The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1895-01-04


all a dream.
could fancy that the beautiful face
in the picture had descended from the
frame and was near me in tho strange
evening light. The eyes that sought
mine were as true and as brave, the
same lingly head with its clusters OF
dark hair, the same beautiful mouth
with it's fine bold curves, the same
broad shoulders and noble figure; but
he, the real man, looked older than
the picture.
Let me confess it; my heart won't
down before him. He had not
been talking to me ten minutes before
/ thought to myself that there was no
man like him, and that | would rather
have even his most distant acquaint-
anceship than the love of any other.
1t was not that ! was very romantic or
easily won, but it seemed to me that |
had known him long. IL was my pic
ture-lover come TO life, and if it had
not been for that picture for my love
and admiration of it, all would have
been different; but han dreamed of
that face for long weeks, just as had
repeated the name.
No foolish idea camc to me. True,
to my thinking, he was great hero, a
great prince, as far above mo as the
stars are above the earth. | did not
think TO myself that | would try 20
charm him. No false notions entered
my mind. but | confess humbly my
heart went out TO him. 1t seemed as
though my life suddenly grew COM
plete; n vague. delicious happiness
took possession OF me. None of this
was shown in my manner. Lionel
Fleming walked by my side and talked
to me. | seemed to have gone away
into fairy-land, l had forgotten the
sunset and the river, Lady Latimer
and the colonel | had forgotten
everything in the wide world except
Lionel fleming. l did not even
know what he was saying, and | an
swereu him at ran Ion yes or ''no."
The first thing that aroused me was
the sound of laugh a clear, beauti-
full. siivery laugh, with ring of true
enjoyment in il, such as | had never
heard from the lips of Lady Latimer
before. | turned TO look at her; she
was talking TO Colonel North, and
there was brightness in her face new
to me. Colonel North was a very
handsome man. not like Lionel Flem-
ing-no one could be like him. He
was a fine, tall, soldierly man. with an
erect. almost naughty bearing. He
looked like what he was, soldier end
gentleman. He had fine dark Dyes
and dark brown hair; his features
were handsome and distinguished; he
had the air of one born TO command.
| noticed especially the strange white
ness of his hands. | liked him-no
one could help it; he was always pleas
ant and kind to me. We walked
slowly back to the house. | have
never seen the sun set over the river
without recalling every detail of that
evening. We all four went into Lady
Latimer's boudoir for a few minutes,
where we took some tea-dinner was
at eight-and still the strange feeling
of something unreal was over me.
We had a delightful half hour, then
Lionel Fleming went in search of Lord
Latimer. Colonel North to his room,
and Lady Latimcr and myself went to
her room.
The dressing bell has Just rung, ="
she said. "Oh, Audrey. stay just five
minutes and tell me what dress to
wear"
And shat was the first time since l
had known her that Lady Latimer
ever mentioned dress TO me. looked
at her in wonder.
al want to look nice tonight" she
said. You sec, we have large din
ner party"
On the previous evening the dinner
party had been even larger, and she
had been perfectly Indifferent over her
dress. wearing exactly what her maid
had prepared for her without COM
ment.
/ thought this interest in her toilet
was an excellent sign, and in my wise
fashion tried to encourage it.
Il Ike you best in blue" / said; ait
suits your fair, rosc-leaf complexion
and golden hair; and of all textures, |
prefer velvet. II takes such beautiful
lights AMI shades; then pearls 90 best
with blue velvet"
Thank you," she said. checrfully.
/ was delighted when | saw how
bright and interested she was. At
dinner there was quite change in
her. All her WEAKNESS and fatigue
had disappeared; her eyes were bright
as stars. She was radiantly lovely,
her voice had another ring, her laugh
was music. 1t was the happiest din
ner party we had had at LOTIONS Cray.
Colonel North was ono OF the best
takers | had ever heard: graphic,
tcrse, entertaining, he completely en-
chained us. He had read much; his
thoughts and ideas were so vigorous.
so noble. saw Lady Lat
liners eyes fixed on him.
and when he had finished speaking,
she drew deep breath like one re-
leased from spell. The gentlemen
were not long before they followed us.