The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-11-01

XVI X you like, get up
III + N when you like; go
~ ~ out when you like;
NS0 order dinner lunch
con. breakfast, at any time you will.
You must not make any difference be-
tween this visit and those you used
to pay. am not much at home my
SELF"
Sir Raoul laid his hand on the
young mans arm.
"How is that?" he asked, earnestly.
<ulric, is not home pleasant to you?"
ITO tell you the truth, it is not-not
very pleasant l may be fanciful but
to me there seems alwaysea look Of
reproach on my wife's face. That is
not the only reason; 1 scorn to make
false excuses I find more attraction
away from home than in it. Now you
will be happy, Raoul.'
EYES," he replied; and long after his
cousin had left him Sir Raoul lay
thinking what he could do to make
matters pleasanter between husband
and wife.
difference, contempt, and dislike lie
would have to do battle. He knew,
too, that, as rule, all interference be-
tween husband and wife was worse
than useless-that, if they quarreled
themselves, they would allow no one
else to interfere in the quarrel. But
this was not a mere quarrel-it was far
worse.
II would give something" he
thought, "to restore harmony; but of
course all depends on what she is
like"
What was she like? After being at
the opera she would not rise until late,
he felt sure. He himself went down.
stairs early-Sir Raoul liked the fresh
morning air.
The first sound that fell upon his ear
was the singing Of bird, and the next
the falling spray of fountain. He
looked around. He saw then what i'm
provements had been made in Halby
House. A conservatory had been built
out from the breakfast room, long and
wide-a conservatory that was almost
an aviary, so full was it of bright
plumaged birds; fountain stood in
the midst, masses of brilliant bloom
glowed upon the walls.
''This was a welcome for the bride"
thought Sir Raoul. perhaps, how
ever, she has not much taste for flow
ers."
No one seemed to be about; the
breakfast table was prepared, but there
was no one to preside. Sir Raoul
looked round; he thought he would so
through the conservatory, and perhaps
by that time there would be some news
of breakfast. He opened the glass door
and walked through a fairyland of
sweet blossoms; the spray of the foun-
tain fell with melodious music into the
clear basin below.
"How beautiful" thought the simple
soldier.
He waited on until he saw a vision
that suddenly struck him dumb. At
the end of the conservatory was
large, vine-wreathed door, the green
leaves formed perfect screen, and
against them stood figure such as
Sir Raoul had never seen before and
never afterward forgot-a tall, grace
full, girlish figure-a figure that was all
symmetry, with slender, graceful
neck, white as snow, lovely shoulders,
round, white arms, draped In elegant
morning dress.
The lady was standing with her face
averted so that he could not at first see
1t. He beheld queenly head, covered
with masses Of black. shining hair. He
stood for some minutes lost in admir-
alton; and then with deep sigh she
turned slowly round
II he had thought the figure beauti-
ful, he was even more enchanted with
the face. He saw dark star-like eyes
fringed with long lashes, and an impe-
rial brow; he saw mouth that was
like pomegranate bud, fresh, red, and
indescrfbably lovely; he saw a splen-
did face, oval in contour, and with the
exquisite coloring that Titan gives in
his pictures, dainty and brilliant. Yet
over the beauty of the face sadness
hung like veil. He saw the glow of
scarlet geranium in the bodice of her
dress, and one in the dusky depths of
her jet-black hair.
That it was the money lenders
daughter never for a moment entered
his mind-that he saw before him his
cousins wife never occurred to him.
This beautiful girl was, Of course, a
visitor like himself-one of Lady Cara
ven's friends, he thought to himself,
half sadly. It was not to be won
dered at, with this glorious young
beauty near to distract him. that the
earl did not care for his wife.
He went forward to speak to her. and
then for the first time she was con-
scious Of his presence. She raised her
dark eyes and looked at him. There
ars moments In life not to be forgot
tn this was one The dark eyes ap-