Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-24
vi.

Nature had made Philippa L'Estrangc
beautiful, circumstances had helped to
make her proud. Her father, Lord les
TRANCE, died when she was quite n child,
leaving her an enormous fortune that was
quite under her own control. Her mother,
Lady L'Estrange, had but nj idea in life.
and that was INDUCING her beautiful
daughter in her every caprice. Proud,
beautiful and wealthy, when she most
needed her mothers care that mother
died, leaving her sole mistress of herself.
She was but seventeen then, and was
known as one of the wealthiest heiresses
and loveliest girls Of the day. Her first
step was, in the opinion of the world, a
wise one; she sent for Il widowed cousin,
Lady Peters, to live with her rs chaperon.
For the first year after her mothers
death she remained Mt Verdun Royal, the
family estate. After n year given to
retirement, Philippa L'Estrange thought
she had mourned for her mother after the
most exemplary fashion. She was just
nineteen when she took her place again
in the great world, one of it's brightest
ornaments.
An afternoon in London in May. The
air was clear and fresh; there was in it u
faint breath of the budding of chestnuts,
the hawthorn and lilac; the sun shone
clear and bright, yet not too warmly.
On this afternoon Miss L'Estrange sat
in the drawing room of the magnificent
family mansion in Hyde Park.
She played for some few minutes with
the rings on her fingers, smiling to her
self II soft, dreamy smile, as though her
| thoughts were very pleasant ones; then
Che tnnE IN n volume nf nn01,S NAM n Fn,..
lines. and then laid the book down again.
The dark eyes, with a CLEAN Of impatienct
in them, wandered to the clock.
How slowly those hands movev' she
said.
You are restless observed Il calm, low
voice: 'watching Il clock always makes
time seem llrg"
"Ah. Lady Feters,' said the rich. musi.
cal tones, ''whe: i cease to be young, !
shall cease to be impatient"
'Your anxiety about the gentleman
would be very f1attering to him il hi
knew it," remarked the elder lady.
why should l not be anxious? I have
always loved him better than the whole
world. l have had reason to be anxious
"Philippa, my dear Philippa, l would
not say such things il l were you, unles.
4 i nuu ueuru SOuuGluluK rCulky 0e0niff
from himself"
The beautiful young heiress laughed .
bright. triumphant laugh.
"Something definite from himself! Why
you do not think it likely that he vii
long remain indifferent to me, even il h,
be so nOw-which I do not believe.'
II have had so many disappointment,
in life that / am afraid Of being san
.,,srn " ,~:I TnJ,, IDknu,. ...l "A ~
young beauty laughed.
ut will seem SO strange to see hin
again. l remember his going away g
well. l was Sc young then-I an
young now, but I feel years older. Fl,
came down to verdun Royal to bid u
good-by, and I was in the grounds. H,
had but half an hour to stay, and nam
mn sent him out to me-"
The color deepened in her face as sh,
spoke, and the light shone in her splendi,
eyes-there was a kind of wild. restless
passion in her words.
II remember 1t all so well! There ha,
been u heavy shower Of rain in the earl,
morning, that had cleared away, leayini
the skies blue. the sunshine golden, Will,
the rain drops still glistened on the tree
and the grass. l love the sweet smell O
the green leaves and the moist earth af
ter rain. l was there enjoying it whe,
he came to say good-by to me-mamm,
came with him. 'Philippa,' she said, Nor
mar is going; he wants to say good-b,
to his little Wife, He. always calls M
his little wife. I saw him look very grave
She went away and left US together. 'Yo,
are growing too tall to be called my littl
wife. Philippa.' he said, and I laughed a
his gravity. How long shall you be. away
Norman l asked him. Not more thal
two years. he replied. You will be quit
q brilliant lady Of fashion when I return
Philippa; you will have made conquest
innumerable.' i shall always be tn
same to you,' ! replied: but he made ~