The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-10-15
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
In the drawing room Of Thornleigh
House. in Belgravia, London, a group of
three ladies stood, holding anxious con
sultation over magnificent diamond
tiara. Mrs. Selwyn held it in her hands.
Lady Niolante shrank as though half
alarmed at it. and Beatrice Leigh stood
by with smile on her face-a cold har!
smile, in which there was nothing of
friendly interest.
Il think it very beautiful, Niolante,"
said Mrs. Selwyn; II cannot imagine why
you object to it..
Lady Selwyn would probably prefer n
wreath of daisies or wild flowers" said
Miss Leigh.
That | should!' cried Lady Violante.
Such magnificent ornaments rs that
tiara brighten met
But" demonstrated Mrs. Selwyn. you
must dress according to your rank, and
You must wear such jewels as Your hus-
bands position entities you to wear DO
You not UNDERESTIMATE
Yes" she replied YEARLY Il quite
understand" but the golden head dropped
and the fair face grew sad.
Then said Mrs. Selwyn. you had
better decide upon this. | like it better
than anything we have seen. Here is
Vivian; let us have the benefit of his
taste"
He Joined. the little group with a smile
on his dark, handsome face. Mrs Sewyn
continued:
"Stoir & Mortimer have sent the
tiara you ordered, and l think it simply
magnificent"
rs Niolante pleased?' he asked eager
ly, turning to his wife.
She made no reply. Mrs. Selwyn spoke
for her.
"violante thinks it too-too grand, |
SUPPOSE
Lord Vivian laughed.
My simple darling" he said when
will you learn to love grandeur? 1t is not
one whit too beautiful for you. If all the
jewels or earth were strung upon one
string, | should still think them unwor-
thy of being offered to you" and he
touched the white brow with his lips.
All this discussion arose from the fact
that Lord Vivian Selwyn, with the ladies
of his household. had come up to London
to spend the sea son there and it had been
decided that Lady Selwyn and Miss
Leigh should be presented at the drawing
room to be held on the fourth of June.
The morning Of the day Lady Niolante
had dreaded so long dawned at last.
bright and beautiful, with sunshine thar
reminded one of the scent of roses and
mignonette-w warm and invigoratng. The
sky was clear and blue as the heaven that
smiles on sunny Italy. Lady Viola nte
awoke with a sigh; the day she had fear
oil hnI do Il IL.
got through.
They were in the library, ready at last,
md Vivian. as he looked on the two Ia
dies before him, felt proud as he had new
er done before. Mrs. Selwrn had declin-
cd going, and her grace the Duchess Of
Roxminster was to present Lady Selwyn
and waiting. Lady Niolante looked, in
her delicate loveliness, like the queen of
the lilies" her dress of what Lord Vivian
called May sunheams, and her tiArn Of
diamonds. with the white plumes, suited
her to perfection. She tried to rea.sure
herself but the small jeweled hands trem-
hled and the sweet lips half quivered as
they smiled.
Court dress suited the imperial beauty
of Beatrice Leigh as no other did. Mrs
nifcent suite OF diamonds and rubies. Her
dress was OF maize-colored velvet. and
the rich. sweeping train was no trouble 10
her. One could see at n glance that she
was at home and we'll at ease. The white
waving plumes added 10 her patrician
beauty She was herself well satisfied
when she saw Nivian's eyes rest admir-
inglv on her.
They stood at last in one Of the ante
rooms, and there her Grace of Roxminst-r
was waiting for an introduction to them
Miss Leigh had known the duchess for
some time. To Lady Selwyn she was n
complete stranger. There had been one
or two appointments made for an intro
ductlon. but her gracs's engagements had
prevented the keeping of them.
When she. Lady Niolante Selwyn. stood
face 10 face with the Duchess of Roxmin-
ster. it was with difficulty she repre.sed
the cry Of astonishment that rose 10 her
lips.
An old woman of sixty dressed like a
hlushlng girl Of eightsen-eycesSs vely de-
cotlete: diamond necklace round a thin,
withered neck; a diamond bracelet round
a shrunken arm: false hair. wreathed with
jewels and plumes: false teeth glea ming
white through the thin lips; painted
cheeks and penciled eyebrows. Lady Fio-
,ante involuntsrily wondered what was
false and what was not.
Her grace WAS always enviouS OF new
beauties The younger they were the
less she liked them. To Beatrice Leigh's
superb beauty she was accustomed. there
fore Indifferent; the spirituelle. graceful