Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-06-11
CHAPTER XXXIy.

6a N@N ~
she said. Imagine, Pauline, who is here.
You have heard me speak of the ST. Law
rences. / educated Laura st. Lawrence, and
she married well and went to India. Her
husband holds a very high appointment
there. Lady st, Lawrence is here with her
son, Sir Nane. am so pleased"
And l am pleased for you," responded
Pauline, with the new gentleness that sat so
well upon her.
II must go and see them" continued Miss
Hastings. They are staying at Sea View.
We can soon find out where Sea View is"
"St. LawrenceI y said Pauline, musingly;
II like the name; it has q pleasant sound"
They are noble people who bear it," OBJ
served Miss Hastings. Lady st. Lawrence
was always my ideal of a thoroughbred En-
glish gentlewoman. i never heard how 1t
was, but the greater part Of their fortune was
lost when Sir Arthur died. lie left but this
one SON, Vane; and, although he has the title,
he has but little to support 1t with. | know
their family estates were all sold. Lady st.
Lawrence has q small fortune Of her own;
but il is not much"
Again Pauline repeated the name to her
self-"Nane st. Lawrence l"-thinking there
was a sound as of hali-torgotten music in 1t.
That was a name that would have suited the
face she had watched on the sands.
"Nane 81. Lawrence!'
UncOnsciously to herself she had said the
words aloud. Miss Hastings looked up quick
ly.
Did you speak, my dear?' she asked; and
Pauline wondered TO lind her face suddenly
grow warm with a burning blush.
81 Think" said Miss Hastings, presently,
that should like TO visit them at once.
Lady st. Lawrence may not be staying long,
and ! should never forgive myself il | were
to miss her. VIII you ONE with me, Pau
line?"
Eyes, willingly"
She was ready to go anywhere, TO do any
thing, with that great, wondering love, that
great, grand calm, filling her heart and soul.
For the first time the sight of her own mag
nilicent loneliness pleased her.
IL may see him again. she thought to her
self with almost child-like simplicity, "and
should like him to think Of me-"
She took more pains than she had ever
taken before; and the picturesque taste that
was part Of her character greatly assisted
her. Her dress was Of purple silk, plain,
rich and graceful; her hat, with its dropping
purple plume, looked like q crown III the
beautiful head. She could no more help
looking royal and qucenly than she could
help the color Of her eyes and hair. Miss
Hastings looked up with a smile of surprise,
the proud face was so wonderfully beautiful
the light that never yet shOne Oh land or
sea was shining on it.
why, Pauline" she said, laughing, LADY
St Lawrence will think / am taking the
Queen of Sheba in disguise! What strange
change is coming over you, child?'
What indeed! Was ii the shadow OF I
love that was to redeem her-to work w
dCrs in her character? Was it the light {
came from the half-awakening soul? WI
women than good, kindly, simple-hear
Miss Hastings might have been puzzled.
They were not long in finding Sea View
q pretty villa a little way out Of the to,
standing at the foot of a cliff, surrounded
trees and lowers-one of the prettieSt SD
in Omberleigh. They were shown into
drawing-room, the windows Of which co
manded a magnificent view Of the sea.
Before they had been there many minu
there entered a fair, gentle, gracious Ia
whose eyes filled with tears as she gree
Miss Hastings warmly.
"You are like a spirit from the past"
said. II can see Laura a little child az
as | look at yon. Nothing could have pleas
me SO much as seeing YOU"
Then she looked admiringly at the beauti
full girl by her side. Miss Hastings intro
duced her.
Miss Darrell" she said, ut seems strange
that / should meet you. My husband in hi
youth knew Sir Oswald we'll"
Lady st. Lawrence was just what Mis-
IIactinoo hol Haeoriha1 hnr n thprnunh1,
high-bred English lady. In figure she wa,
tall and upright; her face had been beautiful
in its youth, and was ever now comely ant
fair; the luxuriant brown hair was streakeC
here and there with silver. She wore a dres
Of rich brocade, with some becoming arrange
ment Of flowers and lace on her head; sh,
was charming In her lady-like simplicity an,
gentleness.
Pauline, knowing that the two ladies woul
have much to talk about, asked permissiO
to amuse herself with some books she sa,
upon the table.
"They belong to my son." said Lady 81
Lawrence, with a smile.
There wete Tennyson, Keats, and Byron
and written inside of each, in q bold, clea
hand, was the name "Vane st. Lawrence.
Pauline lost herself again in the sweet stor
of Elaine, from which she was aroused at il
tervals by the repetition Of the words-'M
son Vane."
She could not help hearing some part G
Lady 81. Lawrence's confidential commun
cation, and it was to the effect how deepl
she deplored the blindness OF her son, VIII
might marry his cousin Lillith Davenant
one of the wealthiest heiresses in England
Miss Hastings was all kindly sympathy.
1t would be such an excellent thing fO
him." continued Lady ST. Lawrence; ian,
Lillith is a very nice girl. But IL is useles
counseling him; Vane is like his father. 81
Arthur, you know, always would have hi
own way"
Pauline began to feel interested in thi
Vane ST. Lawrence, who refused to MARI
the wealthy heiresS because he did not low
her.
HE must be somewhat like me-" she sal
to herself with a smile.
Then the conversation changed, and Lad
st. Lawrence began to speak of her daughte
Laura and her children. Pauline returne
to Elaine, and soon forgot everything else.
She was aroused by a Slight stir. She hear
Lady st. Lawrence say:
MY dear Vane, how you startled mer'
Looking up, she saw before her the sam
face that had engrossed her thoughts an,
fancy!
She was nearer to 1t now, and could Sc
more plainly the exquisite refinement of tn
beautiful mouth, the clear, ardent expression
of the bold, frank eyes, the gracious lines O
the clustering hair. Her heart seemed al
most to stand still-it was though she hat
suddenly been brought face to face with
phantom.
lie was bending over Lady St Lawrence
talking eagerly 70 heT-ahe was greeting Mis-