Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-01-07
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Chapter X
Captain Gresham sprang forward to lift
the flowers which Miss I.'Estrangc had

Nay" she said, ''ncvcr mind them.
fresh flower is very nice. A flower IA;
has once been in the dust has lost l.
beauty"
There was no trace OF pain i'll the clear
voice: it was rich aud musical. Fhilippa
1.'Estrangc, seated in the bright sunshine,
heard the words that We're tn her Il death
warrant, yet made 10 sign. II have not
yet met my ideal," Lord .Arleigh had said.
Captain Gresham picked mp some of the
fallen flowers.
"A lead flower from your hand. Miss
L~'Estrangc." he observed. lis worth Il
whole garhcnful of living ones from amy
ono else
She laughed again that sweet. musical
laugh which seemed to come only from Il
happy heart: and then she looked ouna.
THE Duchess of .Aytoun and Lord Arlrish
We're still in deep converse. Miss |. lis
TRANCE turned to Captain Gresham.
II have been told" She said. THAT
there are some beautiful white hyacin'lis
here; they are my ~favorite flowers. Shall
wc find them
lie WAS only too pleased. She badc IL
laughing alicu to the duchess and smiled
nj Lord .Arlcish. There WAS no trace of
pain or of sadness in her voice or face.
Nllcy Went away together, and Lord Ar
leigh never dreamed that she had heard
his remark.
Then the duchess left him. and he sat
under the spreading beech alone. His
thoughts were not of the %plcasantest ma
lure: he did not like the general belief
in his approaching marriage: it was fair
neither to himself nor to P%hilippa-yet
how Was he to put an end to such gossip:
Another idea occurred to him. Could it
he possible that plilippa herself shared
slc idea?
lie reproachcd himself for tho thought.
set. do what he would, he could NOT drive
it away. The suspicion haunted him: it
made him miserable. If it was really so,
what was he tn do!
He looked around tho grounds. and pres
entity saw her the center of Il brilliant
group near the lake. The Duke of Ash
wood w:s by her side. the elite of the
guests had gathered round her. He Went
up to the little group, and again the same
popularity struck him-they all made way
for lim-cven the Duke of .Ashwood. al
though, he did it with Il irowm on his face
und an angry look in his eyes. Each one
seemed TO consider that he had some spc-
cial right Ia be by the side of the bcauti-
full Miss l.Estrangc, and she. as usual
when he WAS present, SAM and heard no
one else.
"Philippa." he said, suddenly. the wait
err looks very tclnpting-wo uld you like IL
row."
above everything else" she replied.
And they went off III the little pleasure
boat together.
He rested on his sculls. and the boat
slriftel under the dropping branches of a
willow tree. He never forgot the picture
that then presented itself-the clear, deep
water. the green trees, and the beautiful
face looking at him.
Norman" she said. in u clear, low
voice. IL want to tell you that l over
heard all that you said to the Duchess of
Aytonn. could not help i'll was so
near to you"
She was taking the difficulty into her
own hands. He felt most thankful.
Did You. Philippa? l thought YOU were
engrosscd with the gallant captain"
Ibid you really and in all truth mean
what YOU said to herr" she asked.
"Ccrtainly: you know me we'll enough
60 he quite sure that l never say what l
do not mean."
You have never yet seen the woma1
you would ask to be YOU wife?' she said,
There WAS Il brief silence, and then Ii,
replied:
NO. in all truth. l have not. Philippa.'
A little bird WAS singing OH Il Swayine
bough just above thcm-to the last day OF
her life i, seemed to her that she rcmem-
be,cl the notes. The sultry silence seem
ell to deepen. She broke it.
But. Norman" she said, in Il low voice
shave You not seen meg
He tried to laugh to hide his emburrass
mcnt. but it WAS II failure.
II have seen you-and l admire YOU.
have all the affection of Il brother for YOU
Tllilippa--' and then he paused abrupt
ly.
But" she supplied, "you have never
thought of making me your wife! Spcal
To me quite frankly. Norman"
mo. Philippa. l have not"
"As matters stand between us, they no
quirc explanation she said; and he saw
her lips grow pale. ut is not pleasant 70,
me to have to mention it, but l must do it
Norman, do you quite forget what w,
were taught to believe when We wer,
childIrn-that our lives were to be passc,
togcthcr"
My dearest Philippa. pray spare your
W. W. 1iS = No hOC hliOM luuI NOl
even remembered that childish nonsense
She raised her dark eyes to his face, nm,
there was something in them before whic]
lc shrank as one who feels pain.
"Onc word. Norman-only one word
That past which has been SO much to nj
that past. in which l have lived, eve,
more than in the present. or the future
am I to look upon it as what yoA call non
SpuseY'
He took her hand in his.
my dear Philippa," he said. 81 hat
myself for what l have to say-it make
mo dctest eve the sound of my own voice
Yet you are right-there is nothing 70
us but perfect frankness; anything els
would be foolish. Neither your mothe
nor mine had any. right to try to bind u!
Such things never answer, never prospe,
cannot myself imagine how they, usua
~ 10 sensible, came in this instance to di.
regard all dictates Of common sense.
have always looked upon the arrangemeu