Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-04-13
CHAPTER XVII.

sitting in the superb drawing room at
We're Court. 1t was some time since she
had left town, but she had brought some
portion of the gay world back with her.
The court was filed with visitors, and
nothing was thought of but brilliant fes-
tivities and amusement. The duchess was
queen OF all gayety; the time that had
passed had simply added to her beauty
she was now one of the handsomest WON
en- in society.
1t was a warm day, the last day in
June, and We're Court had never seemed
so brilliant. The lovely young duchess
had withdrawn for a short time from
her guests. Most of them had gone out
riding or driving. There was to be a
grand ball that evening, and her Grace
of Hazelwood did not wish to fatigue her
self before 1t came off. As for driving
or riding In the hot sun simply because
the day was fine and the country fair,
she did not believe in it She had retired
to her drawing room; a soft couch had
been placed near one of the open win
dows, and the breeze that came in was
heavy with perfume. On the stand by
her side lay richly jeweled fan, bottle
Of sweet scent, a bouquet of heliotrope-
her favOrite fower-and one or two books
which she had selected TO read She Law
with her dark, Queenly head On the soft
cushion Of crimson velvet In an attitude
that would have charmed a painter. But
the duchess was not wasting the light Of
her dark eyes over a book. She had clos
ed them, as a flower closes its leaves in
the heat Of the SUM- Az she lay there,
beautiful, languid, graceful, the picture
she formed was q marvelously rich study
of color. So thought the duke. who, IN
heard by her, had entered the room.
Everything had prospered with his
Grace. He had always been extremely
wealthy, but his wealth had been increas-
ed In a sudden and unexpected fashion.
On one Of his estates in the north a vein
OF coal had been discovered, which was
one of the richest in England. The pro-
ceeds OF it added wonderfully to his in
come, and promised to add still more. No
luxury was wanting; the duchess had all
that her heart, even In its widest ca
prices, could desire. The duke loved her
with as keen and passionate a love as
ever He had refused to go out this morn
ing, because she had not gone; and now
he stood watching her with something
like alteration in his face-the beautiful
woman, in her flowing draperies of amber
and white. He went up to her and touch
ed her brow lightly with his lips.
Are you asleep, my darlingT he ask
ed
NO" she replied, opening her eyes.
81 have something to read to you
something wonderful"
She reused herself.
Your geese are generally swans, We're.
What Is the wonderT
Listen, Philippa." And the duke Scan
ned the newspaper In his hands. "Ah,
here it is! l am sure you will say that
this is wonderful. 1t explains all that I
could not understand-and for Arleigh's
sake 1 am glad, though what you will
say to it cannot think"
And, sitting down by her side, he read
oher the newspaper account of the Ar
leigh romance.
He read it without interruption, and
the queenly woman listening to him knew
that her revenge had failed, and that in
stead of furnishing the man who had
sighted her love she had given him one Of
the sweetest, noblest and wealthiest girls
in England. She knew that her ven
geance had failed-that she had simply
crowned Lord Arleigh's life with the love
Of devoted wife.
When the duke looked up from his pa
FER to see what was the erect OF MS ne"ss
he saw that the duchess had quietly faint
ed away, and lay with the pallor OF death
sn her face. He believed that the heat
vas the cause, and never suspected hM
Wife's share in the story.
She recovered after a few minutes. She
did not know whether she was more glad
or sorry at what she had heard. She had
said once before Of herself that she was
not strong enough to be thoroughly wick
ed-and she was right.
A year had elapsed, and Lord Arieisn
and his wife were in town for the sea-
son, and were, as a matter OF course, the
objects of much curiosity. He was sitting
one evening in the drawing room OF ms
town house, when one Of the servants
told him that lady wished to see him.
He ordered her to be shown into the room
where he was, and presently there enter
ed a tall, stately lady. whose face was
closely yelled; but the imperial figure, the
stately grace were quite familiar to hlm'
"Philippaw h a3sd. - astaNiahme1t