Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-03-18
CHAPTER XII.

her own dress, pretty as IL was, was
only sateen. She had not been con-
scious of it before, but she felt il now
in the presence of this exquisitely-
dressed woman. In very truth, Lady
Lerore was well-dressed; it was not
only that her costumes came from
Ladfern's or Worth's, and her millinery
from Louise, but Lenore had acquired
the art of wearing the productions OF
these artistes. When looking at her,
one was forcibly reminded Of the
Freuchman's saying, that the wori1
was divided into two classes-the PEG
pie who were clothed and the people
who wore their clothes. Lady Lenore
belonged to those who wear their
clothes; the beautiful dress sat upon
her as if she had been made to it, IN.
stead of it to her; not piece of lace,
not a single article of jewelry, but
sat in its place gracefully and artist
cally.
Tonight she wore dress composed
of some soft and readily draping mater
liaI. neither cashmere Lor satin--some
one of the new materials which have
come over from the far east, and OF
which we scarcely yet know the names.
lit was of the most delicate shade OF
greylsh-blue, which was brought out
and accumulated by the single camel
LA resting amidst the soft lace on
her bosom The arms were bare from
the elbows, exquisitely, warmly white
and beautifully formed; one heavy
bracelet, set with huge Indian pearls,
lined the wrist; there were similar
, huge pearls in the rings on her fingers,
!, and in the pendant which hung by a
seed-pearl necklace.
Imagine a beautiful, and almost
faultlessly- beautiful face, rising from
the delicate harmony of color-imagine
a pair of dark eyes, now blue, now VIC
= let. as she stood in repose or smiled,
!, and fringed by long, silken lashes-
and you may imagine the bare mater
ial outward beauty of Lenore Beau
: champ, but no words can describe
: what really was the charm of the face,
: its wonderful power of expression, Its
"A eloquent mobility. which, even when
. drew you to watching and waiting for
. them to speak.
Stella, though she had scarcely
, heard those lips utter a word, knew
. what her uncle meant when he said
that there was a peculiar fascination
= about her which went beyond her
. mere beauty; and, as she looked, j
strange feeling crossed Stella's mind.
She remembered an old story which
she had heard years ago. when she
, was sitting on the lap Of her Italian
nurse-the story of the strange and
: beautiful Indian serpent which sits BE-
meath tie tree, and fixing its eyes
upon the bird overhead, draws and
charms it with its spell. until the
:, bird drops senseless and helpless to
: its fate.
Bue even as she thought Of this she
" was ashamed o: the idea, for Their --
nothing serpent-like in IGNORES
beauty; only this Stella thought, thai
Z if ever those eyes and lips smiled
and murmured to a man Il love you, -
that man must drop, resistance would
be vain and useless.
> All this takes long to write; ii
flashed across Stella's mind in a
d moment, even as they looked at each
, other in silence then at last Lady
Lenore spoke.
Have you been gathering prim
< roses to-day?" she said, with smile
1t was a strange way of beginning
u an acquaintance, and Stella felt the
color mount to her face; the words
recalled the whole of the scene OF
yesterday morning, The speaker in
tended that they should.
NO. she said, mot today"
d miss Etheridge gathered enough
yesterday for a week, did you not?'
said Lord LEICESTER and the voice
" sounded to Stella like an assistance
She half glanced at him gratefully
and met his eyes fixed on her with a
strange light in them that caused
1t hers to drop again.
Il must find this wonderful flower
2. land" said Lady Lenore. Lillian was
quite eloquent about it last night"
d I'VE shall be happy to act as
pioneers in the discovery" he said
O. and Stella could not help noticing the
RI we" Did he mean she and he?
y At that moment Lady Wyndward
=, came toward them, and murmured
S. something TO him, and ne left them
II and offered his arm to a lady at the
e other end of the room; then Lady
e Wyndward waved her fan slightly and
n smiled, and a tail. thin, fair-haired
b. man came up.
l. Lord Charles, will you take charge
of Miss Etheridge?"
It Lord Guldford bowed and offered
Q his arm.
u Il shall be delighted" he said, and
Is he smiled down at Stella in his frank
d way.
There was a general movement
Ie ladies and gentlemen were pairing OFF
IL and moving toward the door, BESIDE
y which stood the two footmen, with
d the solemn air of soldiers attending
e an execution.
n Seven minutes late" said Lord
Charles elanCing nj the clock as thev