Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-03-07
LaDY Chris LOVER.
"Motheri"
''Chris I"

one copper red and the other sof
brown, made up in Lord Tregenna'
memory the general effect of tn,
meeting between Lady Christin,
Mainwaring and her daughter
Christabel. After q moment the
copper hair and the chiffon frock re-
assumed a separate existence, and
Lady Christine Mainwaring, little
flushed and disturbed from her usual
serenity, turned to the privileged
witness of the scene.
Lord Tregenna, you must forgive
me, but / have not seen my daughter
for a very long time" She took the
young girls long slender fingers in
her own small, white hand.
Let me present to you my little
girl"
Miss Christabel Mainwaring leigned
his lordship the slightest and shyest
of bows, then turned to her pretty
mother, and, holding her at arms
length, cried: Little girl! Why,
dear, I'm head and shoulders taller
than you are, and you're so lovely
and So we'll you make me feel quite
old"
LADY Christine raised her fingers
and patted her daughters cheek.
Nonsense, you foolish child. Now,
run up stairs. Henriette will show
you your room and unpack for you.
will come to you directly"
From her slender height the girl
dropped q kiss upon her mother S
brow, then left the room.
What do you think of herr" were
Lady Christine's first words as the
door closed.
Lord Tregenna picked up his hat
and gloves before he answered: "She
is very lovely"
'She is not like me, eh?"
He let his, eyes-big, gray, rather
cold eyes-wander over the mignonne
form before him. During all her
fifteen years undispated position as
a leading beauty L@iy Christine had
never looked so lovely as at that
moment, with her sweet, red lips
apart, her sapphire eyes aglow with
excitement and curiosity.
Lord Tregenna looked a second
time. "No, Miss Mainwaring is not
like you. But must be going, You
will want to go to your daughter.
"Au revoir then, until this even
ing. You will come to the opera?"
If you will grant me hospitality
for the second act Of Romeo l shall
be delighted.
She waved him an airy acquies-
cence and moved to the door by his
side. Yet, after Lord Tregenna had
left the house Lady Christine seemed
in no hurry to join her daughter.
She sank into low chair and drew
her penciled brows together in an
unaccustomed effort of serious
thought. From her twentieth birth
day, when Marmaduke Mainwaring
had left her widow, the whole woTr,,sa.
lad conspired to take all need of
thought or care FROM her baby dim
pied hands and curly auburp h9ir.
Relatives quickly decided that her
only child could we'll be educated in
q foreign convent; and society, find
ing her beautiful, sweet natured and
very wealthy at once cast her for
the role of beauty and caressed and
feted her accordingly. Life ran on
very well creased wheels for Lady
Christine Mainwaring, and she did
not permit even her lovers to trouble
her. Scores of men burned incense
at her dainty shrine and swore ar
dent vows at her arched feet. Some
loved her for her beauty, others de.
sired her for her wealth. But she
had neither taste nor sympathy fol
either one Of them. A thousand
times she had eagerly protested that
neither her position nor fortune could
be bettered by q second marriage
ard, unlike most women under iden-
tical circumstances, she had really
meant what she had said.
But lately, after fifteen years o.
adplation and conquest, when II
year old daughter was looming or
the horizon of her career. little
Lady Christine sometimes caught
herself watching for certain hand
some face at the opera, waiting for ,
particular tall, square shouldered fig
ure in the park, longing for the tones
OF deep voice at routs and balls
She grew as capricious as a spoil
baby, ridiculousiy CHEEKY one hour
absurdly depressed the next Sh'
would laugh ut nothing, and twic
within the week that preceded he
daughters return, she-oh, fie tina
such confession should have to b.
made-she had caught herself il
tears.
A vague fear, an uniformed appre
hension, was driving q tiny luml
into her white throat now as she sa
musing over Lord Tregenna's words
"She Is very lovely. She is not Xix
you !" What did he mean? Christ
abel was young and slender, and ha'
great dove like eyes. wonde
which of us he will prefer" The
she laid her cool hands against he
burning cheeks. What fool an
to even dream such things. I've bee
spoilt. / think that every man mus
be in love with me il he carries m
prayer book two Sundays running a
church parade or comes to my oper
box once week. Chris must hav
her chance, and IL he
Then her thoughts trailed ava.
into vague imaginings, till low voic
murmured: Mother, may com
inY'
'Of course, dear. Ring for ties
Nou aft down here md cell me nj