The Banner-Democrat., 1900-06-16
d in her ears all the remainder of that
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
'1 have never seen you so pleased about
1 dinner party before, Beatrix," said
Lady Lennox, when her daughter con-
suited her for the twentieth time concern
ng her dress. "Is any one going whom
vou very much wish to see"
"Yes, told you, mamma-Mrs. Carew,
the artist-the lady who is so anxious to
paint my portrait. The duchess says she
would not paint the portrait Of an en-
press if she did not like her."
Beatrix stood attired for the dinner
party at T. mslie House, looking far more
beautiful than she had ever looked before.
Her graceful head and fower-like face,
her white neck and lovely shoulders, rose
from clouds of rose-colored tulle. She
wore white roses in her hair, and carried
bouquet of white hyacinths; superb
knot of flowers was fastened in the bodice
If her dress. She looked lovely enough to
disturb an artists dreams. Her uncle
had declined the invitation to the dinner
,arty-he had not been well of late-but
he desired to look at his niece before she
went.
"Well, 1 am of opinion that that rose
tulle will give the duke his coup de grace.
have never seen Trixie look SO well be-
,ore," said Peter Lennox; and he began
1t once to think about the marriage settle
nents; while Beatrix, as she drew near
Elmslie House, asked herself what she
should do. There would be two gentle
men present, of whom one would wish to
.alk to her-to the other she would want
70 talk. 1t would require some astuteness
% manage to please herself without dis
pleasing others.
Yes, there was the duke! He waylaid
| 1er at once when she entered the room;
and she was compelled to listen to string
If compliments that she thought would
never end, wondering all the time wheth-
ar Beltran had arrived. At last she saw
.he tall figure and the fair, princely head
towering above the others. Her face
1ushed; she answered at random. Oh, If
the duke would but leave her in peace!
TO her great relief the Duchess of Elms-
| lie called the duke away-she wanted to
introduce him to the wife OF one OF the
,mbassadors-and Beatrix was free. In
another moment Beltran Carew was by
her side.
II was afraid" he said, that should
not get near you, Miss Lennox. The Duke
,f Heathland guards you as though you
we're a crown jewel"
She looked up at him, wistfully, longing
% say: 1T is not my fault that he Is al
ways near me-" but she was silent. Per
| aaps he misunderstood her silence, for af-
ter while he added:
II hope 1 have not been indiscreet."
In moment her face was in fame.
"Certainly not" she said, and then she
added shyly-she was so unfortunately
trank-"I was just wishing that he would
20 and make room for you"
"Were you? 1 am the happiest-" He
paused suddenly, for the confusion In her
face panied him.
Then they walked through the superb
,uite of rooms, so interested each In the
other that all else was unheeded. Every
now and then Beatrix raised her fair face
with a look of unutterable content, the
light Of perfect happiness in her eyes.
Then her words became fewer, sweet shy
aess came over her, and presently 1t was
| time to so.
| She was rather puzzled on reaching
home; for, when Lady Lennox asked her
about the dinner and the soiree, she could
remember nothing except that Mr.. Carew
was there. Beatrix was startled to find
hat she did not even remember saying
yood-night to her grace. What she did
remember was standing in the hall with
Beltran Carew by her side, he declaring
hat the opera cloak would not come into
he right folds and lingering 70 long
while he drew it round her that she had
looked at him with a wondering smile,
1 -. L. la hoo% h;u ho nd hooI ovor
her and whispered such sweet words that
the very memory Of them made her heart
palpitate.
! Beatrix was quite unconscious how
much Beltran Carew was beginning to
ill her life. When she awoke In the morn
ing, it was to think Of him, to wonder
Il she should see him on that day, IL he
would call, if she should meet him acci-
dentally, II he would send a note or mes
sage. The days on which she was to
meet him were red-letter days; but then,
rs she said to herself, she had longed all
her life to know a hero, and at last she
had met one.
| They met almost continually. Beltrsn,
although constantly occupied during the
day, went out great deal. Since he had
Known Bcatrix he sought the people who
knew her. He contrived to discover at
what houses she was to visit. But the
best time of all for him was when Mrs
Carew began to paint "The Lotus Lily"
Mrs. Carew herself had designed the
| dress. 1t was a mantle Of cloth Of gold
thrown over one shoulder, leaving the
pther undraped. The lovely neck rose
aower-like from the superb costume, the
1 L. od NTH hluo Mile
lilies, Nothing could have been more ar
tistic or more beautiful.
Beatrix enjoyed those sittings. Lady
Lennox generally went with her; but
Lady Lennox was not worldly wise, and
when she saw how the young lawyer in.
terested and amused her beautiful child
when she heard them conversing Of every.
hing most poetical and artistic, she never
dreamed Of danger.
They all met one day at a fete given In
the beautiful grounds of Twickenham
Palace. The Marquis of Ersdale was the
originator Of it, and. as Mrs. CarCw had
.et all London talking about the woA-
5erful portrait of his beautiful marchion.
,ss. he had sent cards both to the gifted
artist and to her no less gifted son. bea'
trix and Lady Lennox went with the
Duchess OF Elmslie. Peter Lennox dis
liked garden parties, and summer fete'
we're not to his mind. He preferred din
ner ma rites where he could play solemn
game Of whist.
(To be continued)
A Dozen Conundrums.
1. Why do you go to bed? Because
the bed will not come to you.
2, When is a ship like book? WheI