Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-08-06
CHAPTER XVII

CHAPTER XVII.
A week before the theatricals the Prin
cess Zeilkotf, Lady Dora's old-tim'
friend, arrived az the Court. Lad,
Dora was charmed to have her frient
with her again.
Coming every day 10 rehearse with
Lady Dora, Winifred saw, with the ter
rlble instinct OF Jealousy, that the pale
beautiful. languid French woman loved
the master OF Hazell Court. She watch
ed them narrowly. not seeming to see
them, aud yet painfully conscious Of ev
cry word that passed between them. She
fancled. and perhaps Il was not only fan
cy, that the old tenderness Mr.. Hastings
bad shown for her was creeping into his
manner 10 the Princess ZeilkOm. He was
always at her side now--when she rode
when she sang or when she sat apart
from the rest Of the company. Sometimes
Winifred, stung with jealousy, would try
the power OF her old faseInations upon
him. She spoke to him In the low, soft
voice he would have given half he pos
sessed 10 hear In the time that was past
she looked with pleading eyes Into his
face and sang the songs he loved, and
yet she could not keep him by her side.
| The agitation and excitement OF the
last few days before the Court ball were
almost too much for Winifred. She had
no sleep at night, she could scarcely be
induced TO touch food, and Mrs. Cham
pion really felt little anxious at seeing
her 80 hollow.eyed.
Every one was charmed with the enter
| tainment. II had not been too long The
tableaus were lovely and as for the play,
Gross Purposes" II was charming. Not
very much plot In It. perhaps, but so won
derfully acted. IL was so rare to see
gentlemen and ladies play thoroughly
well; and they had all been so handsome,
| 20 graceful.
Miss Champion and Lady Laura may
have suffered some pangs Of Jealousy at
the admiration Miss Eyre excited, but
the Princess Zelikoif was In a torment OF
jealous pain. She, the unsusceptible, the
pale. impossible Diana, as she had been
called. was at last In love. and with Mr..
Hastings. She did not know II he cared
for her: nay. when she saw his passion
| ate look at Winifred at the end OF the
| play, terrible fear seized her that his
affections were eentered ON the graceful
English girl She must love him, too;
the most finished actress could not have
thrown such expression into her eyes
had not some deep emotion been working
In her heart.
Two weeks later the marriage Of Flora
Champion to Mr.. Maxwell took place.
II was a grand and stately affair, yet 1t
was a relief to every one when the break
fast was over and the bridal pair had
started on their journey. AS she drove
of In the barouche, drawn by four mag
nlAcent bay horses, Flora Maxwell look
Ell like & queen. Perhaps she felt like
one as she bowed right and left to the
crowd of country people who stood on
either side of the Manor gates to see her
pass,
Mr.. Hastings and Winifred danced to-
gether at the ball In the evening; but
there was an unpleasant kind of stiffness
and reserve between them. She fancied
he wished to avoid herr he thought the
same Of her. and danced more than usual
with the Princess Zelikof.
How glad shall be to get away from
this! poor Winifred said to herself, with
exceeding bitterness. II think l should
die IL were forced to stop and see him
love another woman. Perhaps when
am back at Endon Vale l shall forget
him."
She was delighted when the day came
for her to leave Hurst Manor. Her only
regret was In parting with her grand
father, who had been very kind to her,
and to whom she had really become at
tached.
Lady Grace was expecting a party of
guests at Endon Vale, anavnvited Lady
Ada Fordyce to accompany Winifred
home, as Lady Valanton and her eldest
daughter were going to visit in the north,
All the household were glad to have
her among them again; and as for Sir
Clayton, he had such long arrears OF
copying and references for her to make
up, that Lady Grace was obliged to in
terfere and rescue her from her musty
labor.
Lord Harold, who was at the house
again, complained bitterly Of her frequent
and prolonged absence; but after a time
he grew more tolerant, and seemed to find
some consolation In the company of Lady
Ada Fordyce He was still very much
in love with Winifred, but he began now
to reflect sagely that 1t was folly for him
to be pining and signing after her IL she
had really made up her mind that she
would not marry him.
Some one gave out the intelligence at
dinner at EndOn Vale that Mr.. Hastings
had gone on a yachting expedition, and
that Lady Dora and the Russian princess
accompanied him. Mrs. Clayton looked
from underneath her lashes at Winifred
and noted the sudden sickly whiteness
which came into her face, "Ah! how
wish could help her! she thought, pitt
fully. "a real friend might often be able
to save a girl years of unhappiness and
regret. II she would only tell mev'
Lady Grace had devoted pretty, bay
windowed sitting room to Mrs. Clayton's
use, and there she and Winifred often
sat for hours together undisturbed. They
were very fond Of each other, very SYM
pathetic and caressing, yet neither men,
toned the subject that was nearest her
heart. :.
At last Mrs. Clayton resolved to dissi-
pate the reserve. She knew that to gain
confidence you must be prepared to give
1t, and strengthened herself to the task.
They were sitting together as usual,
one each side of the window, sometimes
speaking, oftener silent. The day had
been sultry, and the windows were
thrown wide open to let in the little air
that was stirring. Mrs. Clayton had been
watching her for some time. At last she
spoke:
"My dear Winifred, you will go on