Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-02-23

summer alike, old Lady Kynaston holds
her weekly receptions, and thither flock
the wit and talent and the fashion of
London.
Her married life had been neither very
long nor very happy. She had never
learned to love her husbands country
home. At his death she had turned her
back thankfully upon Kynaston, and had
never seen it again. OF her two sons,
she stood i'll some w of the elder, whose
old snd u~nrcspOnsivc character resem-
bled her dead husbands, while she ador-
ed Maurice, who was warm hearted and
attectionate in manner. like herself.
There were ten years between them, and
in he secret heart Lady Kynaston hoped
and believed that John would remain I'M
married, so that the estates and the
money might in time become Matrices.
1t is the second Thursday in December,
n Lady Kynaston is sat hOme' to the
world. Her drawing rooms arc filed. as
usual, with a mixed and brilliant crowd.
Conspicuous among the crowd of we'll
dressed and handsome women is Helen
homer. She sits on IN ottoman at the
further end of the room, where she holds
Il little court of her own Presently Lady
Aynaston, moving slowly among her
guests near her. and presses her
hand as she passes.
Mrs. Romcr is a favoritc of hers. she is.
pretty, and she is piquant in manner and
conversation; two very good things,
which she thinks highly Of in any young
woman. Besides that, she knows that
Helen loves her younger son; and. al
thOIJrh chn hprJ1,, ,1,,-kcl, H..
things are between them, she believes
that Helen will eventually inherit her
grandfatler's money, and, liking her pcr-
s%onally, she has seen no harm in en-.
courasing her too plainly displayed af-
lection.
AS the old lady stoops over her, Hell
ems upturncd, wistful eyes say as plainly
as words can say it:
rs he coming tonight"
Maurice will be here presently, 1
hope" says his mother. Mclen's face
became radiant, and Lady Kynaston
passed on.
He comes at last. Helen catches sight
of his handsome head and his broad
shoulders through an opening in the
crowd. In another minute he is in the
room. Presently he comes up to her and
takes the scat by her side just vacated
by an attachc.
A little pout and a little toss of the
head.
you have been as long coming to
speak to me as you possibly could be-,
do you think it would look we'll if I
had come rushing up to you the instant
j came in:"
you need not. Mt all events. have
stood t.llI.inr fOp tom ,nsn,&o, h., %Lo.
great, black-cycd Lady .Andcrlcish. or
course. il you like her better than mo,
you can go back to her.
'Of course l can, III l choose. you silly
little woman; but, seeing that l am by
YOU. and not by her. l suppose it is 4;
proof that l prefer your society, is j
| not!"
Very polite. but not strictly true, Cap
tain Maurice. AT his heart lie prcfcrrc!.
talking to Lady Andcrlcigh. or 10 any
other woman in the room. The admis.
sion. however, WAS quito enough for
Helen.
Dear Maurice" she whispered, "for-
give me: i am Il Jealous. bad-tempcrcd
wretch. but" lower still, lit is only be-
cause l love YOU so much"
Captain Kynaston took the favorable
opportunity of escaping across the hall.
where he spent the remainder of the
evening. dividing his attention between
the music and supper rooms. and Helen
saw him nc more that night.
She SAW however. someone she had
not r%cclloncl upon seeing. CHANGING care
lcssly across the end of the room, she per-
ccivcd. talking To Lady Kynaston, IL lit
tie French gentleman. with a smooth,
black head. II neat. pointed. little black
beard. and the red ribbon of the Legion
a%1Ionncur in his button hole.
What there WAS in the sight of so
harmless and ii,otfcnsivc :, parsonage t.,
upset her it may he difficult to say; bun
the fact is that. when Mrs. Romcr per-
ceivcd this polite little l'rcnchinan talk
ing to her hostess she turned suddenly so
sick and white that :; lady sitting near
her asked her il she WAS going to faint.
II feel it IL little hot she murmurcd.
Il think l will so into the next ROOM,
She rose and attempted 10 escape
whether from the heat or the observation
of the little Frcnchman WAS best known
to herself.
(To he continued.o