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

clsar-headed and true-hearted as MAJ
colin Montrose took the same views OF
the case with herself.
At the close OF the interview she
rang for q servant to show him to his
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. Involuntarily
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-
entered the building.
Malcolm turned away as though
there was no longer any attraction liz
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
i change of dress, and stood ready to
descend to the drawing room, he pre-
sented in himself one Of the noblest
specimens of manly beauty.
He was at this time about twenty
five years Of age, tall and finely
proportioned, 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 cast; his complexion
was fair and ruddy, and his eyes of q
clear, deep blue. His presence was
| imposing as that Of one born to COM
mand; his manners were at once gra-
| cious and .dignified and his converse
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 it al
ready brilliantly lighted up for the
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 rivetted his attention.
Reclining languidly in an easy chair
sat fair girl with delicate complex
ion dark-grey eyes and light brown
hair confined in a net Of black silk.
Standing on her right hand, and
bending affectionately over her, was O
large, tall, finely formed, fair-haired
woman, whose ample dress Of black
velvet fell around her majestic figure
like the robes of queen or the dra-
perry of goddess.
MADAME permit me to present to
you my nephew, Mr.. Montrose of Dun
i Ellen; the Princess Pezzilini, Mr. Mon
trose," said Lady Leaton, respectfully
presenting Malcolm to 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 i'll the chair. But in that
single glimpse of her full face, NAL
colin saw that she was Of that rarest
and strangest type of Italian beauty.
a perfect blonde-fair, as though she
had been born under the cool, 6amA
fogs of England, instead Of the burn
ing sun of Italy;sand, indeed, if the1
land Of her birth had given her anysOfl
its fire, it was only to be seensiD teae
warm and glowing smile t1d Docca-
sionally lighted up 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 Eefitting the serious occasion
of the meeting, and then, observing,
for the first time, the extreme delicacy
of her face and form, and the languor
Of her attitu lie and manner, Malcolm
looked uneasy, and expressed a fear
that she had been indisposed.
mo, 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 we'll; no, indeed!" thought NAL
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 it's effects should
have escaped the eyes Of even her own
| affectionate mother? Such must have
been 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 he
would certainly call the attention Of
Lady I.eaton to the fearful change
that. though it might have escaped the
| 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 so 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
HNJv niece F,,1dOra Mr. Malcolm"