Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-02-24

family; and. rebel as she may, at certain
times and seasons she has to give in to
Miss Symptoms DEGREES, and, under her
guidance and direction, interview cook
and hOusckeeper.
Very thankful indeed does Yolande feel
when the clock strikes one, and at last
they are able to shut up books and do
whatever sccmcth good unto them" for
the remainder of the day. She hurrics off
as swiftly as her light feet can bear her to
her OWL pretty. dainty room, and heaves
a sigh of intense relief as, with locked
door, and a sense of perfect security from
intrusion, she sets herself to study the
unwclcOme valentine once more.
Am l such Il flirt!' she thinks. as her
soft eyes look up from the hateful words
and meet their own lustrous reflection in
the opposite mirror. IL know l like dane
ing. and fun a%nd-wcll, u little admira-
ton: but surely there's 1T great harm in
that: Oh, l hope he did not send it?
And yet it must have been he! No one
else would mind what 1 did; they are so
used to me and my ways. Well, l don't
care, and l won't care""-with Il stamp of
the little foot. Who is he that l should
mind his opinion? I have seen him only
three times. and
Here she pauses. \. tide of crimson
sweeps over her fair low brow, her lovely
cheeks. She filings the lucklcss valentine
to the farthest corner of tho room.
II hate him. she cries. rising and pac-
ing up and down the s~oft-carpetcd floor.
"Oh. if only, l had not said that! Per-
haps lie thought it was Il hint. A hint!
Just as il Lance. and Dick. md young
Tcmpcstown. and Jack Fortescue, and
a%nd-hcaps of fellows weren't glad
enough of the opportunity of sending me
valentines! And TO think that l wanted
IL from him! Oh. how shall 1 meet him
Tonight! If l could only look perfectly
cool and unconccrncd it would be all right;
but l am sure the moment lie looks ut me
it will he all ovcr-and-hc will know"
Another abrupt pause. Then she goes
slowly over to the corner to where the
valentine has fluttercd and smoothcs out
the crumplcd paper, and once more pc
ruscs it.
ITO my Lady Coqucttc.'" she reads.
".Ah, Mr.. Denzil Charteris, if you mean
that. it will go hard with me if 1 don't
make you rue the day you wrote or said
it. No; l won't throw this away. 1t shall
he kept as IL mcmcnto of this day and of
my vow-tlc VOW l make over this sense
less paper that you have made so cruel
Il %wcapon-if it lies in woman's power to
brin. you to my feet. there you shall be
brought. Ii it lies in my power to pay
you back in such coin the insult and the
shame you have given me to bear. then
assuredly shall pay it-evcry farthing!"
! CHAPTER III. ="
The great dim drawing room is lighted
by the soft glow of lamps, and a bright
wood fire burns in the old tiled fireplace.
The perfume of dollhouse flowers, of
which Yolandc has that morning robbed
the c-onscrvatories, throws a faint, subtle
fragrance a.ennd. Tt is a. beautiful old
room-a room where all is harmonious,
and no modern upholstery and incongru-
oris c~oloring are to be found.
Mr.. Mcrvyn is standing by the fireplace
talking to IL gentleman who is portly and
elderly, and has n loud voice and good
humorcd face. n lady, also portly, but
with brown hair instead of gray, and few
or wrinkles in her good-humored face than
her spouse possesses, is holding an appar-
emily interesting conversation with Miss
SlliptOn. A pretty fair-haired girl, with
a marked resemblance to the obesity and
g%ood-humor of her elders. which proclaims
their relationship unmistakably, sits by
a small table turning over the leaves of an
album. h advances with alacrity as
she sees Yolandc. and grects her most af.
f~cctionately.
what a love you look!!" she whispers.
with good-naturcd appreciation.
Yolande gives her Il smile of thanks.
and then hastens to greet her father and
mother. In the midst of the questions
and answers that follow, the door opens
and some more guests are announced,
"NOw!' says Yolande, inwardly, and
draws her breath sharply and sets her
lovely, mobile face into stern composurc.
No n can see beneath the surface. no
one can tell how fast and painfully her
heart thrObs. or what a superhuman effort
is required before she can utter naturally
the commonplace formula:
Good evening. Mr.. Chartcris."
The man to whom this greeting is given
is not very different from the ordinary
run of men. He is handsome certainly;
but so are dozens of his sex. He is very
tall and we'll made: but his face is too
stern and grave to find favor with most of
the fair sex.
He does not look stern now, as he
glances down ut the slim, flower-faced
maiden before him; there is a faint quiz.
zical amusement in the depths of his
splendid eyes, a CULVER of n smile round
the corners of the grave lips. Yolande
withdraws her hand as soon as possible,
and enters Mt once into conversation with
pretty little Mrs. Adair.
Then they pair off, md Yolande tries
her best to listen and to appear interested
in her own companions conversation The
dining room is pleasantly warm, lit with
wax lights. and pcrfumcd with flowers
She is separated by Arthur and vi from
MIR. Chartcris and Judith; but she car
see his dark stately head bending towards
Judith's fair one, and every now and ther
catches n word or two of his deep. mellow
. voice. Judith is flirting as lightly and
brilliantly as she can: for the admiration
of any man or youth seems good unto her
and it is a rare chance that has given Den
ill Charters over to her destinations to
night.
ooh. l had SO many valcntincs!" say.
= 81 - tn 49, ~