LOST BY A KISS

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1901, Page 6

LOST BY A KISS

(By VIRGINIA VAUGHN.)

CHAPTER I. PI/AYING WITH FIRE.

**- '1 hate girls who set themselves up j'or being better than everybody else, that's what I do; I don't, believe Ju them; -still water ruus deep,' and there's aiways plenty of nxud at the bottom."'

And as she gave expression to these sentiments in her usual emphatic way, •Ch-j-Otte Carrington flung- down her hat aud threw herself into a chair in a manner that was noisy, though decidedly not graceful.

"What ha. put you out now, Charlie?" asked her companion, a laay, sleepy-eyed girl, who looked up from the piece of silk she was embroidering* with a smiling*, self-satisfied expression, which clearly showed she was well used to these small outbursts cf -ten-por. "You are not speaking of me, are 3~oniV" with :in indolent yawn.

"You!'* retorted Charlotte, with ineffable contempt; "nobody can accuse you of "being good or of pretending to be so, and as for my making a fuss over being kissed, I believe you'd only smile and yawn if a whole regiment of dragoons came up and saluted you."

"1 don't know, dear; it depends npon whether the men were good-looking or not," replied Isola, in the same languid tone; "you know I am an admirer of masculine beauty. That is why .1 rather envy you your last conquest."

"Well, I'm glad somebody envies me: I wouldn't give a fig for a man whom other girls didn't want to get from me; but for all that Egbert is a bit of a milksop, and, what is worse, he is so awfully particular* that I believe that if he caught me telling a fib or practising a little bit of harmless deception, he would pull himself up, look severely at me, and take himself off without further ado."

"Then, if I wished to keep him, I should be careful not to give him cause for taking himself off, if I were you," remarked Isola. "I should think he is not a man to be lightly trifled with." "It's all very fine to talk as you do," retorted Charlotte, with a toss of the head, "bu I'm not going to act like a nun because I happen to be engaged —so don't think it. Egbert will have to take me as I am, for better or for worse; and I don't suppose he is himself a piece of perfection." * "Probably not," remarked Isola, dryly; "but you seem to have wandered from your subject. What girl is it with whom you are so indignant for being better than yourself?" "For pretending to be better, you might say/ said Charlotte sharply; "for I don't believe that Violet Vestair is at heart more modest than you or I. It's only make believe. She thinks it makes her look singular, and that men admire her for her retiring modesty." "Really, Charlie, you are in a very queer mood to-day," remarked Isola, opening wide her dark, sleepy looking eyes. "I never heard Violet Vestair set up for being better than any of her friends, and I don't feel particularly wicked myself. What has happened to put you out like this?" "Nothing. At least, nothing particular," was the reluctant reply; "only when I was at a party at the Grey's the other night, we were crying forfeits, and Egbert should have kissed Violet, but she made such a fuss that he actually didn't dare to do it." "Ah! he didn't dare to take a kiss," laughed Isola. "What did she say to daunt him?" "It wasn't what she said so much as the manner in which she said it," replied Charlotte angrily. "It was something about no gentleman kissing a lady against her will, and that she objected to being kissed." "Then of course he desisted?" . "Yes; and he bowed to her as though she had been a princess; and what was onore, he didn't take part in the game a_iy more." "Still, I don't see why you should be vexed,," said Isola. "Don't you?" was the impatient reply; "I do. Egbert never bowed to me with the same deference that he showed to Violet Vestair." "At any rate he bowed to you to much greater purpose," laughed Isola. .'What does it matter how a man bows to you or to any girl, provided he asks you to be his wife, and you mean to marry him?" . "You may take her part- as much as you like—l hate her," said Charlotte Carrington impatiently; "and if ever I have a chance of paying her out for all her petty airs and graces and little impertinences, you may be sure I will." ."I wouldn't make rash vows, if I were you, Charlie; and above all I wouldn't utter them aloud," responded Isola with a meaning glance, as her quick ear caught the faint rustle of a dress outside the room door. Her companion frowned, though an expression of caution came over her face; but this was succeeded by an artificial smile as a decidedly middleaged lady walked into th? room, and with a slow, languid step came towards the girls. "Were you two quarrelling?" asked Miss Priscilla Arden, as she sank into a low easy-chair. "Oh, dear no; Isola and I never quarrel," said Charlotte lightly; "she is too idle, and I am too amiable," with a laugh. "But how well you are looking to-day, auntie; you have a charming colour on your cheeks. I declare you are becoming quite juvenile." "Nonsense, my dear," was the deprecatory answer; "my young days are quite gone by. But I do feel a trifle better to-day than usual, and—have I really a colour?" "You have indeed, and your eyes are quite bright; you will look perfectly bewitching to-night. What dress do you mean to wear?" "I was thinking that I would not go to the Grantham's," replied Miss Arden. "The weather is so cold, and I had a twinge of neuralgia this morning, and there will be really nobody there whom I should care to meet." "0 auntie! you must go; there is to be a real live hero among the guests, a General Gorst, who made himself fam-

ous in India some years ag-o, and who married a Begum or something of. the kind; but she is dead, and Why. what is the mutter?"

The question was not an unnatural one, for Miss Priscilla Arden had quietly fain ted.

For a second or two the girls looked at each other in amazement. Then Charlotte broke inu> a low, mocking laugh as she said:

■'One of aunt's many romances, you may be. sure."'

But Isola made no reply

She was throwing cold water on the unconscious lady's face, rubbing her hands and doing all in her power lo revive her.

But though ir was [sola who did all this, it was Charlotte who stepped forward as Miss Arden opened her eyes and who asked tenderly:

-How do you feel, dear. I am afraid the room is too warm. Drink this water. Now you will be better. It is very unusual for you to faint like this."

"Yes, it is unusual. My head swims. Isola, you might fetch me a glass of wine. I feel frozen aud shivery. And, Lottie, close that window: I don't want to catch my death of cold."

The two girls hastened to do the lady's bidding.

One of them did so from sheer kindness and indolent good nature; the other from self-interest.

For Miss Arden was not only Charlotte Carring-ton's aunt, but she was reputed to be rich and whimsical, and though it was probable that she would make the girl her heiress, she was perfectly free to do as she liked in the matter.

The glass of wine and, perhaps, a little resolution on her own part, had the effect of restoring Miss Arden to a condition of composure, but she was thoughtful and abstracted, and nothing that either of the girls could say had the effect of making her take any interest in the subjects that usually most occupied her mind. Indeed, it was not until the daylight, had faded, the winter's night set in, and it was nearly time to dress for dinner and for the evening party to which they were invited, if they meant to go, that Miss Arden nervously yielded to the persuasions of the two girls and agreed to take them. "You must not feel disappointed if I am uneqi7al to remaining very long," she said, as she reluctantly consented to go. "I don't feel well or strong tonight. I must send for my lawyer in the morning."

The observation that she must send for her lawyer was so often made by Miss Arden that the two girls involuntarily smiled, their private conviction being that the lady had never made a will and never would make one unless startled by some unexpected occurrence into doing so.

There was no sign of weakness about the mistress of the Cedars when, a couple of hours later, she and the two girls who resided with her stood together in the drawing-room waiting for the carriage to be announced.

Miss Arden herself might have been fifty, but Bh_ looked little more than forty as she stood under the blaze of the ball-room lights.

She wore a dress of crimson velvet, with fine old lace at the sleeves and neck, while a few rare diamonds were her only ornament.

Charlotte Carrington was in the habit of calling her aunt old-maidish and fidgety, but there was nothing old-maidish about Miss Priscilla this evening, and Isola Langford, who had a quick eye for beauty and for artistic effect, exclaimed involuntarily:

"Eeally cousin, you look quite handsome and matronly."

The lady smiled, then an expression of pain came over her fine face, and she tried to chase it away by saying:

"A stranger might take me for the mother, and you girls for my daughters, you think."

"Nobody would ever take Charlie and me for sisters," said Isola, with a half-admiring, half envious glance at Charlotte.

"No, we are not much alike," responded Charlotte, turning to a glass in which she could admire her own large, fair style of beauty.

Eor Charlotte Carrington was exceedingly handsome, though few people called her beautiful.

She was a queenly-looking woman, tali and large of limb, though splendidly proportioned, with hair the colour of dark-red gold, somewhat prominent blue eyes, a large, proudlycurved nose, but with a mouth that was large, though the lips were thin, and that would have looked sensual and cruel if the beauiful white teeth, of which she was so vain, were not pretty constantly kept in sight. As for Isola, she was petite in figure, with small features, and large, indolent, sleepy-looking eyes, which sometimes made people think her stupid.

But Isola's beauty—if beauty she had —depended upon expression and vivacity. If once she became excited and interested, and bright colour came into her cheeks, and light or passion into her eyes, then she reminded you of some tropical bird with brilliant plumage, for Miss Isola invariably wore bright colours.

■ A servant had been to say the carriage was at the door, and the ladies were just putting on their fur-lined coats, when a maidservant came into the room, and with some hesitation said:

"Miss Isola, Jack Radclif_e is downstairs, and he says may he apeak to you for a minute?"

Isola-'s face flushed slightly, and Miss Arden noticed it, as did also the servant, and therefore neither of them thought of looking at Charlotte, who had hastily turned away, and seemed to be intent upon rearranging the folds of her dress.

"Yes, I will see him," said the girl, hurriedly. "You don't mind waiting a minute, do you, Miss Arden?"

"No; let the young man come up here," said that lady, briefly.

Then the servant withdrew, muttering to herself:;

"That's not what he wanter, I know.'

A few minutes afterward, however, she returned, ushering in a young man whose face was familiar to each of the ladles. .

Miss Arden looked at him with interest, in which admiration, and some vague emotion which she could not define or analyse, took part. Isola smiled, and tried to be condescending in her tone and manner, and she succeeded just as well as a small toyterrier would succeed in patronising an uncommonly fine retriever. It was Charlotte, however, who seemed, ov tried to seem, unconscious of his presence, and it was upon her that his eyes were more than once fixed, when he thought himself unobserved. His glance was longing and pleading, but she paid no heed to it: sinwas intently examining the braeelel un her arm, and arranging the (lowers upon her bosom, and she had no eves for the man who so evidently ad-

mired her

,H_ hinxself was as fine a specimen of manly beauty as any woman might ever wish to look upon.

Above the medium height, with limbs that showed immense strength. a., well as tine proportions, he looked like a young Hercules, with the face and head of an Apollo.

Indeed, .lack Radcliffe was an object of admiration to many a well-born dame, as well as to numerous young women tn his own rank of life.

lie was not unaware of his personal advantages, but he was more modest than many a man of plainer appearance would have been: and if he had set his heart upon one much above him in position, he could if lie liked, plead the excuse that he had not done so without encouragement. But while I have been speaking of him he has been standing, hat in hand, in the drawing-room of the Cedars, and Isola is looking at him iv wonder and no slight curiosity.

"If you please, Miss Langford," he said, as he came inside the drawingroom, "when you were kind enough to come and see mother last week, you said you wanted to get some flowers to wear at a party to-night, and she spoke to Lord Be.vor's gardener, and I've brought you some. 1 hope I'm not too late."

"Flowers!" said Miss Arden, speaking before Isola could reply, .and looking with admiration, not 'inmixed with pain, at the young man's proud and handsome countenance; "howkind and thoughtful of you, Radcliffe; we have such difficulty in getting flowers in the winter for any special occasion, unless we send to London for them; my gardener never has anything in a condition to cut when we want flowers to wear."

"Not at all, ma'am; Miss Langford'= very kind in coming to read to my poor old mother, and we'd both of us be glad to do anything for her, or for you either, ma'am." And he bowed with a natural ease and grace that made Miss Arden sigh and smile, as Isola said:

"Thank you, Jack; yon have come just in time; we shall all be glad of some real flowers to brighten us up. Are they in that box?" "Yes, miss"; and Jack opened the cardboard box in question and took from ifthre half-wreaths of rosesred and white and yellow—each of them mounted ready for wear by some skilful hand, while a single flower, with a bud and spray of leaves to match, accompanied each w-Teath. "How lovely!" cried Isola. "And what good taste you have shown, Jack, and how well the flowers will suit us all. Miss Arden shall have the white flowers, Charlie the red ones, and I will wear the yellow roses. Thank your mother for the trouble she has taken for me. I shall come to see her to-morrow." "Yes, miss." But still he lingered, his eyes feasting upon Charlotte Carrington's fair beauty, looking with longing eyes for a smile from her. So persistent was his gaze that fear or good nature—it might have been hard to say which—induced her to turn her large blue.eyes upon him, and say with a smile: "The flowers are really beautiful, and ,this red rose, how sweetly it smells." And she bent her fair face to the flower, and, to the eyes of the infatuated young man, seemed to kiss it. This satisfied him. Isola's thanks and Miss Arden's gracious words fell upon comparatively deaf ears when he had swallowed this intoxicating draught Of self-delusion, and he went away, while the ladies entered the carriage that had been waiting for them. . "I think that Jack Radcliffe has the handsomest face I ever saw," remarked Miss Arden as.she and,the two girls were driven toward the mansion of the Granthams. "I cannot for the moment think of whom it is he reminds me." "Nobody in this neighbourhood, I am sure," replied Isola. "No," was the [thoughtful repljy; "and yet his face seems as familiar to me as my own." "And really, cousin," cried Isola, impulsively, "it isn't unlike your own. I don't mean," she added with a laugh, "that his face and yours are alike in feature, but they are in expression; and what is very odd is that ne has a small mark on the left temple just like yours." "How very closely you must have examined the young man's temples," here interposed Charlotte with a sneer. "I have never observed the mark myself, and the one on auntie's face isn't bigger than a fly's wing." "It's big enough to be seen by people who have eyes," retorted Isola, with more temper than she was in the habit of showing. Charlotte replied sharply, taunting Isola with being in love with theyouhg man, remarking what a pity it was he was not a gentleman, so that she might marry him. And thus neither of the girls noticed the pained and startled expression that came over Miss Arden's face when Isola made the statement with referj ence to the birth-mark. "Is it possible?" she half moaiied. "No, it is not possible," she went on more resolutely; "he died when—when the light of my life was extinguished." Then she leaned back among the cushions, and did not speak again till the carriage pulled up at the entrance j to Grantham Hall;

(To be continued daily.)