Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-04-26
CHAPTER XVII

Dancing is going on in the small draw.
ing room. Lady Swansdown hardly un-
derstands herself tonight. That scene
with her hostess has upset her mentally
and bodily and created in her a wild de-
sire to get away from herself, and from
Baltimore at any cost. Some idle freak
has induced her to use Beauclerk as a
safeguard from both, and he, unsettled in
his own mind and eager to come to con-
clusions with Joyce and her fortune, has
lent himself to the wiles of his whilom
foe, and Is charmed by her fascinating, if
vagrant, mood.
Perhaps in all her life Lady Swans
down has never looked so lovely as to-
night. Excitement and mental disturb
ance have lent a dangerous brilliancy to
her eyes, a touch Of color to her cheek.
There is something electric about her that
touches those who gaze on her and warns
herself that a crisis is at hand.
In way she has clung to Beauclerk as
a means of escaping Baltimore-throwing
out a thousand wiles to charm him to her
side, and succeeding. Three times she
had given a smiling Nor to Lord Balti-
more's demand for a dance, and, regard
less of opinion. had flung herself into .
wild and open Irritation with Beauclerk.
IL
her strength is failing her. These people,
able to seek her own room, and solitude,
and despair, without calling down COM
ment on her head, and giving Isabel-that
cold woman-the chance Of sneering at
her weakness?
A sudden sense Of the uselessness Of it
all has taken possession Of her; her heart
sinks. 1t is at this moment that Balti-
more once more comes up to her.
This dance" says he. 1T Is half way
through. You are not engaged, sup
pose, as you are sitting down? May
have what remains Of 1t"
She makes a little gesture Of acquies-
cence, and, rising, places her hand upon
his arm.
The crisis has come, she tells herself,
with a rather grim smile. Well. better
have it and get it over.
That there had been a violent scene be-
tween Baltimore and his wife after dinner
had somehow become known to her, and
the marks Of 1t still betrayed themselves
in the formers frowning brow and SOM
Der eyes.
II had been more Of a scene than usual
Lady Baltimore, generally SO calm, had
for once lost herself, and given way to a
passion Of Indignation that had shaken
her to her very hearts core. Though so
appareptly unmoved and almost insOlent
in her demeanor toward Lady Swans
down during their interview, she had
been, nevertheless. cruelty wounded by it,
and could not forgive Baltimore in that
he had been its cause.
81 didn't think you and Beauclerk had
anything in common" says Baltimore,
seating himself beside her on the low
lounge that is half hidden from the public
gaze by the Indian curtains that fall at
zach side of it. He had made no pretense
Of finishing the dance. He had led the
way and she had suffered herself to be
led into the small ante-roOm that. half
smothered in early spring flowers, lay of
the dancing room.
..Ab! YOU see you have yet much to learn
about me-" says she, with an attempt at
raycty-which fails, however.
About you? Nor says he. almost de
family. Don't tell me l have deceived
myself about you, Beatrice; you are all
have left to fall back upon now. his
tone is reckless to the last degree.
what is it, Cyril?'' looking at him with
sudden iptentness. Something has hap
pened. What?'
1.-The old story, returns ne, anu oI
s;cL of If. have thrown up my hand.
wnuld have been faithful to her, Beatrice.
I swear that, but she does not care To-
nv devotion. And as for me, now"
He throws out his arms as II ureo "
death. and draws in his breath heavily.
NOW" says she, leaning forward.
"Am worth your acceptanceY says ne
turning sharply to her. Il hardly dare 20
think it. and yet you have been kino &c
me. and your own lot Is not nappS'
and"
"Do YOU hesitate" asks sne, very DIT
..WiIl YOU risk it all?" says ne; sau,y
.v,,, rou NC come away with met feel
have no friend on earth but you. W., W."
Won take pity on me? l shall no. s
here. whatever happens: have stl've. sa
against fate too long-it has overcome ne
Another land-a different hfe-co"p'e''
"Do Won know what you are s.y,ns'
asks Lady Swansdown, deatnly - o.,
! "Yes: I have thought It in out. It" ie