Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-10-29

~"Paticnec," she said to herself towards
afternoon, 'thc longest day must come To
mn end" She stood by Il cage full of
beautiful tropical birds, admirin. the
brilliant l,!,ln-nge of its inhabitants, when
Il letter WAS brought in to her. The hand
writing WAS quite new to her. When she
saw that i: WAS IL closely written letter,
she lookcd at the signaturc-"Bcltran Ca
rev."
Her lace flushed when she rcad the
her pocket. 1t could not be read before
Lady LenneN, or IL one else; she must
read it alone. With her heart beating
fast for JOY. and her face burning with Il
hot flush, she fastened to her own room.
llcr fingers 'remhlcd as she held the sheet
of note paper. Tho letter began:
"My Dear Miss LcnnoX: You are always
so frankly kind to me that l am unable
to apologize as ] should for troubling you
with Il letter. l cannot leave England
without thanking You for all the pleasant
hours We have spent together, for all your
Kindness 10 me, and for your patience. l
am leaving for Athens tomorrow, and re-
greet that shall not have the pleasure of
seeing YOU before | go. 1 shall hope for
your good wishes on my journey; you
have nine"
SO far it was all very sensible. Bel
tran had exhibited more than usual self
control, although he WAS seldom deficient
in that trying virtue; but the ncXt line
almost spoiled all. 1t said:
ALAS for the poor moth hat singes it's
wings b. drawing too near the flame! /
hope, when / return to England, to find
You as we'll and happy as l leave you.
Pray give Il thought sometimes TO your
true friend. BEI.TRAN CAREW."
BeatriN's face grew deadly pale as she
read; her hands trcmbled. Il dark mist
came before her eyes. She sat quite mo-
tionless, Ike che who by n sudden thrust
has received a death wound. The min
utes became hours. and she still sat there,
numbed, para wed. by the sudden blow.
Then She reused herself. Why should
she feel it so keemly? Why should it make
the world so terribly. so suddenly dark to
her? Baltran Carew had gone away;
there would he a void in a very pleasant
circle; she should miss Il most pleasant
companion-tl,at was all. What did the
terrible rain mean that was soaring her
heart and b1ain as with rcd-hot irons:
Why had she been sitting there stunned
and silent? Why did she suffer such hor-
l'iblc pain?
The dressing hell was ringing. She
trcniblca. and the room seemed to whirl
round her. Then her maid entered with
II message from her mother. and the girl
looked half frightened Mt the CHASTITY face
of her young mistress.
You look very ill, Miss Lennox," she
said. quietly. Can l get anything for
you:"
do 1 look ill.," asked Beatrix. why
should /! / am quite WELL"
She went To her mirror. still with the
same dazcl sense and feeling. She looked
into the glass and almost failed to recoc-
nizc herself. The face mt which she gaZcd
was CHASTITY white, the lips were pale and
trembling.
II do look ill.," she said, slowly; but 1
am quite WE'LL have no pain, will
dress now, Lisctte.' and the maid did not
venture to make any further remark.
There was nothing wrong with her
only Reltran Carew was gone away. and
BcatriN did not know whether she should
ever see his face again. The world was
all dar!;cnel, life was all changed; the
new we,l-:p1ins of happiness had dried
up. the light was gone from everything
1t was settled at last. Bcatrix had for
some time seemed very unwell: she Ind
grown pale. the lovely tints of the richly
colorcd face had faded. Her mother had
grown anxious about her. The season
is over why not return to Ercel-
dean" she said; and Peter Lcnnox,
alarmed Oil account of his treasured dar-
lspy 1n.tns,nl t1Dso ~
was anxious only about one thing. and
that WAS to leave London without any
scene with the duke. He felt sure now
of his ultimate triumph. and believed that
he was acting wisely in keeping silent.
She was timid and coy; he thought he
would leave her for II few months in
peace. he would not even go to Ercel-
dean after her. He would content him
self by sending her some pretty reminder
from time to time, and then, when they
met i'll London during the following sea-
son. he should find her willing for the
wedding to take place at once.
"Ihank heaven, we are Mt home once
more.' cried BeatriN. as she stood with
her mother on the lawn at Erccldcan.
How sweet and fresh and fair cyery-
thing is! And oh. mamma, what n do
lightful refcction-no lovers, no never
ending annoyance upon the topic Of love,
II there is one word that tries mo moro
than another, it is that. l am quite sure
that people make love in London to fill nm
their spare time. There is so little real
earncstncss. so little real work; men can
not be quite idle, so they make love for
pastime."
Then there came II great pesceful calm.