Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-31
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CHAPTER VIII.

Nuat SilN !ist'i 'bst Nst'tihS Aat'is MittN
was the book of that season? She replied
to his questions. and to the remarks that
followed: but they were not what she
wanted To hear.
'Do Not talk to mo about books. Nor
man." she cried at last. Tell me more
abou; yourself: l want TO hear more about
YOU. We were always good friends. Nor
man." she said. simply. you and II"
"NcS. We were like brother and sister"
he responded. How We quarrclcd and
made !ric.uds! DO you reinemhcr?"
She raised her eyes suddenly to his.
"Nou cared fer ne Il great deal i'll
those days. Norman.' she said. gently.
"Tc!l mc the ,ru,l-in your travels have
you OYER n.ei any one for whom you care
morc:'
He WIS perfectly calm AMI unembar-
rasse,l.
"No. cousin. | have not. AS l told YOU
before. / have really made no friends
abroat! for whom | care mucll-a few
pleasant arnuaintancrs. nothing more
"Tlie. | ana content" she said.
But he was deaf 10 the passionate NIL
sic OF her voice. Then the distance be-
tween ;heln seemed to grow less. They
talked ol' her home. Ncrdun Royal: they
talked of Recclgrovc. and his plans for
living There. Their conversation WAS the
intimate exchange OF thought OF old
friends: hut there was nothing of love.
If She had expected that h. would avail
himself ut Lady Peters absence 10 speak
of ii. She waS mistaken. He talked of
old tines. of friendship. of childliood's
days. Of great hopes and plans for the
futurc-of anything hut love. 1t seemed
to he and perhaps was the farthest from
his thoughts.
tpl tbu, ln WON. ,u-uy tftn- hn hnl
gone size spoke but little: once she cllspcd
her ar...s found Lady Peters neck and
kissed The kindly face.
"llo not speak To me-" she said. lest /
should lose the echo of his voice. and
Lady Icters watched her anX;ously. as
she Sioo! with Il rapt smile on her face,
as of one who has heard celestial r.usic
in Il dream.
Lord .trleigh had been so accustomed
to thini; of I'hilippa as Il child that he
could with difficulty imagine the fact that
she was NOW Il lovely girl. and one of
the wcalthicst heircsscs i'll London.
Pressed earnestly To return to dinner.
he had promised to do so: and evening.
the swcct-scentel May evening. found
him once more ut Hyde Park. II any
thing. Hhilippn looked more lovely. He
had seen her hitherto as Il girl: now he
WAS 10 ,scc her as the lligl-brcd hostess.
the mistress of IL large and magnificent
mansion.
The dinner party WAS Il success. as was
every kind of entertainments with which
Philir;n L'ES,range was concerned.
WEeli the visitors rose to take their leave
Norman rose also. She WAS standing near
him.
"l'o not go yet. Norman" she said:
at IS quite early. Stay, and l will sing
To vou.'
The windows had been opened because
the evening air WAS SO clear and sweet;
it came iii now, and seemed to give the
tlowcr> Il Sweetcr fragrance. Lord Az
leigh drew his chair to the Piano.
II wn:it YOU only to %listen.' she said.
"Hou will have no turning over to do
for ME: The songs l love best l know by
heart. Shut Your eyes. Norman, and
dream"
II shall dream more wildly if keep
them open and look ut .you." he returned.
Then in IL few minutes he began to
think lie must be in dreamland-the rich.
swcc. voice. so clear. SD soft. so low. was
filing the room with sweetest music. 1t
was like no human voice that he remcm-
belel: seductive. full of passion and ten
dcrnoss-a voice that told its own story,
that told of its owners power and charm
al voice that carried away the hearts
of The listeners irresistibly. as the strong
current carries the %lca!let.
How fatally. wondrously lovely she
was. this siren who sang to him of love,
until every sense was full of silent &C.
stasy. until his face flushed and his heart
beat fast. suddenly his eyes met hers:
the scarlet lirs tremblcd, the white fin
gers grew unsteady. her cyelids dropped.
n,.1 ,J, ,.,, ,,,r;a .+.,,,r Cl- ..l
to hide her confusion by smiling.
NON should not look Mt me. Norman"
she said. when l sing: it cmharrass cs
me-.
"Nou should contrivc to look ii little
less beautiful. then, Philippa," he rejoin-
cd. .What was that last song?'
ut is Il new one" she replied. .called
My Queen"
II should like to read the Words" said
Lord .Arlcigh.
In a few minutes she had found it for
him. and they bent over the printed pages
together: her dark hair touched his
cheek. the perfume from the white lilies
she wore seemed to entrance him; he
could not understand the spell that Law
over him.
'.ls it not beautiful?" she said.
"Yes, beautiful, but ideal: few women.
1 think. would equal this poets queen.'
You do not know-you cannot tell.
Norman. l think any woman who loves,
and loves truly. becomes IL queen"
He looked Mt her, wondering at the pas
sion in her voice-wondcring at the ex-
preston on her beautiful face.
You are in%credulous," She said: "but
it is true. Love is womnn's dominion;
let her hut once enter it. and she be.
comes Il queen; her heart and soul grow
grander. the light of love crowns her. I,
is the real diadem of womanhood, Nor
man: she knows no other"
He drew back startled: her words seem.
ed to rouse him into sudden conscious
ness. She was quick enough to see it.
and. will. the distrnit manner of il true
woman Of the world, quickly changed the
subject. She asked some triaiag qucs
81.