Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-01-14


utmost magnificence, and looked with
something like envy at the fresh, deli
cate face OF Lady Selwyn. Her grace
was always envlous Of new beauties.
The younger they were the less she
liked them TO Beatrice Leighs SUI
perb beauty she was accustomed,
therefore Indifferent; the spirituelle,
graceful loveliness OF Lady Selwyn
annoyed her.
She responded most graciously to
the introduction.
You are younger than | expected,
she said to Lady Violante. When |
was younger ! took the lead amongst
blonde beauttes--a place you will occu.
by now, | suppose. There are few
blonde bellies nowadays"
"It is a place should not care to
ocupy," said Lady Violante, with a
smile.
/ "Ah indeed" said her grace; sim
| pie habits, and all that kind of thing,
suppose; sorry cannot sympathige
with you ! like what is called life
She shrugged the bare, lean should
ers, and looked AT Miss Leigh for ap.
prOval
Then they passed on with the crowd
and Lady Violante's heart beat fast
On all sides they heard murmured
remarks of admiration. A face like
hers-brlght fresh, and fair as a May
morning. pure and sweet as an angels
lis not often seen.
Once she heard more than was in
tended for her, II am told" said a
lady, whose name she did not know,
that Lady Selwyn IL here to-day: that
the Duchess of Roxminster is 10 pre-.
sent her
There she stands" replied her
friend; by the pillar there. next to the
duchess"
What! the one with the light hair,
who looks so tired already"
NO" was the reply; that magnii.
cent woman with the dark hair the
one with the rubies and diamonds Is
Lady Sewyn saw Lord Selwyn with
her at the opera once--beiore they
were married"
II thought the fair one with the gold.
on locks hardly suited TO him" was
the reply; and the Speakers passed on,
little thinking every word had been
audible to Lady Selwyn.
II was an absurd mistake. OF course,
Int 1t hurt her. Why should she not
suit Lord selwyn?-why should they
make sure that Miss Leigh was his
wife?
Had she not been child, sensitive
and loving, she would have laughed;
as II was, the tears filed her eyes.
Lady Selwyn," said the duchess
what are YOU doing to your face? Is
IT possible there are tears in your eyes
real tears? Good Heavens! what
can you be thinking of? Surely you
can never dream Of going into her most
gracious maiesty's presence with rcd
cyelds such thing never happened
AZ Court beforel"
The tragedy of her voice brought
smiles to the trembling lips,
"lf there are tears in my eyes, she
said splritadly, they must be of utter
WEAKNESS. never dreamed of such
q crowd and such n struggle as this, "
Probably not" said her grace com
| plaCcntly There has never been n
sovereign SO much loved as our queen.
No one misses the opportunity of sec
irg her who eau possibly help II"
But those few words fingered In
Lady Niolanto's mind All the gay
! pageant wax nothing to her, Why did
those stransers think Beatrice more
suitable to ord Vivian than herself?
She did not hear the murmurs ~
admiration that greeted her She
! stood In the midst OF that crowd like Il
white lily with the sun shining uron
II, forgetting her share altogether.
Now. Lady Selwyn," said the sharp.
clear voice of the duchess, at is our
turn.
She was suddenly aroused from her
train of thought and felt confused
and embarrassed An her old fears
returned the train, the entrance into
. tho royal presence. the kissing of the
royal hand; how should she possibly
get through it,
"Beatrice.' she whispered to Miss
Leigh, who was smiling meGciously ~
her evident confusion; "Reatrice. dc
YOU think shall make any mistake"
L must have boon hari heart TIM,
could resist that lovely nlneGins face
Beatrice Leigh was hard coaav thar
a stone. A mistake that would have
covered Lady Selwyn with rid'culC
would have delighted her,
Most probably YOU will she re
piled caralesslS Strangers q ri.
kind of thinG often do
And those harsh words hrouss,
look Of pain 60 the young taee
that, after all Lady Niulante Selvvr
entered the royal presence confused
embarrassed and hcwildere1.
The best remark one could make q
the subject of hor presentation was
that II was not succcss In afte