Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-12-05

room. where he might change his dress
for dinner.
The chamber to which he was shown
was situated Immediately over the IL
brary, and it's front bay window over
looked the same scene. Involuntary
Malcolm sauntered to the window and
looked forth upon the night The
moon was now so high in the heavens
that its face reflected even In the
shrouded mirror of the dark lake. AS
he looked forth he saw the same
beautiful female figure emerge from
the thicket and disappear in the direc-
ton Of the house. She had evidently
entered the building.
Malcolm turned away az though
there was no longer any attraction in
the moonlight on the shrOuded lake,
and turned to give his attention to old
John, the valet of the late Lord Lea
ton, who stood ready to assist the
young man in making his toilet.
When Malcolm Montrose had re-
freshed himself with a wash and a
change of dress, and stood ready to
descend to the drawing room, he pre-
scented in himself one of the noblest
specimens of manly beauty.
He was at this time about twenty
five years of age, tall and finely
proportional, broad-shOuldered. deep
chested and strong-limbed. His head
was stately. well poised and covered
with rich. dark. auburn hair that
waved around a high, broad, white
forehead. His features were of the
noblest Roman east: his complexion
was fair and ruddy, and his eyes of a
clear, deep blue. His presence was
imposing as that of one born to COM
mand; his were at <nc gra-
cious and dignified and his conversa-
tional powers brilliant and profound.
He was one Of those masterpieces OF
creation, one of those magnificent men
who attract and control without any
effort.
When Malcolm Montrose entered the
crimson drawing room he found 1t al
ready brilliantly lighted up for n
evening, and amid it's glitter Of light
and glow of color three fair women
were revealed. The first, who was
his aunt, Lady Leaton, arose and led
him up to the other two, who immedi-
ately riyetted his attention.
Reclining %languidly in an easy chair
sat a fair girl with a delicate complex
ion. dark-grey eyes and light brown
hair confined in a net of black silk.
Standing on her right hand, and
bending a~ffectionately Oyer her, was A
large, tall, finely formed. ~fair-haired
woman. whose ample dress of black
velvet fell around her majestic figure
like the robes Of a queen or the dra-
perry Of II goddess.
Madame permit me to present to-
you my nephew, Mr.. MOntroSe Of Dun
Ellen: the Princess PeZZilini. Mr.. Mon
trOSe." said Lady LeatOn. Respectfully
presenting Malcolm 10 the stranger.
Malcolm bowed deeply and rever-
emily. and expressed himself hOnOred
in making the acquaintance of the
widow of the heroic Prince Pezzilini.
The lady. ON her part, gracefully
raised her stately head. smiled
| sweetly, curtsied silently, and imme-
diately resumed her attention to the
young girl in the chair. But in that
single glimpse of her full face, Mall
coin saw that she vas Of that rareSt
and strangest type Of Italian beauty.
a perfect blOnde-faiT. rs th,u@h Ne
had been born under the cool, ,....aD
fogs Of England. instead Of the burn
ing sun of Italy; and. indeed. if the
land Of her birth had given her any nf
it's fire, it vas only to he seen in the
warm and glowing smile that OcCa-
~sionally lighted mp her face and
beamed from her clear blue eyes.
Malcolm took in all these Impress
ions during the few moments that
were occupied in his presentation, and
then he turned TO greet the young
lady in the easy chair-his cousin
Agatha.
He saluted her gravely and affection
ately, as BETTING the serious occasion
&c the meeting. and then. observing.
for the first time, the extreme delicacy
of her face and form, and the languor
of her attitu le and manner, Malcolm
looked uneasy, and expressed Il fear
that she had been indisposcd.
NO, she is not indispOsed; that is,
not seriously so; but she has not
seemed quite well or strong since
since our great bereavement an
swered Lady Leaton, concluding the
sentence in Il faltering voice.
Not well; no, indeed" thought Mall
colin. as he gazed with concern upon
the fair and fragile form of her whom
he had left but a few months before
the very picture of perfect health.
Not well. yet not seriously indis-
posed" Was it possible that this
great change had come over Agatha
so gradually that its effects should
have escaped the eyes Of even her own
affectionate motherl Such must have
beer the case, was the thought of NAL
colin, as he held the thin and wasted
hand of the young girl in his own. and
resolved that upon the next day lie
would certainly call the attention OF
Lady Leaton to the fearful change
that, though ii might have escaped lie
notice of those in daily communion
with the invalid, while their attention
had been absorbed by matters OF such
transccndent Importance as the illness
and death of Lord Leaton. yet was,
withal. so marked and sc alarming as
to have shocked him who had left her
six months before In full and bloom
Ing health.
While these thoughts engaged the
mind OF Malcolm. a soft footstep ap-
preached, and Lady Leaton spoke, say
ing
"My niece. Eudora, Mr.. Malcolm
Malcolm raised his eyes carelessly.
Yes, there she stood, the beautiful
girl whose graceful form ne had fol-
lowed with q daliuhtna ca5a "a Sha