Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-09-24
and study for the benefit of an cstatc-it
seems Il cold, hard, lonely life for you.

anu study tor the hcneiit OF an cStatc-it
scems II cold, hard. lonely life for you,
uncle"
She saw a sharp quivcr of pain pass
over his facet was gone in 81 moment
and then Ire laid his hand upon her head.
II love You. BeatriX-you are my child
and my hcircss-I love you and your
mother"
"Hut. uncle" She continued. "you would
not be human if You did not long for ties
OF your Own-a wife to love you, children
to love you"
He he'd up his hand with n warning
gesture. His face grew white and his Inns
lrcmb!rl.
You have a secret in Your life, %unc!c.'
she sa!d-"l know i'll have always
thought so-a secret. 1t is in your face;
there are such sad lines round your Inns
and OIL Your brow-lincs such as a secret
makes and leaves"
YES. You are right. Bcatrix-I have a
secret: hut the grave is closed over it. Do
not talk of it. my dear-you would not
love me better if you knew it. l was not
human when ] WAS young, / was cast
iron. granite. l committed no crime, but
-thcrc-do not talk of it. BcatriX."
He rose from his chair as he spoke and
stood quite still for II few moments. She
watched him. Presently his manner
changed completely. He turned to tho
writing table, and took up IL large wl.itc
cn'oiopc with Il crest upon it.
"1his is from the Duchess of Elmslic.
licAiriN. take j, 10 your mother and SEQ
what she says
when Hcatrix joined her. She wondered
what tilc duchess had 10 say. 1t was soon
known. Ihc brief letter ran:
dearest Lady L.cnnoN-Do not forget
m9 hail Oh Thursday night. You seemed
doubtful about coming. Try to come. Let
hcatriX he certain To do so. Dress her in
the most brwitching fashion. Som. ono
whom 1 like very much is anxious IL meet
hcr."
who can that be-" said Lady Lennox,
as she finished reading the note. '.Of
course you must go. BcatriN. and equally
of course ! must fake YOU"
".My grandmother is very Imperative"
remarked Rcatriy. with Il smile.
III WiS settled that she wls to go; and
Lady L"nnoN. made slightly anxious by
the little note. was more than usually
careful about her daughters dress. She
chose one of the pnlcst and dainticst of
rose silks embroidered with white flow
els: the faint rose hue enhanced the won
drous beauty of the perfect face. With
the superb dress BcatriX would have no
flowers hut white on%cs-whitc heath,
white roses and white lilies mixed. She
would have no jewels but p~carls-white,
pure and shining.
1t WAS late when Lady Lcnnox and
BcatriN reached the ball room. The Ouch
css Of Elmslic greeted them warmly.
II had begun to fear that you would
%disappoint me-" she said; and then her
keen eyes took in every detail of Bea-
trix's exquisite toilet. \ warm smile of
approval lighted her face.
II must not say all that l Think she
said: but l am proud of my godchild.
BcatriN, for the last week the Duke of
Hcathland has been following me like a
shadow. Can you guess why|
NO. I am not clever at guessing she
replied.
"Ilc wants to be introduced to you,'
she said; land l havc promised to oblisc
him."
II havc never heard of the Duke of
Heathland." remarked Bcatrix. To her
no designation was so great OF so noble as
that of Lcnnox of Erceldean.
Never heard of him." said her grace.
THAT seems almost to assume that he
does not exist; nevertheless, he is Il very
great man. Beatrix."
us hc"' she asked, carclessly. "For
his own sake l am very glad to hear it."
Presently a stately head was bowling
before her, and n deep. rich voice Whisper
ing how pleased and delighted the speak
or was to have at last the honor he had
longcd for: III BcatriX. raising her eyes.
found that the duchess had introduced
the Duke of IIeathland to her. She look
cd mt him steadily, and, as she looked.
admired him. He was somewhat like the
heroes she had pictured to herself. He
seemed very noble with his stately head.
Beatrix was pleased with him. They
walked down the ball room together, and
as they passed people said what a noble
couple they were-thc proud young Scotch
beauty and the stately Duke of Heath
land. The Duchess of Elmslie gazed after
them with great sclf-coinplaccncy.
Il think that will do" she said to her
self. II may have neglected prince
but, if / help to make her Duchess of
Hcathland, l shall more than atone for it.
1 think the duke is about we'll matched
with Bcatrix. They will be one Of the
noblcst pairs in England"
Tho duke wns charmed with Beatrix.
He was a proud man, this Duke Of Heath
: land; all his life he had lone as he liked
he had been under III control, known no
/, master. His father Hubert, the four
tcenth Duke Of Hcathland, died when his
son was only three years old, his mother
died when he was seven, and during that
/, long minority he vas under the charge of
/, Il most indulgent guardian. But that his
. nature was originally noble, he must have
been completely spoiled.
Bcatrix was very partial to him. 1t
= pleased her to hear him discuss literature
/; and politics-to hear him discuss music
: and musicians, art and artists. She en-
joyed his society. Whenever she heard
: that the Duke of Heathland was to be at
any ball or soiree she gaze it the prefer
e ence, while the Duchess of Elmslie watch
< ed in silent patience.