Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-05-12
CHAPTER XXI.

Ill tue sweet, TlCn Ilr VI SOtlliieTIl ldIluSs
with their blue skies and fresh winds, cool
with the tempered GOODNESS that rarely
VISITS northern winters, Yolande grows
stronger and more like her old bright self.
The party stay for two months at Nice,
and then wander on lazily and carelc
from place to place. Travelling ncross
Tuscany. they halt II evening ut Monte
pulto. Here Yolande leaves the inn and
saunters forth.
Her absorbed revcrie is disturbed at
last. Along the narrow path she treads
another footstep echoes. She raises her
eyes, and sees approaching the figure of
Il man. young, stalwart. He looks up,
and then, with 81 cry of bewilderment
rather than of pleasure. Yolandc sees be-
fore her the well-remembered face Of
Lance Stapleton.
LANCE" she cries, eagerly, and her
hand is outstretched in greeting; and the
wonder and surprise of seeing him bring
the rosy color to her face in tlattering
warmth and b%rilliance.
why, Lance, how did you come here?
How glnd l am to see YOU"
He makes no response to her enthusi-
astic welcome. He only stands looking
silently ut her face, Il great pain gnnwing
at his heart, Il great SORROW d%arkcning his
eyes.
".Arc you not glad to see me?' she says,
disappointedly. You have not spoken a
single word"
Ill was so surprised" he stammers,
fecbly. Have you been ill?'
YES" she answers, flushing nervously.
"But l am all right again now-luite
strong and we'll, Lance, 1 assure you"
IL suppose your husband is here,
too?"
My husbands"
The girl rccoils as though he had struck
her, and every drop of blood recedcs from
her face. leaving it white as death.
"Oh. Lance" she cries, clasping her
hands and turning her sorrowful eyes
away from his startled face, lis it posi-
bio you have not heard?"
Heard whaty'
THAT Denzil Charters is married?"
she says, with n quietness that amazes
herself.
Married! and not to you, Yolandc? Are
you drealning:"
"Oh, 1 wish l were-I wish I We're" she
cries %pitcously, all her sclf-command
swept away by the sympathy and tender
ness in his gaze and voice.
ut seems all so strange" Lance ~,n-
tinues, moving On beside her through the
pale green olive woods. when l saw
him last he was so full Of joy and happi-
ness, / guessed his secret without q word.
He said he would bring you home as soon
as ever it was possible. What has cone
between you? Has he played you false.
or have yor-'
NO." she interrupts. '.Treaclery part
cd us-a woman's trcachery. She is now
his wife. 1 cannot tell you the wretched
story. Lance; it is too painful STILL
Moving on with needless feet and down.
bent eyes, Yolande and Lance suddenly
find themselves once more in the strag-
Cling village street; and there, standing
at the inn window, laughing and talking
merrily together, with the unrestraint md.
freedom of old mountaineering, Yolande
sees her sister Enid and Sir Edward
Llewellyn.
II have only just arrived" he says,
shaking hands warmly with her as he
spoke.
"And were you not surprised to find us
here" asks Yolandc.
I'll cannot exactly say / was" he an-
swers, in some slight confusion; "for, to
tell you the truth, I followed you up from
your last halting place."
"Oh, indeed!" says Yolande. "And are
you doing Italy also?"
IL think so," lie answers, making a
valiant effort to recover himself and look
composed.
Whom were you talking with, Yo.
lande!' interrupts Enid at this moment.
Lance Stapleton. 1t turns out that he
is our fellow traveller who is staying
here" she
"Lance-dcar old Lance? oh. how glad
I AM" cries Enid, with m enthusiasm
that apparently does not awaken any sym
pathy on the part Of Sir Edward.