Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-01-07
signs of emotion and turned to him quite

signs of emotion and turned to him quite
calmly.
II am always ready to listen to you,
Norman, and to hear what YOU have to
say"
II want o to tell me why you will
not marry the Duke of Hazclwood. You
have treated me as your brother and your
friend. The question might seem imper-
tinent from another; from me it will not
appear impert.lent, not enthusiastically
true and kindly interest. Why will you
not marry him. Philippa"
"A quick, sharp spasm of pain passed
over her face. She was silent for II min
ute before she answered him, and then she
said:
"The reason is very simple, Norman
because I do not love him."
THAT is certainly a strong reason; but.
l'hiiippa. let me ask you another qucs-
tion-why do you not love HING
She could have retortcd, ''Why do you
not love mey" hut prudence forbade it.
Il cannot tell you. l have heard you
say that love is fate. should imagine
it must be because the Duke of Hazel
wood is not my fate"
AAe Niu lOI hloM WllHl answer 10 make
20 that, it was SO entirely his own way of
thinking.
but, P%hilippa," he resumed after a
pause, do you not think that O might
love him if you tried"
when YOU urge me to marry your
friend. YOU ask me why 1 cannot love him.
Norman, why can you not love me?"
II can answer you only in the same
words-I do not know. l love you with
as r IL an affection as ever man gave to
woman: but l have not for you n lovers
love. l cannot tell why, for you IRE one
of the fairest of fair women"
Pair, but not your ideal woman" she
said, gently.
mo, not my ideal w%oman,'" he re-
turned; my sister, my fricnd-not my
love"
norman. will you tell me what your
ideal of woman is like, that l may know
her when l see herr"
Nay" he objected, gently, "lct us talk
of something else"
But she persisted.
Tell me-" she urged, "that-I may know
in what she differs from me-"
Il do rot know that l can tell you" lie
replied. II have not thought much of
the NATTER"
But if anyone asked YOU 10 describe
Your ideal of what Il woman should he,
you could do it," she pursued.
Perhaps so. hut at best it would be
but an imperfect sketch. She must be
young, fair, gentle, pure, tender of heart.
noble in soul, with n kind of shy. sweet
grace: frank, yet not outspokcn; free from
all affectation, yet with nothing unwom-
anly; IL mixture of child and. woman. If
l love In ideal. it is something like that"
And she must be fair, like all the
ladies Arlcigh, with eyes like the hya-
cinth, and hair tinged with gold, l sup
pose NOrman!'
Yes; l saw a picture Once in Rome
that realized my notion of true womanly
loveliness. 1t was a very fair face. with
something of the innocent wonder of Il
child mixed with the dawning love and
passion of noblest w~omanhood."
You admire an ingenue. We have both
our tastes; mine, if 1 were n man, would
some"
She would have added more, hut ut
that moment Lady Peters drew aside the
silken hanging.
MY dear Children she said. IL should
III plaN lily HiTl VI cilal,efoh IL L ulu LOL
remind you of the hour. We have been
celebrating my birthday, but my birth
day is past and gone-it is after mid
night"
Lord Arlcigh looked mp in wonder.
After midnight? Impossible! Yet 1
declare my watch proves that it is. 1t is
all the fault of the starlight, Lady Peters;
you must blame that. Good night, Phil
ippa," he said, in Il low, gentle voice,
bending over her.
The wind stirred her perfumed hair UNI
til it touched his cheek; the leaves of the
crimson roses fell in n shower around her.
She raised her beautiful pale face to his
the ~unspeakable love, the yearning sor-
row on it, moved him greatly. He bent
down and touched her brow with his lips.
Good night, Philippa, my sister-my
friend" he said.
Even by the faint starlight he saw q
change s over her face.
Good night" she responded. 81 have
more to say to you, but Lady Peters will
be Mortified if you remain any longer. You
will call tomorrow, and then I can finish
my conversational"
II will come" he replied gravely.
He waited q moment to see if she would
pass into the drawing room before him.
but she turned AWAY and leaned her arms
OH the stone balustrade.
ITO be %continued.0