Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1896-09-03

,lTeeA.
however, these jewels were heirlooms,
she was unwilling to part with the
least one Of them until extreme want
should actually compel her to do so;
hence, with almost boundless wealth
at her command, she chose to live in
poverty and priyation. This was her
story.
The lively Imagination of Lady Lea
ton was affected by her beauty, sensi-
bility and accomplishments. The good
and benevolent heart Of Lord Leaton
was touched by her misfortunes, her
courage and her resignation. And the
end of it was that they invited her to
return with them to England, and
! make Allworth Abbey her home until
the clouds that lowered over her house
should be dispersed and the sun should
shine forth again.
They spent the autumn in Paris. and
returned to fAllworth Abbey just in
time to prepare for Christmas.
And It was on Christmas Eve that
the messenger from India returned,
bringing with him Eudora Leaton. 1t
was evening, and the family circle Of
Allworth Abbey, consisting of Lord
and Lady Leaton, Miss Leaton and
the Princess Pezzilini, were assembled
in tie drawing room when Eudora was
announced.
She entered, and her extreme beau
ty at once impressed the whole COM
pany.
1t was beauty that owed nothing
to external circumstances, for she had
arrived weary, sorrowful and travel
stained; vet it was beauty that sank
at once into the very soul Of the &C.
holder, filling him with a strange de-
light. She was of medium height, and
slender yet well rounded form. Her
graceful little head was covered with
shining, jet-black ringlets, that fell
around face as lovely as ever haunt
ed the dream Of poet or painter. Her
features were regular; her complexion
was pure, clear olive, deepening in
to rich bloom upon the oval cheeks,
and a richer still upon the small, full
lips; her eyebrows were perfect arches
of jet, tapering off to the finest points
at the extremities; her eyes were
large, dark and liquid, and fringed by
the longest and thickest black lashes;
her nose was small and straight; her
mouth and chin faultlessly carved;
her throat, neck and bust were round
ed in the perfect contour Of beauty;
the whole outline of her form was in
etfably beautiful. A poet would have
said that her most ordinary motions
might have been set to music, but to
no music more melodious than the
tones Of her voice.
Such was the beautiful young Ash
attic that stood trembling before her
strange English relatives in the d.aw-
ing room of Allwcrth Abbey on Christ
mas Eve.
Lord Leaton was the first to arise
and greet her.
"Welcome to England, my dearest
Eudora," he said, embracing her fond-
ly; "think that you have come to your
own home, and to your father and
mother, for, after our daughter Aga
tina, we shall love you best of all the
world, as after her, you know, you
are the next hejress of our name and
estates"
''Dear uncle. give me place tn
your heart next to my cousin Agatha,
and-let the rest CO." said Eudora, in
a voice vibrating with emotion.
Lord Leaton then formally present.
and to the Princess Pezzilini. all of
NuOul 1CSOlNCu liz OCuulllul tOuAS
stranger with the utmost kindness and
courtesy.
Agatha, in particular, seemed de-
lighted with the acquisition Of con-
genial companion in her charming In
dian cousin.
The evening passed delightfully."-;
but, for the sake Of the weary travel
err, the family party supped and sep
arated at an unusually early hour.
1t was soon after Lady Leaton re-
tired to her dressing room that she
heard light tap at her door, and to
her surprised exclamation, of "Come
In" entered the Princess Pezzilini.
"You will pardon me for intruding
upon you at this hour, but you know
what great reason have to be devot.
cd to your service, Lady Leaton. and
you know the force of my faith In pre-.
sentiments. 1t Ia a preaenttment that
forces me to your presence tonight"