Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-10-15
ed in her ears all the remainder of that
NV.

II have never seen YOU so pleased about
n dinner party before, Beatrix," said
Lady L4ennoX, when her daughter con-
suited her for the twentieth time concern
ing her dress. us any one going whom
| You very much wish To see!"
lies. ! told YOU, mamma-Mrs. Carcw.
tho artist-thc lady who is so anxious tn
paint my portrait. The duchess says she
would not paint the portrait of an en-
press il she did not like her"
BeatriN stood attirel for the dinner
party ut E.mslic House, looking far more
beautiful than she had ever looked before.
Her graceful head md tlowcr-likc face.
her white neck and lovely shoulders, rose
from clouds of rOsc-colorcd tulle. She
Wore white roses in her hair, and carried
Il bouquet of white hyacinths; a superb
knot of flowers was fastened in the bodice
of her dress. She ooked lovely enough to
disturb an artists dreams. Her uncle
had declined the invitation to the dinner
%party-;lc had not been well of latc-but
he desired to look at his niece before she
| went.
We'll. i am of opinion that that rose
tullc will give the duke his coup de grace.
l have never seen Trixie look so well be-
fore" said Peter Lennox; and he began
at once 10 think about the marriage settle
ments: while BeatriX, as she drew near
Elmslic House, asked herself what she
should do. There would be two gentle
men present. of whom one would wish to
talk to hcr-to the other she would want
to talk. 1t would require some astutcness
to manage to please herself without dis
pleasing others.
Yes, there was the duke. He waylaid
her at once when she entered tho room;
and she was compelled to listen to Il string
of compliments that she thought would
never end, wondering all the time whcth-
or Beltran had arrived. At last She saw
The tail figure and the fair, princcly head
towering above the others. Her face
flushed; she answered at random. Oh. if
the duke would but leave her in peace!
To her great relief the Duchess of Elms-
lie called the duke away-she wanted to
introduce him to the wife of one of the
cmbassadors-and Reatrix was free. In
another moment Bcltran Carcw was by
her side.
II was afraid" he said. that l should
not get near you, Miss l4ennoN. The Duke
of Heathland guards you as though you
were Il crown jewell
She looked W at him, wistfully. longing
to say: ut is not my fault that he is al
ways near me" but she was silent. Per
haps he misunderstood her silence, for aft
| ter Il while he added:
81 hope l have not been indiscreet."
In Il moment her face was in Il flame.
"Ccr,ainly moi" she said, and then she
added shyly-shc was so unfortunately
flank-'l was just wishing that he would
go and make room for yOu.'
"Wcrc You: am the happicst--' He
paused suddenly, for the confusion in her
face pained him.
Then they walked through the superb
suite of rooms, S o interested each in the
other that all else was UNDECIDED. Every
now and then BcatriX raised her fair face
with a look of unuttcrablc content, the
light of perfect happiness in her eyes.
Then her words became fewer, sweet shy.
ness came ovcr her, and presently it was
time TO go.
She WAS rather puzzled on reaching
home: for. when Lady LcnnoN asked her
about the dinner and the soirce, She could
remember nothing except that Mr.. Cnrew
was there. BeatriN was startled to find
that she did not wen remember saying
goodnight to her grace. What she did
remember was standing in the nall with
Bcltran Carcw by her side. lie declaring
that the opera cloak would not como into
the right folds and lingering so long
while he drew it round her that she had
looked at him with II wondering smile,
then he had bent his handsome head over
her and whispered such sweet words that
| the Very memory of them made her heart
palpitatc.
Bcntriy was quite unconscious how
much Beltran Carcw was beginning tc
fill her life. When she awokc in the morn
ing. it was to think of him. to wonder
if she should see him on that day, if he
would call. if she should meet him acct.
dcntally. if he would send q note or mes.
sage. The days on which she was to
meet him were rcd-lcttcr days; but then.
as she said to herself. she had longcd all
her life to know n hero, and ut last she
had mot one.
They met almost continually. Beltran.
although constantly occupied during the
day, went out Il great deal. Since he had
known BcntriN he sought the people who
knew her. He contrivcd to discover ut
what houses she was to visit. But the
best time of all for him was when Mrs.
Carew began to paint "The Lotus Lily
Mrs. Carcw herself had designed the
uItSS. H WIS IL utuIltle VI ClOtll VI SOlO
thrown over one shoulder. leaving the
other undraped. The lovely neck rose
tiower-like from the superb costume, the
Queenly head was crowned with blue Nile
lilies. Nothing could have been more mr..
tistic or more beautiful.
BcatriN enjoyed those sittings. Lady
Lcnnox generally went with her; but
Lady Lennon was not worldly wise, and,
when she saw how the young lawyer i'm
tcrcstcd and amused her beautiful child,
when she heard them conversing of every.
thing most poetical and artistic, she never
dreamed of danger.
They all met one day at 81 fcte given in
the beautiful grounds of T%wickenham
Palace. The Marquis of Ersdalc was thu
originator of it, and. as Mrs. Cnrcw had
set all London talking about the won:
derful portrait of his beautiful marchion.
css, he had sent cards both to the gifted
artist and to her no less gifted son. Boa.
trix and Lady Lennox went with the
Duchess of El,rSIio pntor onnnx j;o.