The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-05-14
CHAPTER NNyI.
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~ ~ ~ SNs{t
She was bent OH vengeance.
CHATTER NxyI.
SIR oswAIp's DOUBTS.
1t was the close of q spring day. Lady
Hampton had been spending it Mt Darrell
Court, and General Deering, an old friend OF
Sir Oswald's. who was visiting in the neigh
borlood, lad Joined the party ut dinner.
When dinner was over, and; the golden sun
beamsxwcrc still Frightening the beautiful
room. lie asked Sir Oswald to show to him
the pic%ture-gallery. &;
you have a fine collection lie said
every one tells me that; hut It is not only the
pictures | want 10 see, but the Darrell faces.
l heard the other day that the Darre!ls were
generally acknowledged to be the handsom-
est race in England"
The baron's clear-cut, stately face flushed
q little.
Il hope England values us for something
more useful than merely handsome faces"
lie 1ejoined, With 4 touch of ha,tteur that
llato the general smile.
Certainly" lie fastened to say; .but In
this age, when personal beauty is said to be
on the decrease, it is something to own q
handsome face"
The pictule-gallery was a very extensive
one; it was wide and well lighted, the floor
was covered with rich crimson cloth, white
statues CLEANED from amid crimson velvet
hangings, the walls were covered with rare
and valuable pictures. But General Deering
saw n picture that day in the gallery which
he was never to forget.
Lady Hampton was not enthusiastic about
art unless there was something to he gained
by 1t. There WAS nothing to excite her Gu
pidity now, her last niccu being married, so
her ladyship could afford to take matters
calmly; she reclined at her case OH one of
tho crimson lounges, and enjoyed the luxury
OF a quiet nap.
The general paused for a while before
some of Horace Fernet's battle-pieces; they
delighted him.. Pauline had walked on to
the end of the gallery, and Lady Darrell, al
ways anxious to concillate her, had followed.
The picture that struck the general most
were the two ladies as they stood side by
sidc-Lady Darrell with the sheen of gold in
her hair, the soft lustre of cleaning pearls on
her white neck, the fairness of her face
heightened by its dainty rose-leaf bloom, her
evening dress OF sweeping white silk setting
off the graceful, supple lines of her figure,
oil thrown into such vivid light by the Grim
son carpet on which she stood and the back
ground OF crimson velvet; Pauline, like some
royal lady in her trailing black robes, with
the massive coils of her dark hair wound
round the graceful, naughty head, and her
grand face with Its dark, glorious eyes, md
rich, ruby lips. The one looked fair, radiant,
and charming as a Partisan coquette; the
other, like a Grecian goddess, superb, mag
niticcnt, quccnly, simple in her exquisite
b~eauty-art or ornaments could do nothing
for her.
Look" said the general to Sir Oswald,
'that picture SURPRISES anything you have
on your walls"
Sir Oswald bowed.
"What a beautiful girl your niece is!' the
Old soldier continued. See how her face
resembles this of Lady Edelgitha Darrell.
Pray do not think me impertinent, but lean
not imagine, old friend, why you married, SO
devoted to bachelor life as you were. when
you had a niece SO beautiful, so true a Oar
rell, for your heiress. i nm puzzled now that
l see her"
"She lacked training, !" said Sir Oswald.
"Training??' repeated the general, con-
temptuously. "iNhat do you call training?
DO You mean that she was not experienced
in all the little trifing details of a dinner
tabie-tllat she could not smile as she told
graceful little untruths? Training! Why,
that girl Is a queen among women; a noble
soul shines in her grand face, there Is a royal
grandeur of nature about her that training
could never give. l have lived long, but
have never seen such a woman"
She hadssuch strange, outof-the-way, UNI
4 zeal notions, l dared not--that is the truth
1ttAfea not leave Ditrtll Court to her"
hope yoN 2lasea ttel wisely" said the
zgenera ;;assbolt, MS an I'D friend and q tna.,
one i nuts sey that ldoAhtsit"
MY vile Z am happy to sayshas plenty
Of common sense oapseryssl s il oswald.
Your wife, re;',raaed the general, look
ing at the sheen of tliJssgolLcn hair and the
Eeshining dress, 'sis prettys+graceful, and ami
able, but that girl has all the soul; there is
us much difference between them as between
a golden bnttercup and a dark, stately,
qleenly rose. The rose should have hes:i
ruler at Darrell Court, old; friend.'
Then. he asked, abruptly
What are you going to do for her, Sir Os-
waldo?
II have provided for her. he replied.
"Darrell Court, then, and all Its rich rcve.
nucs go to Your wife, / presunepl'
Yes, to my wife," said Sir Oswald.
"UncOnditionally?n asked the general.
Most certainly" was the impatient reply.
wei, my friend" said the general, sin
this world every one does as le or she likes;
but to disinherit that girl, with the face and
spiritiof a true Darrell, and to putt fair,
amiab!e blonde stranger in her place, was,
to say the least, eccentric-the world will
deem 1t SO, at any rate. If I were forty years
younger l would win Pauline Darrell, and
make her love me. But we must Join tho
ladies-they will think us very remiss."
Sweet smiles, no mind, an amiable man
ner, no intellect, prettiness after the fashion
of n Partisan doll, to be preferred to that
noble, truthful, queenly girl? Verify tastes
differ thought the general, as lie watched
the two, contrasted them, and lost himself in
wonder over his friends folly.
He took his leave soon afterward, gravely
musing on what he could not understand
why his old FRIEND had done what seemed to
him a rash, ilI-judged deed.
He LETT Sir Oswald in a state of great dis
comfort. OF course he loved his wlfe--loyed
her with n blind infatuations that did more
honor to his heart than his head-but he had
always relied so implicitly on the generals
Judgment. He found himself half wishing
that in this, the browning action OF his life,
lie had consulted his old friend.
He never knew how that clever woman of
the world, Lady Hampton, had secretly i'll
luenced him. He believed that he had acted
entirely on his clear judgment; and
now, for the first time, he doubted that.
you look anxious, Oswald said Lady
Darrell, as she bent down and with her fresh,
sweet young lips, touched his brow. ..Has
anything troubled YOUR
NO, my darling" he replied; II. do not
feel quite we'll, though. l have had a dull,
nervous heavlness about me all day-a
strange sensation Of pain too. I shall be bet
ter Tomorrow