be going. You VIII WANT
to go to your daughter
..Au revoir. then. until this evening.
You will come to the opera:
.If YOU will grant me hospitality ior
thn second act OF Romeo shall be
delighted"
she waived him an airy acqnies-
cencc and moved to the door by ms
side. Yet, after Lord Tregenna mad
left the house. Lady Christine seemed
in no hurry to join her daughter. sue
sank into Il low chair and drew hcf
penciled brows together Ill an .iil'.-
tustomed effort of serious thought.
From her twentieth birthday. when
AIarmadukc Mainwaring had left her
widow, tile whole world had coll
spired TO take all need of thought OF
care from her baly-dimplcd hands and
curly auburn hair. Relatives quickly
decided that hcr only child could Well
be educated in foreign convent; and
society. finding her beautiful. sweet
natured and very wealthy. at once
cast her for the role of beauty anu
caressed and feted her accordingly
life ran on very ell-greased wheels
for Lady Christine Mainwaring. and
she did not permit even her lovers tt
trouble her. Scores of men burned in
cense at her dainty shrine. and Swore
ardent VOWS ut her arched feet. Some
loved her for her beauty. others de
sired her for her wealth. But she hAC
neither taste nor sympathy for either
one of them a thousand times she
had eagerly protested that neither
her position nor fortune could he bet
tered by Il second marriage. and. nn
like most women under identical cir
cumStiIcpS. she rad really mean
what she had said.
lat, aft. N-.apNS n
ulation and conquest. when Il seven
teen-ycar-old daughter WAS looming q
the horizon of her career little i.ad'
Christine sometimes caught ilerSrl
watching for !; certain handsome face
ut the opera. waiting for ~ plticula
tall. Suuarc-shorltirred figure on th
park longing for the tones of Il dee
voice at routs and lalls. she grew Il
capricious as Il Spolt baby. ridiculous
IN CHEEKY one hour. allsurdly depressed
the next She would laugh nj noll
ing. and twice within the week tina
preceded her daughters return. she
Oh, fie that such II confession .;loul
have to be made-she had caught hel
self in tears.
A vague fear. an uniformed appre
llcnsion. was driving tiny lump int
her white throat now as she sat mus
ing over Lord Treg:una's words: Ssh
is very lovely. She is not like you.
what did he mean? Chl'istubel wa
young and slender, and had sre;'
dovc-likc eyes. II wonder which q
us lie will PREFER Then she laid he
cool hands against her burning cheek:
"Whal Il fool am to even dream 9
such things. I've been spoilt. thin
that every man must be in love wit
me if he carries my prayer book tw
Sundays running at church parad,
or comes to my oper, box once weel
Chris must have her chance, and
he"
Then her thoughts trailed away int
vague imaginings. till a low voice mu
INJURED: "Motler. may | come in:"
"Of course, dear. Ring for tea. 40
sit down here and tell me all abo,
everything till it's time to dress Il
dinner"
When Lord Tregenna went round