Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-01-19
cu.ApTEH Nvm.

III - Iii tTutI IL WY u tNtS-OHc VII
which To feel inctrably content to enjoy
10 The fullest that which is happily cN-
pressed as The dolce far nicntc OF life.
There is just Il gentle rustling among
,h. tall elm inps. Il wave TO and fr, of
the silver s~)rrchrs. and not IL sound save
fh,. faint and uninterrupted mur,nur of
the greedy brown bees settling down on
the %l,rriumcd blossoms.
The morning hears eli it an lnwnu;cd
rrimSun. tho flowers blush more brightly.
md ,i,r srny-blue clouds stand quite mo-
tionless, like so many pillars OF heaven.
1t is just such an hour when bliss
seems prrlolcr TO descend from the great
sapphire dome above, like an angel of
peace. 50 that the restless and ycarning
hearts Of mortals may be satisfied.
Eni Lady Ennisford has no spirit to he
happy, ar energy to enjoy all the good
things nf This life.
She has scarcely seen hcr husband for
q month. and his letter brings Il feeling
nj intense disturbance to her quiet life.
Blu, she is II woman whom fashionable
ladies laugh at us bizarre and prim, for
she holds duty to he above inclination,
for she ilnlls duty tic whole thing. she
resolves iu do her duty NOW. and to make
tiir house bright and pleasant for his
guests.
They ar" men. of coursc-Shc is thank
ful For that. even though they rcck of
tobacco aud hurscticsh, according to lsel-
las unpleasant suggestion; but she knows
she can slip away when her %hospitab.c
cares are lone. and, after all. the ordeal
IS cn!y for 81 day or two.
Long mourning and IL good dea! of snli-
tlllc !av" brought IL certain NERVOUSNESS
In their train. but she colxes Bella to
crawl out Of her shell. and give the pro-
lection NJ her gtnnt figure and grim face,
and Bella. who is like most wolncp-nt
heart a ,ake-after Il little show Of irluc-
tNl.rr. consents.
There can hardly be IL prctticr place
than Iiightliifc presents to greet Lord
Ennisfurd and his guests as they drive
M through the south lodge gates.
Th. sun. grow: low to westward. sends
long laar.-likc rays quivcring across trees
uni shrubs and flowers. forming AZURE
oic> of glory for the heads of the big pat
~riarchai oaks, that clulnp together like
so many giant sentinels OF the place. and
make IL differing nimbus about the queer
meliarval windows of the tower. set
amid emerald foliage md clustering bios
soips
The house. always proud and paiatia',
but sometimes a little severe and chilling
in fi,r peculiar architecture. on this day
lop.s quite bcaming. as if in welcome to
its MASTER
a sound of horses feet. Il crunch of
gravel by carriage wheels. loud mems
soircs. and t~lcn-laughtcr.
a laugh. light, sweet. sparkling as
champagne, comes through the open doors
mud windows like Il peal of silver bells
md reaches the ears of the women in the
drawing room.
Bella starts mp from her seat. the red
Blood rushing IN torrents over her face
sad neck. her pale eyes literally blazing.
Who is %tl.nt:' she cSclains.
II know" Lady EnniSford in
d low tone. and sl. clings 10 IL chair, for
she feels her limbs trembling violently.
hcr senses going.
Nh. tlir SHINE of it. the Insult of il.
The light. sparkling laugh smites her in
the heart and brings from it Il throb of
the Old anguish which she had known SO
bitterly six months ago.
How dare lie bring her here. How dare
slsr come.
These thoughts flash like lightning
through her brain. hut there is no lime,
~ iiltT!isltiNt.
LIN another moment. cold and white as
I'll image If stone. she goes forward and
Welcomes i.ord Ennisford's friends with
grave .yrs and mouth. hut courteous
manncr aud voice. Willie May dances in
tn her fathers arm and kisses him rap
tnrruslv.
The visitors consist of three men and
twa women.
n,tv A,.l,,,,. l,.-,t -, ill., A. q
an an.i!nin leaf. in it's richest and most
varied iint,. Il mellow brown that the
pa.c -,.rlm of II wintry sun hecks into
god here and there. and Nor sheep dog,
Miss Payne. who invariably sports in a
rationa! garment. aud wears her mousse
lnrl hair cut short: Suuashington, a
"bl"atci lristocrat.' who has a little tale
attached to him. Sir seymour Fame, n
Guy Livingstone type. handsome, tlirty,
lavish. Irresistible. and a charming con-
trast 10 SQunsliingfon. by whose side hc
stands. and Maciuff. heir 10 an earldom.
popular with everybody. pleasant to the
eyes.
"!'ear Lady lInniSford. l am so glad to
seq YOU asnin.' Lady .Aylmcr mur,nl,rs.
III her %softcst. mos. s"iuisanie voice, then
shs drops it to The proper sympathetic
key. and such sad things have happened
t., you since vs. met"
Lady Ennisfnri TVS Il little frigid!y
as she quietly eNad's the daintily gloved
hand by holding out her own to Miss
Payne. who. surprised nj the condescen-
sion. clasps the slim fingers in IL vice.
Then the ~hostesss with whose demcanor
moi II soul can find fault. passes on to the
other guests. with Il little smile and word,
and Lord Ennisford, champing the ends
of his blond mnstacic, registers an IN
ward vow to punish the quiet intimation
his wife has given of her distaste to his
compan.. by dcvoting himself more iu
Lady -Aylmer than he had first intended.
Wont you cont and look ut our best
view!' he asks softly. and Of course she
assents nt once, delighted to triumph over
the dowdy little woman who has dared to
snub her. Lady Enn;sford notices them
from her window, but moves away quick.
" without an uttered wall, for she Il