The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-01
CHAPTER IN

CHAPTER IN.
! Lord Arleigh raised his hat from his
brow and stood for a few minutes bare
headed in the starlight. He felt like n
man who had been in the sitting atmos-
phere of a conserva tory; warmth and
perfume had daZed him. How beautiful
Philippa was-how bewildering. What a
nameless, wondrous charm there was
| about her!
Il can believe now in the sirens Of old, -
he said to himself; they must have had
! just such dark, glowing eyes. such rich,
| sweet voices and beautiful faces. I should
pity the man who hopelessly loved Phil
ippa l. Estrange. And, if she ever loves
| any one, it will be easy for her to win;
! who could resist herr
How little he dreamed that the whole
! passionate love of her heart was given
to himself-that to win from him one word
! of love, a single token of affection, she
would have given all that she had in the
| world.
Philippa L'Estrange thought long and
! earnestly over her last conversation with
! Lord Arleigh. She had always loved him
| but the chances are that, if be had been
| devoted to her on his return, if he had
! wooed her as others did, she would have
been less empressee. AS it was, he was
the only man she had not conquered, the
! only one who resisted her. on whom her
! faScina tons fell without producing q
ma gical effect. She could not say she had
/ conquered her world while he was unSub-
! dued.
The more she saw Of him the better she
| liked him-his single mindedness. his chiv-
| airy, his faith in women and his respect
! for them were greater than she had seen
! In any other and she loved him for these
qualities The more she contrasted him
with others, the greater, deeper and wider
| grew her love 1t must be that in time he
! should care for her.
Lord Arleigh did not go to Beechgrove
as he had intended. He found SO many
| friends and SO many engagements in Lon
don that he was not inclined to leave it.
Then. too, lie began to notice many lit
! tie things which made him feel uncom-
| Portable. He began to perceive that PEG
| pie considered him in some kind of way
as belonging to Miss l. Estrange; no mat
ter how many surrounded her, when he
| entered room they We're seen one by
one to disappear until he was left alone
by her side At first he believed this to be
accidental; after a time he knew that it
must be purposely done.
! His eyes were still further opened one
| day when a large and fashiona BILE crowd
/ had gathered at Lady Dalton's garden
J party. Philippa was, as heretofore, the
| belle. looking more than usually lovely in
| light gossamer dress of white and pink
| She was surrounded by admirers. Lord
| Arleigh stood with a group Of gentlemen
! under Il great spreading bcechtree.
How beautiful she is, that Miss l. Es-
! tranger said one-Sir Alfred Martindale
! Il can believe in the siege of Troy when
! | look at her: and | think it just as well
| for mankind that such women are rare"
| "lf ever there was n human moth" OBJ
| served another, at is that unfortunate
! Duke of Mornton. l have seen some des-
! peratc cases in my time, but none so des-
| perate as his"
] Lord Areigh laughed. They were all
! intimate friends.
The Duke Of Mornton is great friend
of NINE" he said Il can only hope that
| he may be saved from the ultimate fate
of Il moth. and that Miss L'Estrange will
take pity on him.
! He could not help seeing that the three
gentlemen looked up with expressions of
utter wonder.
do you mean" asked Sir Alfred. that
you hope Miss L'Estrange will marry the
duke"
Il DO not think she could do better y
replied Lord Arleigh.
"You are the last man in London |
! should have expected to hear say So" said
Lord Alfred. quietly.
Am |? Pray may l ask why?"
YES if you acquit me of all intention
| of rudeness in my reply. / repeat that
! you are the last man in London whom |
should have expected to hear make such
n remark, for the simple reason that cv-
oryone believes you are going to marry
! Miss L'EstranGc yourself.'
Lord Arleigh's face flushed holly.
Then everyone. as you put it, Sir
Alfred, takes a great liberty-an unau-
thorizcd liberty-with the name Of a very
! charming lady. Miss l. Estrange and my
self were much together when children
our mothers We're distantly rclated-and
at the present time we are-excellent
! friends
II am sorry" returned Sir Alfred. 'if |
have said anything TO annoy you.
thought the fact was as evident as the sun
at MONDAY; everyone in London believes
it,"
Then people take an understandable
| liberty with the lady's name" said Lord
| Arleigh.
Some one else remarked. with a slight
! ~ impertinent drawl. that he did not be-
| lieve Miss 1'Estrange would consider it
a liberty A flash from Lord Arleigh :
dark eyes slenced him.
4 few minutes aftcrward Lord Arleich
found the Duchess of Aytoun and Phil
!,
tree. Captain Gresham. a great favorite
/ in the London world. was by Philippa 5
/ side. The duchess. with n charming ges-
ture of invitation. made room for Lord
Arleigh by her side. The gallant captain
did not often find an opportunity of max
| ing love to the belle of the season Now
that he had found it he was determined
not to lose it-not for fifty Lord Arleighs.
So. while the duchess talked to the new
conner. he relentlessly pursued his CONVEX
/ sation with Miss LEstrange.
There was hut one music in the world
for her, and that was the music Of Lord
ATleigh's voice. Nothing could ever drown
that for her. The band was PLAYING. the
( captain talking. the duchess conyersing.
/ IN her gay, animated fashion: but above
all, clearly and distinctly, Philippa heard
every word that fell from Lord Arleish's
. lips, although he did not know it. He he
!ieved that she was, as she seemed to be,
I listening TO the captain.
i have pleasing news concerning you.
! Lord Arleigh.' said the duchess. Il Won
/ der If | may congratulate you
What is il: | do not know of any
thing very interesting concerning myself.
( he remarked" nothing, l am sure, that
+ 81 lis for conr-a+ua lions
You are modest" said the duchess;
hut | have certainly heard. and on good
authority. too. that you are about TO be
married"
Il can only say l was not n the least
. aware Of it." he rejoined.
The duchess raised her parasol and look
/ ed keenly at him.
/ Pray pardon me- she continued; do
not think that il is from mere curiosity
/ that | SIX the question Is there really