LIZ.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10291, 23 February 1895, Page 3

LIZ.

By MRS BESSIE TEMPLE,

The Talented Author of "No Grem'lui Fubv," " WIIICU WAS THE WH'E," iSc, &C.

(All IligUts Reserved.)

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS OHArTBRS

Cum-tkh 1.-An officot of the 17tli Lancers is dyinK on Die sands of Africa picrneil with ii dvMU Eisfßiues from the imirderous /mus. As ho is about to Rive up his last breath the ilaußlituv of a seLUer, by nam" Liz Cousius. rides up und gives him brandy. Ha revives somewhat, nnd he tells her that he was on tho way with others to rescue the Cousins'* domicile, when they were attacked by the Zulus and slaughtered, lie places a signet l'hiL' ou her linfer, ami just as sovuu /talus rui» up el'.o maUei good her escape, with her heart full of revenge.

Ciiu>TCtt ll.—Lady Desmond, at her house in Mavf'air, is sittinc wiih bur son.Adrian, at «. late lirciikfast. Me is cumplainiiifi that Miss Cousins, who is now a viuidont at; Lady Desmond's Uouso, rides it. the lark unaccompanied by v groom. He tells liow aho rescued an ill-treutod dog from its cruel owner in thi> Row. As they are talking, lAdy Desmond thinking regretfully of her fon, Captain Desmond, slaugiitcivd in Zululand, Juss Cousins enter.'). She regents Aririiin'a interference with her ridiiiß in the Tlnw, z:A jus-t ai she leaves t.lin iiioni i!nii?ii:i«;ly lv.-» P .ii.-o.ucu wuh a woelusiTii.u li.okiut: ti-iiiu-> u:id a, wi-cSobed Utila mou-£ia:-.nivu;.t lie dorr. CHAPTER 111. Before one of tho spiendid mansions in Park Lano, a small crowd of people had collected. It was past 10 o'clock at night, and carriage after carriego drove np in rapid encceEsiou, depositing its passengers, and rolling away into tho darkness. Acros3 the pavement was a bright awning hung with Chinese lanterns, and underneath it a atrip of crimson cloth. On each side of this stood policemen, guarding it from contact with the profane feet of the vulgar. The house ■waa brilliantly lighted, and, its great doors being flung wide open, the curious crowd outside could catch glimpses o£ gay forms passing to and fro inside, hurrying of servants 'in gorgeous liveries, waving palms, bright llowers, and coloured lights. Lady Dacie -was eivirig a ball which waa certain to bo one of the smartest and most fashionable of the season. Lad 7 Ds.cio was enormously rich, and spared no ezpense to make her entertainments as magnificent as possible. She lovad to collect all the most beautiful women, and the most distinguished people in down, in fact to make her balls one of the principal features of the year, and then to see them described as such in all the " society " journals. PerbaDS the people who had besn waiting for the past two hours outside the mansion davioed this, aa the crowd increased in numbers, and seamed much interested and excited, and made audible comments as each fresh arrival dashed up to the door. In fact there was a whisper that Royalty itself would honour Lady Dacie's party that night. And this might account for the interest Shown. A crowd is a curious and interesting phenomenon. It is sometimes wonderful whence it com6s and how it collects. The most trivial incident causes it to appear, and it ia dispersed as easily. Kvery crowd hss its own particular and psculiar feature; thus ths crowd which gathers to watch a part.y has invariably the fame element in it, consisting of the same ciass o£ people. The crowd which gloats over aa accident is composed of another class, and the. crowd that rushes pell-mell to a fire is different from both. The "party" crowd consists chiefly of women—women with babiss, old women with fat umbrellas ?.nd big bonnet 3, young women with pale faces and shabby frocks, shopgirls, or mora probably dressmakers' apprentices, who, having had a hand in making come o£ the gorgeous gowns, want to see the effect produced by their wearers. They clasp hands and whisper enthusiastically as each froah beauty steps daintily out, they gazs with longing eyes and many a suppressed Bigh after the shrouded apparitions. Ooe or two boys are generally among them, twirling baskets as tbay dawdle along on an errand, and occasionally there is a dirty man with a pipe, who endeavours to pick a quarrel with tbe policemen, while several small children fill up the gaps between elbows and legs. The crowd before Lady Dacie's was no exception to tbe general rule. Presently an assuming but well-appointed brougham stopped the way, and from it alighted a handsome elderly lady, in black velvet, and a tall girl, dressed in crimson. A perfect buzz of admiration arose on each side of her as she swept over the crimson cloth, apparently perfectly unconscious of, or indifferent to, the admiration she was esciting. Throngh the doorway the two women passed, while obsequious footmen bowed them np the broad, red-carpeted staircase flanked with flowers. Scarcely had they time to be relieved of their wraps when they were met by a gentleman with a gardenia in a buttonhole, who greeted the girl with— " Our dance, I think." "Is it? lam sure I don't know. I have only just come." "And I have been waiting here for the past 20 minutes"—reproachfully. "Wby did you not come earlier ? I had to dine at the club, as you know, or I would h&7t brought you." " Ob, Lady Desmond went to Mrs Montgomery's 'At Home' first. There she met some old f rienda, and that detained her." " Indeed. I must lecture the mater about making you late for your first ball. You know yon promised to dance number 4, witb me. It was to ratify our peace," he added, in a lower tone. " Did I really make such a rash promise. Captain Desmond 1 " said Liz, smiling, anc showiag all her pretty v?hite teeth. " Well, you won't thank me for keeping it, for I cars'l —please do not despise me too utterly—] can't daces." "What, have you never danced in youi life ? Impossible!" " Ob, yes!" replied the girl with a short laugh. " I danced at my brothers' weddings in ortr big kitchen, on a sanded floor; and yes, I actually daucsd once with an Englishman, I believe, who was in our part of the world shooting big game. We don't cultivata the graces much on a South African farm." " Don't you, by Jove! I should not have thought that to look at you!" " Did you make a remark, Captain Desmond ?" remarked Liz, innocently. " Ob, no; it was enly a sotto voce one But come, shall we try a turn J" "Of course we can try; but lam sure it will bs a failure. Lady Desmond dear, youi son is actually bold enough to attempt s •waltz with me ? " And Liz looked positively animated. Lady Desraoad nodded and smiled, wel! pleased at the good understanding betweet her son and her somewhat wilful protege Her eyes rested with pleasure on the young pair. Among all that smart throng cons could surpass them in comeliness, sb< thought. L'ss had all the cool self possession of a finished London belle though how she had acquired it waa j perfect mystery; and Lady Desmond fel ahe had no reason to be uneasy as to hoy she wonld demean herself, a3 the coupli swung slowly past her over tho polishec floor, and the Bluo Hungarians piayec "Love's Dreamland." There was a sligh uncertainty in Liz's movements, but i strong guiding pressure from Adrian's firn arm soon directed her aright, and, almos before the girl was aware of it, she had fallei into his step perfectly. Dancing, liks manj other things, is inherent in soma people; i was bo with Liz. Firmly knit and vigoroui as blio was, with limbs well used to hart exercise, she yet possessed the pretty figun that made every movement an act of grace It waa delightful to her to dance, am entirely a new experience. It was mon delightful still to Adrian to dance with her for she floated round bo lightly. He glance: at her face, and saw that it was lighted, uj ■with real enjoyment. The hard prond 100 l had completely vanished, her eyes ha( grown soft and humid, and the red lips wen parted in a half smile. "Quite'a poem in scarlet,'" drawled ou a lanky young man with straight yelloi hair, as he lounged by the doorway, " Whi is she ?" "Ob, dent yon know?" said a good lookicc* blonde standing near him. "It i Miss Cousins, the South African heiress, believe she is enormously wealthy, bub ver; eccentric, never goe3 into spciety, spends al her time in riding-a great coal-black hors that Bhs has. Sbe is living with Lady Dcs mond. That is Captain Desmond she i dancing wit.h now." "Blessed good-looking pair," rejoined thi yonng man; "I really mustgetintroducednpon my honour I must. I say Trern "- this to a (MstiDguishect-looking dark msi with a waxed mousstache ; and an opsra hs under bi* arm, who had just joined them- •• fcnow that girl I— the one ia red with tb.

diamonds—no, rabies. There, the or edanoing ■with a tall good-looking cbnp. X so, will you introduos me 5" And Viscount, Fans forgot his usual role o£ listless boredom, and positively became nnimatad. " I have juct told Lord Fane who sho is ; bub he io so enamoured he won't even liston to me," Miss Leslie intorposo3, with n pout. " I have not the pleasure of Hiss Counins s acquaintance," said the dark mac, speaking with a slightly foreign accent, " butl beliova Lady Dcumoncl id an old friend of mino. I am glad to meet her in the gay world once moro. I will go and renew my acquniatuuee with her, and then I shall be delighted to introduce you, Lord Fane." And, with a Blight but ceremonious bow, be loft them. "Aw, do, there's a good follow!" lisped Lord Fane. " Shall we dance, Hiss Leslie I— or would you rather not 1 It io uncommonly hot, you know." "Just ao you please," answered the gin. "It is, as yon say, rath&r warm, and tbe exertion of dancing might disarrange you." "Eh—what?" said his lordship, looluiifr down at hia companion through his single eye-glaaa. " Miss Leslie was one of a large, poor, but very wall-bom family, and to have captured this wealthy young man would indaed have boen a feather in ttia matrimonial cr.p. Sho bad. four yormg siotsrs, all as proud and as ambitious as herself, and all longing for her to get married and leave the field free for them. But, as the girl looked up at the pallid, vacuons face of: her companion, she fait that he would be dear at the price, and, though tbo pill was gilded with waaltb and a title, still it would ba a bitter one to swallow. . „ " I'll tell you more about Mian Cousins, sha went on, seeing that Lord Fane either had not the power or did not intend to rnaie conversation. " Shall we go into the conservatory and talk thero 1"'. Lord Fane, nothing loth, assented, and commenced deliberately to elbow the peoplii out of his way, with little regard for their ribs or their feelings. Miss Leslie fcllownd, half proud and half ashamed of her partner. They seated themselves on a low velvet couch by some tall palms. | "Well, what was I going to say? Miss i Leslie began. " I have really forgotten. Wo came here for Eom« object, I know; but so many fat dowagers have prodded en route, they have taken both my breath and my memory away." Miss Leslie was an audacious yourg lady, and not very particular r.s to her language, finding a dash of piquancy in it very attractive—especially to such jaded scionsof tee aristocracy as t.ha one she cow felt incumbent on hsr to amuse and interest. •■ Aw—yon were going to tell mo about Mira Cousins, the South African belle. Uncommonly handoome girl. Thought they ware black, and wore rings through their noses," murmured his lordship inconeequearly. T •' How absurd you are, Lord Fane I 1 believe her father was an Englishman—quite a common old man, indeed —and her mother may have been Dutch—that I don't, know. Anyhow, she was brought np somewhere at the Cape, and was there during a great part of the war. Her father and two brothers were killed in some nfeirmish, and she was left sola heiress. There was also some romantic story about her discovering Captain Desmond, one of Lady Dssrnond's sons, dying on the battlefield, and it was said he entrusted her with a packet for his mother ; but whether that is true or not I can't say. Anyhow, she got to know Lady Desraond, who, I beli3ve, looks upon her quite as a daughter." " Then how is it, Miss Leslie, that we nave not seen this paragon of the prairie 3 '—no, by Jove, that won'r. do ! The prairies are not in Africa, are they 1 Upon my soul I don't know; but,never mind, jon understand what I mean—how is it we haven't seen her before 1" . "Ob," answered Miss Leslie, vigorously fanning herself till hur Hs-bfc leathery curls waved up aDd down, " I told you she is most eccentric, hates society, and all that sort of thine. For two yearsLidy Dasmoad was no cat ud by the death of her son that she wfint nowhere, but shut herself np with this givl for her Bole companion ; rmd now her other oon has returned from India—tbe man dancing with Miss Cousins. I suppose he makes her drop all that sort of thing, and sho has to go out for his sake." "I know Desmond slightly," said Lord Fans, drawling more than ever, "though I did not recognise him just now. I met him to-night at the Carlton. Good-looking fellow, is he not 1 Knows it too." "The be3t looking man in the room," the girl answered enthusiastically, not sorry to give her partner a quid pro quo for all his tactless admiration of another girl. "I am \ to dance the next dance with him —wouldn't I miss it for anything. Ah, here he is!" — | us Captain Desmond and Liz strolled into the I dim conservatory. "Now is your chance, Lord Fane," she whispered. "I will introduce you ; only wait a bit. They won't thank u3 So: interrupting them till tbe nest waltz bagius." "By Jove, she is a stunner, and no mistake I" exclaimed Lord Fane, adjusting his eye-glass for a long comfortable stare at Liz. I " They don't ssem to be saying much to each j other, though." i "Oh, no. She is quite an uneducated, stupid creature," said Miss Lesiie, viciously, " and no doubt feels quite at a loss among all these people. For my part, I can't understand why Lady Desmond took her up, unless ahe means her sen to marry her." " Aw, I have heard Desmond is awfully bard up; plays high too. How much has she 1" " Ob, I don't know, I am sure—heaps, I believe 1 But who would care to marry a halfbred girl like her? Beally, Lord Fane, I am tired of the subject; I think you aro tiresome and stupid to-night. I wish you would talk of something else. "Aw "—after a long pause—" have an ice, Miss Leslie 1" " What an inspiration ! Ye3,l will. Bat do not be long in getting it, or I abail run away, and your chance of an introduction will be gone." Lord Fane, inwardly anathematising hia partner, rose languidly to his feet, and began the elbowing process again. " Confound the girl 1 " he ejaculated to himself. " They won't let me alone I What a bore these dancers are 1" Meanwhile Liz and Adrian were resting themselves, Bitting near a fountain. Waterj lilies floated in the marble basia, eacli white j petal studded with cryatal drops. The plauh oi water sounded musically; it was cool and pleasant; masses of creeping ferns trailed over the marble floors, and clumps of thsm were grouped about, among which nestled inaumsrable fairy lamps of all colours. i Great tree-ferns and gigantic palms shut in | snug little bowers where seats for two were j placed, while the choicest exotics perfumed j the air. Altogether it was fairyland o£ i Eastern beauty transported to Park Lane. And up in the heavens sailed the great white moon, the little clouds scudding away from her as if thay wera racing one another. Only the big trees in the park were visible Srom ! where Liz and her companion aat, and they, I touched by the radiance of the silvery light, I and seen through the fronds of the tall [ tropical plants bending over the two young j people, looksd mystic and weird. It would I have been easy to fancy oneself thousando of mile 3 away from London, in some foreign and or magical beauty, away from the Babylon of splendour and squalor, wealth and misery, hurry and scurry, money making and spending, fogs and mud, and the thousand horrors and pleasure? that make it at ones so hateful and so fascinating a city. "You are iilwaya disparag-ing yourself, ! You dunce divinely, Miss Cousins," said j Adrian as he took her great fan of red i feathers with garnet-mounted sticks, and j began deliberately to fan her. i "It is very kind of you to say so. I enI joyed it like anything. I was quite surprhed at myself when I found I was going all light." I " You are so cool, too," he said admiringly, looking at the soft cheek, which waa only slightly flushed. " I declare you have never [ turned' a hair. What good condition you | must bs in 1" ! " Well, you see, I ride so much ; and then | I have always been ussd to take a great deal of exercise." " Is it permissible to admire your dress ? V/lJy did you choose that colour 1 " "Ob, I fancied red would suit me, and I am fond of it. I am glad, you like it. At first your mother feared it would be too showy; but she liked it when Elsie sent it home. I have all my life beaa so surrounded by bright colours, I don't like neutral shades." " Like it 1 Why. it is perfect! But there is no ono but yourself who would dare to wsar it." "Indeed; why not?" " Becansa," replied Adrian, bending nearer ! to look into tba girl's eyes, "it is like yourgelf—bsant.i£ol but unrisual, rich and rare— in fact, quite unique." " Pray don't, Captain Desmond."

"Why not? Surely you irmtvt know how surpassingly beautiful you ara." " I assiiro you I liavo uaver given it a thought; it i<J a waiter oE the most supreme indiiiffrmico to ma." " Do you mean to tell rao that you do not know of and rejoice iv your own baaut.y ?"_ "1 mean to I ell you," ansv?tred the girl, looking fearlessly and straight into bis eyes, " that 1 neither know nor care. I consider the woman who ia vain of her looka—for which ulie is no more respoiLsiblo than a flower ia for ita hue—in a most contemptible creature. You Bee, I havi) not 'bean brought tip with other plrls. I did not know that it was more meritorious to bo handsomn than to be rply nor have I ever dreamed of comparing myself with others. You os.n believe it or not, as you please, but the subject isnot one which I have ever considered." •• Bat nurely you huve remarked how the people stare a* you?" permuted Captain Besmond. "Why, there is not a woman in the room who ia not envinun of you,—not a man who is not dying to ba introduced to "Oh," 3aid the girl, loaning back in her chair as i£ waaiied of tho subject, " I have noticed people in England state at nel I Eupposs it is because I am so dark. How lovely this conservatory is ! Are all parties as gay and as beaatiful as this 1 " But where on earth have you got the idea of dressing so perfectly ?" Captain Desmond continued, not haedinvr her last remark, for the girl was an anomaly, and ha wanted to eot to the bottom of her meaning. He fancied she must be taking him in; he had never met. anyone in the least like her. "Ah that is easily explained!" answereu Liz "In my country—l always call it mine, because/till now, I have never known another—as a child I used to watch the little humming birds aa they darted in and out of the great white flowers; their feathers were ecarlot, and their breasts Beamed to b» covered with rod jewels and I used to thick that if I were a great lady I would have a dres* as much like a bumminK bird's as I could K et one. The other day it occurred to roe, and I suggested it to Madame Elise, who eagerly seized upon the idea and has, I thick, carried it out very well. She embroidered the body or, as she calls it corsage with garnets, and wade the skirt of tulle Sucl feathers. I don'n know, of course, but I think if people studiod nature more they would dress batter. I love birds and flowers and dumb animals." , , _ . . " And how about people 7" asked Captain Desmond. The girl's fnca clouded over. j "Ah, I don't care for: people; they don t interest me; I can't set rai with them ITo

girls of my own age I have nothing to say— their lives seem so different, co apart; and as to the men, wbeu they don't bore they irritate mo It is all my own fault, I know; lam so uneducated, and they talk either on sublets I hare not, heard o£, or else about snch stupid things that it does not saem worth while to answer."

" Do you know. Miss Consins, yoa interest me immensely?" said Adrian. "What a. bora it in we oan'fc sit here all the evening! Eut I must dance some duty dances, and I have monopolized yon too long already. You must give me some wates later on—won t you 2" " Certainly," she replied

" But, before I leave yon, tell me thafc you have forgiven ma for my rather unwarrantable interference the other day abont your riding," he said, hesitatingly, gazieg earnestly at her the while, " and, as a mark of your forgiveness, let me occasionally be your cavalier in future."

Liz's face flushed a vivid crimson.

" Can yon forgive me," she said in a low voico, " lor my ill-teinpet 1 I was horribly ashamed of myself a moment afterwards); I always am, but I can't help it at the time. Ob, Captain Desmond, hava you ever felt what it' is to be dominated by a powor so c-trocp- that you cannot reiist it ? Something rises "up within me when I r-m angry acd neatly choke?, me. I doa't know what you will think when I tell you that when people cppose me I could kill them. My temper is my curse." So baleful a look came into her pale black eyes that Captain Diamond fairly waa staggered. "Little Tartar," ha thought. The next instant he caught hor hand and pressed ifc warmly. "Wei!, well," he said, with that snuny "smile, the charm of which few could I resist, "it is nil over now, is it not ? Let ns shake hand 3in sign of mutual forgiveness. Why, what a huge ring you wear!' Liz drew her hand quickly away, and at the same moment Miss Leslie and Lord Fane came up to them.

" Lord Fane is dyiDg to bn introduced ,o Miss Cousins ■ will you please introduce him at once—that is, if Miss Cousins is agreeable 1" said Miss Leslie.

Liz gave a slight indifferent nod, and the ceremony was gone through. "I assure you, Captain Desmond," continued the lively girl, " Lord Fane has beea so occupied in watching Miss Consms that not a word have I becrn able to get out of him. You know how brilliant he usually is. Well, to-night he positively has not said one smart or witty thing." And Mw» Leslie

■wont off. into n. pe.-.l of. lanpliter at her own joke, for Lord' Fane's dulness was proverbial. " Aw, Miss Loslie Is laughing at me; she always doen I Miss Comdap, ara you unpaged lor this dance ? And, if noc, may I have the pleasure 7" "Thank you, I don't infcond to dance any mora—afc least "—correcting herself—" not at present." . " Aw, how can you he so cruel / Aca I have been locking forward to it all tho evenLiz raised hor brows, but made no imply. Meanwfailo Miss Leslie had walked Adrian oft, whisperinp as she did ho : " I really believe aha te not going to dance with him. Fancy roEnoirg a nance "with the best match of tho scanon ! Docs she know who it is she is treating iv so off-hand a manner 1" " 1 don't fancy Miss Cousins either knows, or wonld oare if shs did know," answered Captain Desmond. "Sho in not at all a ni>jetieafch century young lady." " Which means that I am. Ah, if I were a quarter as rich as Misn Cousins I should nor, c3.rs frithovi Bat what is ono to do ■when one wants overyth'mg and has nothing 1 1 think Lord Fane the preaiost duffer 1 ever came across, and hideous into the I bargain; but, if he were to propose to | me, I should jump at him, and so wonld any girl uitnated an I am. I should like to see my mother's faca if I refused a'rioal live viscount." " Marry for love," tho girl went on with animation, " of oourse everyone would like to marry for love. Ib must bo far nicer to marry someone you can ba proud of in every waT "—with a half-wistful glunca up at the proud handsome face—a glance that, was quite thrown away upon Adrian, who was thinking of Liz, and what a etrange girl she was, and how odd it was that she should be so indifferent to admiration. Poor Miss Leslio secmad fated that evening to find partners regardless of her attractions. "Come, Miss Leslie," said Captain Deamond, making a valiant effort to " do the agreeable," after they had taken a few turns round the room, " you know every one her;;, and I have only recently com® home—tell me who every one is." " Well, let'me see; that gorgeous-looking woman in blue, smothered in diamonds, is the celebrated Mrs Franks." "Don't admire her; and who is Mrs Franks 2" "Not. know Mrs Franks! Oh, Captain Desmond, I fear yon are a fearful Goth 1" " Pray enlighten me, then." " Oh, you meat know all about her 1 I thought every ons did. Her himband was a millionaire, and she—well she—" And Miis

Laslio hesitated, not feeling bo sore of her ground as usual, doubtful as to whether Capkin Dramond was quite the man to tell spicy

stories to. " Pray go on," said Adrian, slightly borea. " Well," continued Miss Leslie desperately, " she ran away from him—no one knows ! what for, as (the must bays had everything j sue wanted on earth and seraothiue:.besides. Perhaps that's why she did it; anyhow she wont abroad with Captain B'orfcescac, of the Guarda—1 Beauty Fortescue' they call him— he was always running away with some married woman or other, you know. HowevOT, it did not last long this time, they soon parted; and about four years afterwards Mr Franks, who had got a divorce, met her at aome foreign hotel, where I've heard ehe was either a barmaid or something of that sort; ! anyhow p,he got round him again, and he remarried her. :I "And where is Mr Franks?" asked Adrian. " Oh, he died shortly after, and left her everything ! Ara't some women lucky ? " "Very lucky indeed," said Desmond, drily. | " Eat you have yet to hear the best part of the story," continued the girl, warming with hor subject. " Sho waa very quiet for a long time after it happened, and managed to gs'o back into society again, somehow or other. You know, money will do anything;. And now. they say she is dying to marry Captain Fortei-cue —awfully in love with him; but he won't look at her, though she rnn3 aJter him everywhere, »ud — Yes; well, I declare, there is Beauty Fortescue— loot, to your left —leaning against that pillar —what a situation I—though I suppose they aro pretty well used to meeting by this time. Lady Dacie can't know about it. But there, she would do anything to get remarkable people to hor partiar.!"

" Without; being very particular an to their morals, it seems," inwardly commented Captain Desmond. He glanced at the lady whom they had been discnssiEg. Sho was a showy-looking woman of. ever 30, very dccoletee, with flashing eyes and red chocks, just the style of woman he detested; bnt, When he saw the wistful glace aha flashed towards "Beauty Fortescue"—a glance in which there wore muto reproach, yearning sorrow, and love—he felt sorry for her, more especially as " Beauty Fortescue " was gazing ■with dreamy eyes into the face of a ycungtir and fairer woman, who was responding to his ardent gaze with shy soft glancas. " Poor thing—poor thing; 3be in paying tho penalty! Who can say that, every pleasure hasn't its price?" thought Adrian, "Such is life!" And tho words recurred to bim—

Tint tho ljiUerc.it sorrow or pain Of lovi) unrciiuitiidi or cold iJeuUi's woe, Is HWiob compared with that hour when we ' know That oomo great passion is on tho wane.

" Captain Deumond, you are silent. What is it ?"

" I wan thinking of the story yon have jaat told me."

"Bat don't you think Beauty Fortescne perfectly lovely 1 Of course he is horribly wicked, and all that 1 " " 1 don't nee any beauty in him, Miss Lei-lie " —pulling irritably at his long moustache as he answered. " That i 3 the sort of fellow I can't look at withont longlog to kick. A professional beauty amonj? men to another man is always a contemptible object, 1 think. And that women can be caught by such stuff in—exoufio me saying so—b very great pity. Now look at that man talking to Lady Dacie, with the ordar. He is positively wgly; but hin face is so clever, and so rugged, to my mind it is a thousand times more attractive than your gay Lothario's."

" Oh, do you admire him really ? That is a Stale Minister; and the man on his right, with a face lika a boar, ia the Russian ainb&sf.ador; that fair, delicatu lady near to Mm is his wife. They say she knowa all the State secret*, and advises him in all political mutters. Shouldn't wonder if she is secretly a Nihilist. Oh, hern is Misa Coneics again 1 How awfully brjred sho is looking I " —as Liz passed them, with a far-off exprtsaion on her face, and barely touching Lord Fane's arms •with the tips or her fingers.

Wveryono mada way for them, and Adrian could not help observing what, a flutter and aensation Liz caused — how every aye followed the strangely beautlfnl girl. She crossed over to where Lady Desmond was sitting with a knot of ladies, and sank into a ohair by her side, calmly dismissing Lord Fane with the slightest of nods, and that gentleman let his eyeglass drop from his eye in hia bla.uk surprise.

"She freezes one up so—she dos?, upon my soul," he told a friend afterwards.

Lizmiffht have scoredas completeatriumph that eight as the sonl of woman could desire. She might have made and retained her reputation as the most beautifnl woman in London from that hoar; but sh« simply did not choose. The crowd of men that gathered round her were bo many nonentities, not worth noticing, and she treated them accordingly. They noon dropped away in disgust at her want of appreciation and interest. And Liz was thankful for it. She was a strange girl, subject to daik moods, reserved and collected to an extraordinary degree, except when h«r temper was roused, and thou she wonld show glimpses of a

nature so passionate, bo fiery, aa to terrify anyone who provoked it. Society was distasteful to her altogether. She despised ail the smart, fashionable people she mat m it; their talk might have bsen carried on in a stranga tongue for all the impression it conveyed—it was simply a Babel of sounds, and the people were dressed-up puppets, without life or sen3o

(To he continued.)