La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-09-24
Cbe Dap Star Of TIE
Orknep'S.
A Romance...By Hannah B. Mckenzie.


, know: bu, hope you will soon be al
right. My brother. who is a doctor 4.
will soon be home. and / am sure hn
Will be able TO cure you
Those dark. brooding eyes still gaz-
ed at her. never once removing their
glance from her face. The gaze fright
ened Day. bu, she made another brave
effort
You are among friends here. you
know: SO you don't need to be anxious
or disturbed about anything. We shall
take care OF you until you are quite
better"
Thank you said the stranger at
last. speaking in deep. toneless voice.
He hesitated for a long time. then at
last added: And God bless you for
for what you have done. You have been
kind. | cannot thank you now-the
words will not come: but. II God
spares me. presently
Then he lapsed into silence again:
and. as his eyes closed. Day stole softly
from the room to summon Bell.
Meantime Magnus Halcrow was at
Crag Castle.
The Westrays of Crag Castle had
been lords OF the soit for generations
past. and were also proprietors 81
many broad acres on the Scottish
mainland. but nov time had come
when the heritage Of many brave and
daring men had fallen into the hands
of girl. and Lllith Stuart queened il
at Crag Castle.
II was the Dowager Lady was,ray-
- .y,,
also acted as her chaperon-whom Dr.
Magnus Haicrow had come to visit pro-
fessionally; but his patient was not
yet able to sec him, and he was now
seated in Miss Stuart's dainty boudoir
drinking cup OF afternoon tea, poured
out by her own slim. white hands.
1T is so oppressively hot that l feel
as II even tea drinking were an effort"
she said. smlling-and Lilith Stuart's
smile was wonderful one-as she
handed him his cup.
What was the secret OF Lilith
Stuart's strange power over him? None
could say-or. rather, every one as
signed It to 4. different cause. Her
female acquainta ances denied that Lii
ith was beaC.t.ui-and certainly her
features were not perfect; yet there
was strange. subtle fascination. far
greater than that OF beauty. In the
half-closed. slumbrous. blue-back eyes.
usually so modestly yeiled by their
long dark lashes. but sometimes fash
ing look Of bewildering. maddening
brightness upon those who had been
patiently waiting for it: in the droop
30 ha ,,.h1 h,t
expression was SO oddly changed when
she smiled: above all. in the smile It.
self.
The face was fair and somewhat
pale. the hair OF 4 ruddy. auburn hue.
There were those who called Lilith
Stuart modern Cleopatra. and those
who gave her even more unpleasant
names; but as those were mostly dis
carded lovers, their opinions were not
to be trusted.
And Magnus HaIcrow. that great,
noble, simple-minded son of the vik-
ings of old. had also fallen prey TO
Lilith's strange fascination. He him
self knew it. and chafed at the knowl-
edge; for he was proud and independ-
ent. and could never stoop to sue for
that which was SO far above him.
Il think thunderstorm is not far
of. and l am glad; 1t will clear the
air." he said. in answer to Lilith's re-
marks.
20, l hope not! hate thunderstorms:
I am SO afraid" cried Lilith.
Even as she spoke there was a vivid
fash. and in a few moments the storm
broke in all its fury.