Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-08-26
ed in her ears all the remainder Of that
CHAPTER XIV

y
dinner party before, Beatrix," said
Lady Lennox, when her daughter con-
suited her for the twentieth time concern
ing her dress. SIS any one going whom
you very much wish to see?'
Eyes, ! told you, mamma-Mrs. Carew,
the artist-the lady who is so anxious to
paint my portrait. The duchess says she
would not paint the portrait Of an en-
press if she did not like her."
Beatrix stood attired for the dinner
party at E-mslie House, looking far more
beautiful than she had ever looked before.
Her graceful head and f1ower-like face,
her white neck and lovely shoulders rose
from clouds of rose-colored tulle. She
wore white roses in her hair, and carried
a bouquet of white hyacinths; q superb
knot Of flowers was fastened in the bodice
of her dress. She looked lovely enough to
disturb an artists dreams. Her uncle
had declined the invitation to the dinner
party-ne had not been we'll of late-but
he desired to look at his niece before she
went.
'Well, / am of opinion that that rose
tulle will give the duke his coup de grace.
/ have never seen Trixie look so we'll be-
FORE" said Peter Lennox; and he began
at once to think about the marriage settle
ments; while Beatrix, as she drew near
Elmslie House, asked herself what she
should do. There would be two gentle
men present, of whom one would wish to
talk to her-to the other she would want
to talk. 1t would require some astutencss
to manage to please herself without dis
pleasing others.
Yes, there was the duke! He waylald
her at once when she entered the room;
and she was compelled to listen to a string
of compliments that she thought would
never end, wondering all the time vheth-
er Beltran had arrived. At last she saw
the tall figure and the fair, princely head
towering above the others. Her race
flushed; she answered at random. On, II
the duke would but leave her in peace!
To her great relief the Duchess Of Films
lie called the duke away-she wanted to
introduce him to the wife of one Of the
embassadors-and Beatrix was free. In
another moment Beltran Carew was by
her side.
Il was afraid he said, "that | should
not get near you, Miss Lennox. The Duke
Of Heathland guards you as though yo'
were a crown jewel"
She looked up at him, wistfully, longing
to say: 1T is not my fault that he Is al
ways near me-" but she was silent. Per
haps he misunderstood her silence, for at
ter while he added:
II hope | have not been indiscreet."
In moment her face was in a flame.
"Certainly not" she said, and then she
added shyly-she was so unfortunately
frank-"I was just wishing that he would
or and make room for VOL
''Were you? 1 am the happiest-" He
paused suddenly, for the confusion in her
face panied him.
Then they walked through the superb
suite of rooms, so interested each in the
other that all else was unheeded. Every
now and then Beatrix raised her fair face
with look of unutterable content, the
light of perfect happiness in her eyes.
Then her words became fewer, sweet shy
ness came over her, and presently it was
time to so.
She was rather puzzled Oh reaching
home; for, when Lady Lennox asked her
about the dinner and the soiree, she could
remember nothing except that Mr.. Carew
was there. Beatrix was startled to find
that she did not even remember saying
good night to her grace. What she did
Beltran Carew by her side, he declaring
that the opera cloak would not come into
the right folds and lingering so long
while he drew it round her that she had
looked at him with a 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
palpitate.
Beatrix was quite unconscious how
much Beltran Carew was beginning to
fill her life. When she awoke in the morn
ing, it was to think Of him, to wonder
if she should see him OH that day, if he
would call, if she should meet him acct
dentally if he would send a note Or mes
sage. The days on which she was to
meet him were red-letter days; but then,
as she said to herself, she had longed all
her life to know a hero, and at last she
had met one.
They met almost continually. Beltran,
although constantly occupied during the
day, went out a great DEAL Since he had
known Bcatrix he sought the people who
knew her He contrived to discover at
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. Carew herself had designed the
dress. 1t was a mantle of cloth Of gold
thrown over one shoulder, leaving the
other undraped. The lovely neck rose
flower-like from the superb costume, the
queenly head was crowned with blue Nile
lilies. Nothing could have been more ar
tistic or more beautiful.
Beatrix enjoyed those sittings. Lady
Lennox generally went with her; but
Lady LennoX was not worldly wise, and,
when she saw how the young lawyer in
terested and amused her beautiful child,
when she heard them convcrsing Of every
thing most poetical and artistic, she never
dreamed of danger.
They all met one day at fete given in
the beautiful grounds of Twickenham
Palace. The Marquis of Ersdale was the
originator of it, and, as Mrs. Carew had