Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-02-23

your little wife, she would ado; ana Win
all the gravity Of a grown courtier, ne
would bow before me and call me his little
wife,
But you were children then, and 1t was
perhaps all childish folly"
1T was nothing Of the kind" said the
heiress, angrily. II remember well that,
when l was presented, my mother said
to me, 'Philippa, you are sure to be very
much admired; but remember, l consider
you engaged to Norman. Your lot In life
is settled; you are to be Lazy Arleigh OF
Beechgrove.' Oh, aunt, there he is.
CHAPTER VII.
How she loved him! At the sound OF
his footsteps a crimson glow shone IN
At Verdun hoyai with my mother: they
were first cousins, and the dearest of
friends. Hundreds of times have seen
them sitting on the lawn, while Norman
and l played together. Then they were
always talking about the time when we
her face, light shone In the depth Of her
splendid dark eyes: the scarlet lips trem-
bled She clenched her fingers lest a
sound that might betray her should es
| cape her.
Lord Arleigh." announced a servant at
| the door.
Tall, stately, self-possessed, she went
| forward to greet him. She held out her
| hand; but words failed her, as she looked
once more into the face she loved so well.
| "Philippa!' cried the visitor, in tones of
! wonder. II expected to find you chang
ed. but should not have known you"
'Am I so greatly altered?" she asked.
hn tod lQff a
pretty school GIRL find you queen.
lie bowed low over the white hand.
.'The queen bids you welcome" she
said, and then, after introducing Lady
Peters, she added: "Should you not really
have known me, Norman"
He had recovered from his first sur
prise, and Lady Peters, who watched him
closely, fancied that she detected some
little embarrassment in his manner. OF
one thing she was quite sure-there was
admiration and affection in his manner,
but there was nothing resembling love.
He greeted her, and then took a seat.
not by Philippa's side, but in one of the
pretty lounging chairs by the open win
dow.
"How pleasant It is to be home again.
he said. "How pleasant, Philippa, to see
you-' And then he began to talk of
! Lady LEstrange. 1T seems strange,
he went on, that your mother and mine,
after being true friends in life. should
lie within few days OF each other.
sould give the whole world to see Hiy
I mother again, shall find Beechgrove so
lonely without her"
81 always recognize a good man." put
in Lady Peters. "by the great love he
bears his mother"
Lord Arleigh smiled.
"Then you think l am a good man? p
he interrogated. Il hope, Lady Peters,
that shall never forfeit your good opin-
| ion."
Il do not think it likely" said her lady
ship.
Philipna grew impatient on finding his
attention turned, even for a few mo-
ments, from herself. Then, to her delight,
came a summons for Mrs. Peters; she
was wanted In the housekeeper's room.
Now we are Alone" thought Philippa.
"he will tell me that he is pleased to see
me. He will remember that he called me
his little wife,
CHAPTER VIII.
| But, as Lady Peters closed the door. he
| eook a book from the table, and asked he1
what she had been reading lately-whic1
was the book of that season? She replied
to his questions, and to the remarks that
followed; but they were not what she
wanted to hear.
do not talk to me about books, Nor.
man." she cried at last. ''Tell me more
about yourself; l want to hear more about
you. We were always good friends. Nor
man." she said, simply, you and
Eyes, we were like brother and sister, "
be responded. "How we quarreled and
made friends! Do you remember!
She raised her eyes suddenly to his
you cared for me n great deal IN
| those days, Norman" she said, gently
Tell me the truth-in your travels have
you ever met any one for whom you care
more?'
J rsssed.
mo, cousin, have not As I told you
before, l have really mude no friends
abroad for whom l care much-a few
| pleasant acquaintances, nothing more"
Then | am content" she said.
But he was deaf to the passionate mu.
sic of her voice. Then the distance Se-
tween them seemed to grow less. They
talked of her home, Verdun Royal: they
talked of Beechgrove, and his plans fol
| living there. Their conversation was the
| intimate exchange of thought of old
| friends: but there was nothing of love.
If she had expected that he would avail
| himself of Lady Peters absence to speak
| of it, she was mistaken. He talked of
old times. of friendship, of chiidhood's
days, o. great hopes and plans for the
! future-of anything but love. 1t seemed
to be and perhaps was the farthest froD
, his thoughts.
away. After he had
| gone she spoke but little: once she clasped
her arms round Lady Peters neck and
kissed the kindly face.
DO not speak to me-" she said, lest
should lose the echo of his voice." and
Lady Peters watched her anxiously, as
she stood with a rapt smile on her face,
as Of one who has heard celestial music
in a dream.
Lord Arleigh had been accustomed
TO think of Philippa as child that he
could with difficulty imagine the fact that
she was now lovely girl, and one OF
the wealthiest heiresses in London.
Pressed earnestly to return to dinner,
he had promised to do so: and evening,
the sweet-scented May evening. found
him once more at Hyde Park. If any
thing, Philippa looked more lovely. He
had seen her hitherto as a girl; now he
was to see her as the high-bred hostess,
the mistress of a large and magnificent
mansion.
The dinner party was a success, as was
every kind of entertainment with which
Philippa L'Estrange was concerned.
| When the visitors rose to take their leave
Norman rose also. She was standing near
him.
DO not 60 yet, Norman" she said:
'it is quite early. Stay, and | will sing
to you"
The windows had been opened because
| the evening air was so clear and sweet;