Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-10-28
i-nte looked after her with despair,ns
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER MI.
Imagine, ru:f.er. II woman combining
The charms OF :, Greek goddess and IL
par;sian ceGucttc: II woman wondrous to
behold in her superb classical loneliness
an! easy. graceful. winning manners; the
Countess Sitani. the belle OF Florence,
Who might Fave been Helen of Troy. from
the fatal fascination and charm she had
for nica.
".Nh. Lady sclwyn." she said, in her
pretty broken English. 81 have found You:
Lord s'elNyn has told NC you were here.
have i'een smiling 10 myself at your
attitude"
My aniiule.., repeated Lady v;olantc.
flushing crimson. shrinking lack: and
thinking TO herself that She lad been
guilty Of something unconventional.
Yes" said The countess. with II silvcry
laugh. the English are a wonderful pco-
I llr. You ar beautiful. Young. beloved,
.ich: there is no fair gift Of earth or hcav-
! cn that is not yatis. Your husband is
adorable. your child perfection. YOU can
have no shadow of care: yet. rs l watched
yon standing there. 10 .Niobc could have
looked more sad. You. the ~haiiriost wom-
an in the world. :re no sooner left alone
than you ASSUME IN attitude of ,lesolation.
! NiiLF =. h'titNN.tt l'hit'. W. Sven w v
rrsthiag triS.c. What were YOU thinking,
of as you bon; aver that superb g!adiolus,
Lady Sciw2n:'
"Uf my homc." was the reply. In my
mind iiicn there was Il picture of II green
field close to my fathers house; a COIN
mon yrccn field. ! suppose. To others: to-
lac the vssy light CT heaven shines upon
it,"
you are Il roctcss." said the countess,
-aylv. "Do not deny Il. How poetry
i!ourishcs among English fogs ] cannot
imagine. No yon know what have come
To see YOU aiout: SIT down here, Lady
Sclwyn, and listen"
They sat down together under the tall
s~yrinea trees. tho orange blossoms and
myrtle leaves falling at their feet: two OF
the faircst women that ever met, even
in that fair cline.
Iii seems" said the countess. Il smile
ripnlin. over her lovely face. That YOU.
lady SclwNn. Miss Leigh and myself are
tho three prctticsi women in Florence. l
heard yesterday that Prince Ccsare called
us tlc Three Graccs.' My idea. the mat
,cr on which | camc to speak to yo,l. is
this could We no; .sct up some charadcs.
or ,sl,lcnIv v~ivants. in which we could
all three appear: | have mentioned it 10
soiln people. and they are charmed with
the idea"
Il do not know: / am not clever" re-
Piled Lady s;clwyn. aud the wistful look
dccpcned oil her fair face.
.Iou need never fear. fou brighten
! Yourself Without cause. Promise me 10
join our tablcans. / will bring you
through safely. You have hut to look
pretty. and that will come natural to You.
Lord Selwyn would he so picasca."
She had touched the right chord ut last.
! The hardest heart might have heen soft
| cncd nj the wistful pleading of Lady Sell
WINS face.
do YOU really think" she said, that L
| might do wcli:'
Il am SIRE. Give me your promise that
| you vii! shake off tliat foolish timidiiy
| and shine as YOU were meant TO DO: leave
| the rest to me. We can meet Mt my
house this evening TO discuss and select
Ike scenes that strike lis most. We must
find one. though. in which we can al! APP
pear together. Prince Cesare likes Miss
Leigh. i think"
Docs hc:' asked Lady Sclwyn. 'sshc
| is very beautiful and very gifted. She
seems To know everything by instinct. She
always does the right thing Mt the right
time. and says the very words She should
say when they ought to 10 said
you arc very generous cried Coun-
tess sitani. opening her lovely eyes.
'Now, if I were you. 1 should be horribly
jealous of Miss Leigh"
"Why:' asked Lady Niolantc. calmly,
but her heart beat as it had never done
| before.
II cannot quite toll why replied the
countess. with Il shrug OF the pretty
shoulders; ''oaly that she seems so often
TO take our place."
because l ammo take it myself in
tcrruptcd Lady Selwyn.
II wnuld.' said the countess. II am
not very wise. but l have quick instincts,
and / forcsce both danger and unhappi-
ness for You unless YOU make Il great eff.
fort to assert yourself. Whose will rules
your l,ousr?-Miss Ieigh's! Who rules
your child.-Miss Leigh! Who influences
your husband:-Niss Lrigh.'
".Ah, no. cried Lady Sclw%n. mot that
anything hut that
"You must lc blind if you do not see
it," said Countess Silani: "cvcry one else
does, and--l must say 1.-THE fault is
your own! Instead of shrinking into your.
self. as l SEQ you do. and being fright.
cncd ut every shadow. be bold-know
your own rights. and let no one interfere
with them. What Il sin to sit preaching
on this bright day: hut a sermon will do
YOU good. Lady Sclwyn. Remember the
committee this evening. and / shall watch
you narrowly. to see if my lecture has
been of amy service to you. Now, good.
by
TO be continually
Cost o.; German Colonies.
EnrIlany can Scnrrplv bn cnnsilnrnd