The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-12-19
CHAPTER XVI.

Straubenzee woke late the morning
after the ball, and Miss Gregorias found
no one visible when she came down to
breakfast, which ON that occasion was
served in the octagon room, and ate 1t
there alone, for once happy IN her
thoughts.
The night before had been to her one
long intoxication; for the first time in
her life she had her hour and enjoyed 1t
to the very uttermost. She forgot every
thing but that she was exquisltely turn
ed ont and that mems eyes told her so,
that in all this brilliant assemblage
there was not one to contest with her
the right of divine loneliness, and in the
sense of mastery it gave her all else
was forgotten, while the GROWING,
most satisfying touch OF all came IN
the attention Will Cassilis paid her
and his genuine delight at her success.
He thought she had won her innings
and helped to make it sweet 70 her
while Mamie went through duty dances
with her neighbors ana otherwise per-
| formed her duties as hostess for the first
and last time in her fathers house.
A warm color came to Hagar's face
| as she remembered the things be had
said to her, and she thought how much
better he had looked than Blake IRE
lawny, whose dark, distinguished looks
were indeed far superior. especially IN
that dress which is one OF the most
anomalous and confusing signs Of the
time, being worn indifferently by gut
ter born waiter and royalty alike.
As to Mamie, Hagar had forgotten
all about her. That strong, full cup OF
sweetness had absorbed all her time In
the drinking, and the music, the scent
of flowers, the whole perfect setting OF
her pleasure had reused in her an in
tense power Of enjoyment that startled
her, making her ask was she indeed the
crushed, spiritless creature, half ruined
in health, despairing in soul, who walk
ed with the wizard not much more than
a year ago on the Devonshire seaboard,
without single hope of the future.
She had not even known that she pos
sessed a will, till his, which had alb
sorbed hers. was broken in death, and
only by slow degrees had learned to ex'
ercise those powers that beneath all hel
serfdom had existed. What If they
should avail her now, what IL the in
credible had happened, and even az
Mamie in spite of herself bowed to Ire
lawny's sway, Will Cassilis was coming
under an influence that he had not the
strength to resist
Alas, poor soul, thus she deceived
herself, not knowing that when mans
heart is brimful of love to the one
little of it must perforce overflow to the
stranger, for he cannot help it; the In
dividual love has taught him, as 4
must all generous souls, the universal
love.
Presently Hagar made her way to thu
library, where Lord Straubenzee, hav
ing long ago breakfasted. and looking
as if he had never left his beloved book
an hour. was quietly reading, the room
in perfect order.
She greeted but would not disturb
him, aud he said as she disappeared, -.
am glad she enjoyed her ball, " then re
lapsed into his book.
Strolling out into the open air an(
passing the vast network of Offices tina
Law TO the rear of the house, Hagar cam'
at last TO the riding school, that formed
one side of vast quadrangle that ha%
once held stabling accommodation 10
so horses. All was ruined and disuse'
now, grass grew thick between tn
stones, the riding school, down which
such brilliant companies of careless mei
! and women bad ridden laughlng, ",