The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-12-03
and i,s clear. warm flush fell full on


ern loneliness, had quite vanished,
leaving her pale with pallor.
81 will call again in the morning"
DR.. Adams said "You had better re-
tire early and take good rest, Miss
Lennox. | am afraid you young peo-
! pie exert yourselves too much In the
/ pursuit OF pleasure. Too much fun Is
as Injurious as too much work. Well,
we'll, Blackeastle Is very gay just now
very gayl wish you good even
| ing!"
She bowed YEARLY as he went by
| her and then rousing herself with an
apparent effort went on to her own
room.
Very gay! The house seemed like
vault--she could hardly breathe. Very
gay-good heavens!
She sent word down stairs that she
had bad headache and was unable to
appear at dinner, but that she would
come down to the drawing room later.
A servant brought her up dainty
meal. She drank some strong tea fe-
verishly, and sent the rest away un-
tasted.
In the intervals, when the door OF
the dining room below was left ajar.
there floated up to her cheerful. con-
fused medley of sounds-the pleasant
Jingle of silver, the hum OF converse.
ton, the popping Of champagne corks
and now and then ripple of light
laughter.
She crouched in a low chair before
the fire. and looked around and around
her luxurious room with dazed, bewil'
dered eyes, that saw nothing OF its
studied elegance.
An apartment worthy OF princess
OF the blood royal, hers-all draped in
ruby and gold and repeated indefinite
ly to the view by its mirrored walls.
Hark! A rustic OF silk. a louder muir
muir OF languid notes.-the ladies were
leaving the dining room.
She arose suddenly and walked
across the room to pier glass. She
lifted both hands and pushed the
heavy hair off her temples as II its
weight oppressed her. She spoke to
the reflection in the mirror In whis-
per, as she might have spoken to a
stranger.
"He is dead, Cynthia! That is the
end! 1t Is all over now-all Overland
he is past ungentle reproach-past loss
of birthright and loss of love-past all
save peace!"
She went to the wardrobe and Sc
lected a dress. Then she rang the bel
for her maid, and began her toilet with
nervous fingers. And sll the time she
kept whispering to herself, In rapid,
breathless fashion:
81 read OF a woman once who drank
deadly poison-a poison which did
not, however. produce fatal results for
several hours after drinking IL. She
had taken It deliberately and wilfully.
with complete comprehension of its
nature and effect. And when she had
taken ii she dressed and went TO ball
and danced all night. and was the gay
est and most beautiful and most ad-
mired lady there. And ell the time the
insidious poison was working in her
veins. And toward morning, just
when she was at the summit of her
triumph-when her step was lightest
and her laugh was sweetest, her cheek
paled and her step faltered, and the
blood at her heart turned to ice, and
she grew stark and--Oh!" with sud
den sharp shudder. "am I like her?
Yes. yes, I, too, shall go down and
mingle with the rest, and laugh and
talk, and all the time this awful poison
will be seetking In my soul"
Her maid Game into the room, and
with deft, familiar fingers, wove her
hair into massive braids, and bound Il
In blue-black coronet. But she cried
out in horror as she saw the dress her
mistress had chosen TO wear.
"Ah, not that, mademoiselle-it is
not mademoisclle's color--not that"
Needless of the girls dismay. Gym.
thia slipped it on and turned toward
the door.
II was black gown of soft merino,
/ fitting her superb figure as a glove
/ should fit ones hand. 1t was made
with severe and most admirable sim
plicity and trailed behind on the rich
carpet in extremely long and rich folds.
The corsage, cut square and softened
with masses Of fine lace, showed the
round and strongly modelled throat in
! exquisite relief
''Wear something else, mam'selle,"
1 the maid cried, piteous supplicant in
the cause of artistic adornment-"a
few flowers, jewel or So to break the
monotony--"
Miss Lennox turned suddenly. and
going to her jewel case took theref-om
q set of flashing, brilliant rubies. which
had been Gives gift to her the day
she graduated. and which OF late. in
delicate consideration OF my lady's
feelings. she had not worn.
Hastily she thrust the cleaning
pendants In her ears. fastened the
glowing gems about her throat. clasp
ed the heavy bracelets upon her arms.
THAT is perfect" Elise cried. in an
ecstasy of admiration. And then Gym
thia Lennox had swept out of her own
apartments into the hall and down the
grand stairway.
Something In the light, the glare,
the brilliance, seemed to blind her for
a moment as she came into the great
drawing :oom--a sombre, magnificent,