The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-12-09

CHAPTER VI.

passion flOWerS grew III Sucn proIushon-
She smiled as she gathered some Of The
flowers. remembering the name passion
flower had been given to herself.
Then her thoughts went to Hettie. who
had loved the sweet white lilies best.
How different life would be if that lslov-
ed sister were here. how doubly pre- c;oEs
this grand domain if Hettie shared it..
In the cleaning light on the river, in the
fire Of the scarlet passion-hower, III the
flowers Of the gay parterre, she saw the
sweet, fair face with its aureole of golden
hair. Would :hey ever meet again? Alb
ruptly she saw Sir Arthur standing close
to her. Il stranger by his side.
Leah" said the general, ''our rsigh-
Dor. Sir Basil Carlton, has been Kind
enough to waive ceremony and call upon
Us first. Sir Basil. my adopted daughter
and dear niece. Miss Hatton."
\ great hush. a great calm came over
Her. She saw Il noble face, full Of fire
and impptuosity: she saw dark eyes and
straight brows. Il firm mouth. dark clus-
trrs Of hair. and dark mustache. Yet
beauty was not the chief charm OF the
strangers face; courage and dauIrless
tru.a shone there. Most. people. when
they first met Sir Basil Carlton. We're
struck 10y his handsome features and
manly bearing. but they We're Attracted
even more when the eyes took tender
.ight and the mouth Il smile as sweet as
any woman's.
Il Ike England be. ter than Italy" said
Sir Basil. suddenly. after Il few remarks.
Voc cannot think what picture YOU
noe, Miss Uatton. standing against this
background of foliage and flowers"
"You have been in Italy for many
years." she said, quietly.
lie drew just little Uearer to her. a
-,rcat, trailing spray of passion-fowers
.ay between them; he raised it, and she
thought to herself how strange n coinci-
ience it was that she should see him with
her favorite blossoms in his hand.
Il was a boy Of eleven when | went
away" he said, and now l am twenty
ave- Coming home is Il very melancholy
event for NE, as You perhaps know
Yes; we have heard the cause of your
mothers departure from Eng'and-and a
,ery painful one it was, Sir Basil" said
the general.
Leah looked - at him; all her soul
shone in her eyes.
Let us help you to forget the shadow
which has fallen over your house and
your life" she said; and his face bright
eucd."
Il shall re only too happy. Miss Hat
ton dreaded my return. | remember
cd the Glen as one of the loveliest of
homes. | have longed to be here. Yet
the memory of that night will never leave
me-" His whole face changed. My
mother lived fifteen years after the acct,
l.. hut no oh hnr
had received killed her at last"
Lcah's dark eyes. full of interest and
sympathy. filed with tears; and. as he
saw them. his heart warmed to her. How
long it was since any one had shed tears
for this old sorrow of his.
1T must have been Il terrible shock for
you both" said Leah.
Yes: | was only a boy. but I Worship
ed my sister You cannot tell how deep
~ attached | was TO her. l think the
love of Il sister is one Of the greatest joys
on earth
Why did the fair face near him grow
50 pale! Why did the graceful figure
shrink and tremble, the hand that held
the scarlet flowers suddenly fall nerve
less and helpless? Was it another coin
cidence that he should value so highly
4 sisters love:
IF l We're in your place, Basil" said
The general. Il would have plenty of
friends about me. Stay with Us to-day.
and tomorrow we will drive over ana
see your gardens and conservatories We
have 4 pleasant party, and l think you
will enjoy yourself"
He looked at Leah.
Il shall be delighted" she said, simply,
Il faint flush dyeing her face
so shall l." replied Sir Basil.
And that was how the first day of Leah
Uatton's earthly paradise began.
As the days passed on. the intimacy
between Leah and the baronet increased
The general grew warmly attached to Sir
Basil. He said-what was great thing
for him to say-that. if heaven had bless
cd him with 4 son, he should have liked
him to resemble Sir Basil. All the visit
ors-and they were many-admired and
liked him: he was Il general favorito, and
Re spent far more of his time at Brent
wood than ut Glen.
II happens 50 often that Il great love
Is lavishcd in vain. Sir Basil saw moth
ing Of LEANS. He admired her exceed
jnsly, but he peyer dreamed OF loving
her.
The duchess. who had said to herself
that she would not interfere. did lust
this one thing-She told Sir Bash of rhe
splendid triumphs that Leah had achiev-
"a. and how she had passed through three
such seasons rs few even of the most
brilliant beauties had ever experienced.
She told him Of the offers of marriage
made to her. and how she had refused
them all.
Why did she refuse them:" he asked.
The duchess meant to do Il kindly &C
tion when she answered:
she has ideas that are peculiar for
The nineteenth century; they are, l may
say. obsolete"
He looked anxiously at her, she
thought.
What ideas?" he asked-'if my ques-
ton may be answered."
Il am sure | may answer it," said the
duchess. Miss Hatton has romantic
IDEAS that are quite out of date Mar
rage in these days IS an arrangement.
She might have been Duchess of Bar
berry if she had liked; but she is roman
tic. and viii never marry until she can
marry for love"
That seems 10 ME right" said Sir
Basil.
4 am glad you think So" returned the
! duchess dryly. But Miss Hatton has
another theory. 1t is this-that for ev-
cry person in this world there are one
love and one lovcr-half souls, she calls
chem. if You can understand the term
/ She believes that she Will recognize her
half soul. or lover, whenever she sees
/ him
ii is 4 very pretty theory" said Sir
| Basil. Il DO not see why any one should
/ object 20 il He looked at her some
/ what eagerly Is ne asked: And has she
/ mot this ideal YETI
That is = question she alone can an
+ >vcr. You must ask her yourself" laugh
/ FL the duchess: and she smiled to herself
I i she thought she had given him very
/ a1ain hint
I The young barouet was far too modest
/ -o taAe il: that such a peerless beauty.
( ,Cch wealthy heiress. should fall in love
/ nd Sad her ideal in him never occurred
=, h,,r7 III