The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-11-26
CHAPTER XVII.
"HoW [ Envy Her.

hursday-Thursday evening, And
what a miserable day it had been
what a thoroughly wretched evening
it was! The invigorating snap Of cold
weather had been succeeded by thaw
"a clumsy, slippery, dispirited thaw,
accompanied by heavy rains.
All day had the guests of Blackcas'
tie wandered about the great old house
from the music room to the billiard
room, from the library to the picture
galIery--in vague search of amuse-
ment
And, in truth, it was no trial to be
prisoner in Blackcastle; for, take it all
in all, one could never feel wholly
lonely surrounded by such miracles Of
art. such luxuries of wealth, such sug-
gestions of exquisite refinement which
this proud home boasted.
Most Of the day Cynthia Lennox
had spent by the bedside of the
strange gues- fate had flung at their
agtes. She found peculiar and most
inexplicable fascination in the fever
ish face which lay upon the snowy
pillow.
A dozen times she went away-a
dozen times she came back. Where
had she seen that face before? 1t held
for her a sbadowy, intangible men,
| DRY. Where, nowhere, how? she
asked herself vainly, over and over.
The chill yellowish daylight was
shuddering to twilight, when my lady
came softly into the room and up to
where Cynthia stood by the sick girls
bedside.
What are you thinking Of, dear?-
you look so solemn" she whispered,
putting her arm around her wards
waist.
swered, with slow motion Of her
swered, with a slow motto nof her
head toward the quiet figure before
them. 81" thoughtfully, was won
dering who she is-what her name is;
wondering, tee, K there is any one who
misses her now-any one who loves
her"
at is a face that would win love
royalty" my lady answered. Her
face is her fortune!"
For the first time In several hours
she was resting calmly. Just now the
subdued light from shaded lamp,
burning near her, penetrated the rich
q trtains, and showed her as she lay
model for sculptor. One arm, from
which the loose white sleeve had fallen
away, was flung above her head, and
against the blue silken draperies OF
the bed 1t cleaned, fair and rounded,
and faultlessly nodded. One hand lay
quite motionless on the lace coverlet-
slender, snowy hand. the hand OF an
aristocrat to the finger tips.
The upturned face was beautiful In
its softened, slumberous repose-a
childish face, with full, bright curls
clustering round the pure brow, with
its finely penciled black brows and
long, jetty lashes; with its fever
flushed cheeks and curved. scarlet lips.
And even as they looked, she moved
and spoke.
"Clive!" she whispered, and smiled
-"Clive!"
~ lOOh VI pam CiOSoCu my .AoNy .
face She turned quickly away.
al sometimes wonder why we ever
brought her here, Cynthia, instead OF
sending her to the county hospital"
'Ah." with gentle. reproachful
laugh, that was not you that spoke!"
They called a maid to attend the pa
tient. and went together down stairs.
At the foot my lady paused. and drew
out her watch.
Cynthia turned away and walked
rapidly down the hall.
"Fiye! Mr.. Bowers will be here by
six. ! suppose he wants to see me
about those Australian stocks. can
imagine no other errand which would
bring him without q summons.
The servants were lighting the
bronco edestaled lamps throughout
the long hail. and by their luster Miss
Lennox caught q glimpse of her
friends face. How white. and trou-
bled. and anxious II loked! What
could Like fash she remembered