Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-03-02
y6S5sSR1@1yE4. LEsagEHES
CHAPTER x,

CHAPTER x.
Captain Gresham sprang forward to INT
the flowers which Miss L'EsCange had
dropped. A
"Nay." she said, "never mind them. n
fresh flower is very nice. A flower that
has once been in the dust has lost its
beauty"
There was no trace of pain in the cleaf I
voice; il was rich and musical. Phllippq
L'Estra nge, seated in the bright sunshinet
heard the words that were to her a deathtt :
warrant, yet made no sign. Il nave nov
yet met my IDEAL" Lord Arleigh had saidt
Captain Gresham picked up some OF the
fallen flowers.
"A dead flower from your hand, Miss
L'Estrange,' he observed, "is worth a
whole gardenful of living ones from any
one else"
She laughed again that sweet. musical |
laugh which seemed to come only from y
happy heart; and then she looked rounot
The Duchess of Aytoun and Lord Arlelsh
were still in deep converse. Miss l. Is
TRANCE turned to Captain Gresham
Il have been told" she said, tina
there are some beautiful white hyaclnths
here; they are my favorite flowers. Shall
we find them?'
He was only too pleased. She bade y
laughing adieu to the duchess and smiled
at Lord Arleigh. There was no trace OF
pain or of sadness in her voice or face
They went away together, and Lord Ar
leigh never ,.reamed that she had heard
his remark.
Then the duchess left him, and he sat
under the .oreading beech alone. his
thoughts e not of the pleasantest ma
ture: he u not like the general beller
in his ar astching marriage: it was fair
neither : Of hself nor to Phlippa-yet
how " put an end to such gossip ?
A-.-.i,.r idea occurred to him. Could it
he possible that PhiIippa herself shared
the idea?
He eproached himself for the thought.
vet. do what he would, he could not drive
II away. The suspicion haunted him; it
made him miserable. If it was really so,
what was he to do!
He looked around the grounds. and pres
emily saw her the center of a brilllans
group near the lake. The Duke OF ASH
wood was py her side, the elite of the
guests had gathered round her. he went
up to the little group, and again the same
oeer,iiarity struck him-they all r,ade way
for him-even the Duke of Ashwood, al
though he did it with frown on his face
seemed to consider that he had some spe-
ciaI right to be by the side of the beauh-
ful Miss L'Estrange, and she, as usual
when he was present, saw and heard no
one else.
..PhiIippa," he said, suddenly. ''the wat
,er looks very tempting-would you like a
row?"
above everything else" she replied.
And they went off in the little pleasure
boat together.
He rested on his sculls, and the boat
.drifted under the dropping branches of
willow tree He never forgot the picture
that then presented itself-the clear, deep
water. the green trees, and the beautiful
face looking at him.
"Norman," she said, in a clear, low
voice, 81 want to tell you that l over
heard all that you said TO the Duchess of
Aytoun. l could not help it-l was so
near to you
She was taking the difficulty into her
own hands! He felt most thankful.
Did YOU, Philippa? thought you were
engrossed with the gallant captain
Did you really and in all truth mean
what YOU said to herr" she asked.
"Certsinly: Won know me we'll enough
TO be quite sure that l never say what |
do not mean
'You have never yet seen the woman
you would ask to be your wifeT she said.
There was brief silence, and then he
replied:
mo, in all truth, have not, Philippa." "
A little bird was singing on swaying
bough just above them-to the last day of
her life it seemed to her that she remenn-
bered the notes The sultry silence seem
ed to deepen. She broke it
But, Norman" she said, in low voice,
have you not seen meF
He tried to laugh to hide his embarrass-
ment, but it was failure.
81 have seen you-and | admire you.
have all the affection of a brother for you,
Philippa-" and then he paused abrupt
ly.
But" she supplied. you have never
thought of making me your wife? Speak
to me quite frankly, Norman"
No, Philippa, | have not
as matters stand between us, they re.
auire explanation" she said and he saw
her lips grow pale. at is not pleasant fol
me to have to mention it, but / must do it
Norman. do you quite forget what we
were taught TO believe when we were
.chidren-that our lives were to be pa ssed
together"
My dearest Philippa, pray spare your
self and me. | did not know that you
even remembered that childish nonsense >
She raised her dark eyes to his face, and
there was something in them before which
he shrank as one who feels pain.
Zone word, Norman-only one word
That past which has been so much to m,
that past in which | have lived, ever
more than in the present, or the future
am to look upon it as what you call non
sensef"
He took her hand in his.
my dear Philippa." he said, 'T hat,
myself for what l have to say-it make
me detest even the sound of my own voice
Yet you are right-there is nothing 70
us but perfect frankness; anything els,
would be foolish. Neither your mothe
nor mine had any right to try to bind us
Such things never answer, never prosper
I cannot myself imagine how they, usual
" so sensible, came in this instance to dis
regard all dictates of common sense.
have always looked upon the arrangement
as mere nonsense; and I hope you hav
done the same. You are free as air-an,
so am l.
She made no answer, but. after a fev
minutes, when she had regained her self
possession, she said:
The sun is warm on the water-1 thin
We had better return" and, as they wen
back, she spoke to him carelessly abou
the new rage for garden parties
he nouced her going home more paz
tculaIg than be had syx doas Rs8og>