Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-05-15

|
II have liked my dog. Dido. all my
life.' he said; and am angry with him
for the FIRST time"
at was not the dogs faux" she aD
swered.
The dark face was turned to hers, ana
the deep. clear voice said:
II think we ought to be very grateful
to Dido; but for her indscretion in bark
ing, we should not have enjoyed this
pleasant meeting"
II do not call 1t pleasant when 1t has
frightened a young lady, said the fair
haired stranger. III would rather have
foregone the pleasure of seeing her than
have caused her pain"
Irene looked at him; his face pleased
her. although II lacked the dark beauty
that seemed to her the most perfect; the
expression was simple. honest and true:
the eyes clear and candid. the mouth 6rm
aud gentle. He drew q card from his
card case.
| "As Dido trespassed. and he belongs to
me. allow me to introduce myself, aud
apologize for him."
| Irene took the card and read the name;
she locked at him with a simple rever-
| ence that touched him.
"You are Lord Aruniaie," she said; ~
know your name no we'll: you bought
some of my fathers pictures"
Your fatherY' said Arundale; lis he
an artist? Who is he? The only artist
I know here Is Santon Darcy"
She looked at him with unuttera Bile
pride.
II am Santon Darcy's daughter" she
said. and he could have smiled at the
| pride in her voice.
II do not know where your father
lives" he said. II purchased his pic
lures at the academy. IL was only a few
days since TINT heard he resided In this
| neghborhood. l shall be pleased to see
him."
His reward for his kindly words was
the sweet mist Of tears that rose to her
eyes. and then the one with the dark,
| handsome face said some fine words to
her. Lord Arundale was impatient while
they were uttered.
IL shall hope to see yen again when l
call upon MIR. Darcy" he said: lit viii
not be long until then"
darcy" said the young man. why,
that ~ the name OF the Melancholy Art
ist.' they call him in town. All his Pic
lures are sad and tragic"
She turned her lovely face, SO full of
light, to him.
THAT is because my mother died and
left him." she said. "He has never laugh
ed since. and 1t is seventeen years since"
81 have heard something OF his story
said Lord Arundale; and that which
have heard makes me like him better"
Then. with a few kindly words. he went
away. trying, al far Az 1t was possible,
| that no word should be exchanged be-
| tween the young people
! He with the dark eyrs, she heard his
name afterward. Sir Hulbert Estmere-
cooked ut her as he went away.
"He Is going" she thought: Il have
| seen him. and now he Is going"
Her face grew white as death and a
shadow came over her eyes. She had
seen him, met him. the hero OF her
| dreams, the king who was to crown her
| life with his love had come, and was
going. Would she ever see him again?
| What had ii been FOR. this swift. sudden
emotion, IL all was to die away at once,
and he was to pass out OF her sight?
When. 6Aally. he vanished under the
| shade OF the green trees IL seemed to her
that her heart ccaseJ beating and life
was standing still. For many minutes
she was incapable OF moving, then she
| rallied herself with Il sigh. How foolish
it was; ID was but u fancy. What could
the face Of stranger be to her that she
should weave all these romances about
III Yet tho ssng OF the little brook had
changed. the lowers had grown fairer,
the birds song had deeper meaning, the
light was brighter. The girl tried 20
rouse herself. spell had fallen over her.
what Is wrong with mel" she said.
II have seen a face. aothns more"
She fingered by the waterside, dream
ing always of the dark, handsome face.
and suddenly a footstep came quickly
over the bracken and ferns. There was
no time to look, the sudden beating of
her heart, the sudden brightness that fell
over her, the sudden music that seemed
10 leap and culver in the air. all told the
same story-he was there-he had come
back again for one word with her. The
dark, handsome face, flushed with exer-
ton, was bending over her. and he spoke
in hurried tones.
"Lord Arundale did not introduce me. "
ne said. she best knows why. Let me
introduce myself: | am Sir Hubert Est
mere: am staying at Arundale Hall.
and a very dull place | find it. grew
quite tired OF 1t until to-day"
She was looking at him with a strange
mixture OF pleasure. wonder and fear.
IL saw that Lord Arundale did not
wish me TO speak to yOu." he said: "he
Is absurdly particular In some things. so
is Lady Arvice. his wife. could not
help returning. l longed for one word
with you"
Her face was covered with a burning
flush; her hands trembled. She would
, fain have made him some Indifferent an.
swer, but the words died away ON her
lips. leaving her mute and dumb.
Have | displeased you by returning p
; h. asked gently. "If so. | will 20 a,
! once"
mo, am not dlspleased." she answer
ed. "Ysu startled me-"
And the lovely eyes seemed to droop
from his with the burden of their own
light and secret, She thought of wha,
he would say or think IL he knew hei