CHAPTER LXII.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 195, 19 March 1887, Page 7

CHAPTER LXII.

QUEEN OF BEAUTY AND OF THE BALL. "There was a world of anguish in Kenneth's eyes, as so unexpectedly he faced this woman, whom he devoutly and undyingly loved, and saw her in tenfold beauty and charm, with her child— Leigh's child— in her embrace. Tears welled up from his tortured heart, which beat as if it would burst its bounds, as he looked at all ho had most desired, and so wholly lost. Violet had not seen Kenneth since before her flight ; a whole year ' before. She had sedulously striven to forget him. She had been absorbed in naater1 nal love, and hoped, believed, that for Ken- ' neth love had sobered into calmest friendship. ' But when she saw him in his noble, manly "beauty, that look of deep admiration, and of renouncing agony, in his face, a dagger seemed to pierce her heart, and she grew pallid as a wreath of snow. But the baby Rupert had a decided and nngallant preference for his own sex. With - a babe's instinct he saw that Lord Keith < was worthy of his infants, confidence, co he leaped and crowed in his mother's arm?, and held out both both his pearly and - dimpled hands to the tall, fair Saxon in the doorway. Then little Violet Leigh was true to her growing womanhood, and relieved the situation of its painfulness. She went straight to Kenneth, and holding out her child, said : "My boy likes you, Lord Keith. Will you be his friend ?" "Always • For ever !" exclaimed Keith, and the words seemed to him as the sacramental oath. The love that must be rigorously withdrawn froni the mother might be safely lavifhed on the child. He took Rupert in bis clasp, kissed his lovely little face, and with him in his arms greeted his mother and explained hie sudden coming. He would only remain to lunch, and return to the castle immediately after. Talk of the improvements of schools, of cottage?, was cafe talk, and Violet joined in it heartily. " I want to learn all the duties of a truly wi?e landlord," she said, " to teach them to my boy. " lDdeed, all Violet's thoughts centred in her child -he was her proseut and her future. After lunch, Kenneth and his mother went to the library to discus some alterations at Lady Burton's dower house, and -Edna took Violet and the babe to hor own rooms. The babe was an endless theme of talk Ho must show all his cunning tricks, and his doating mamma must exhibit the dimples in hi 3 pink knees, and take off his tiny shoes and socks, to chow the most • lovely little feet that ever were seen. Then Edna must adviae as to the style of portrait of the boy alone, that should be painted, and Violet wished a life sized statue of him, to be made for her own room and ho a- should that be taken ? "So it uill euggeat being dead, you • know, for Edna, I would eurely die if I lost him. He is my all." Finally the boy capered himself weary, fell asleep, and the two lovely young women laid him in a little soft nest on the -sofa, and together bent to admire hie slum- ' bere. Then Violet stole her arm round her friend's neck, " DearePt Edna, we see each other seldom, but I know you love me well, and I love you. It is pnch a comfort to mo to think of ■you, and plan for your joy. Oh, Edna, I 1 hope the day will come when you will be as happy a mother as I am, and a far happier wife. Ido not, I could not, speak so to everyone — to anyone but you, bat to you ■I must. You know all. But the boy is such a comfort to me !" " Dearest Violet, is it no better ? Are .you not happior now, with him? I hoped it would be so." "I think ho canuot help it," said Violet, meekly, "he cannot love mo— ho tiies not to be very cro?a. But he is nervous, and troubled, and something ia on his mind, and I know he is far from well. Ho is so fond of the boy. I shall be able now to keep my courage up, and endure, for the boy's sake. ' Oh, Edna, I came so near giving way today, when Kenneth came in. I hope — I 1 hope it did not eeom strange." "You both behaved nobiy," said Edna, 'folding hor in hor arms, and then Violet \rept a little, nestled on her friend's shoulder. Presently rlio lifted her pretty head. " This will never do. My boy's mother must behave herself sagoly. Comfort me, Edna, by telling me of yourself. Ido not wish to intrude on your sacrets, but tell me, dear, are you engaged to the Marquis of -Alwold." Edna flushed and dropped her lovely eyes. She might have declined to speak of this, , "but in her sympathy for this stricken, ' struggling heart, she desired to lead Violet's •thoughts from herself. She said : " We are not engaged yet, dear." " Tell me all about it," said Violet, drawing her to a seat beside her. "I know he ■ adores you, and you love him, Edna, I see it in your happy eyes. Oh, my dear, my ' dear, let no one come between you, let no one make you distrust him, oh, have faith, , patient faith in tho man you love." Edna, with Violet's hand in here, told her little story. She did not hint of the timo when she had received her father's advice r for a year of waiting. She said : " 1 thought we should wait a year, to give him time to think over his choice. He is one of tho first poers of the realm ; and I the little daughter of a Cornwall •yicarage, with five hundred a year from a city uncle." "But, Edna. You are so sweet and lovely, you are a fit mate for any king l" • cried Violet, ardently. " I did not wish to marry a man who was simply dazzled by my looks," eaid Edna, 'laughingly, " for looks change, and beauty 1 fades like the flower of the grass." " But Alwold, I am sure, will not - change." " We were to see each other seldom, or ' never, during this year," smiled Edna ; " but wo did meet the other night at the duke's ball, and, I think, Violet, from his • eyes, he had not changed then." " Surely he has not. And, Edna, when you finally say yes— for you will, as he will ■ ask you when the year is up—-do not bo cruel and make him wait long ; life is short, • and there are bo many changes, we should be good, and loving, and happy while we may. You will not stay away from places » where he may be, 'Edna?" •'Oh certainly not,"

" For he will be at my ball, and I should be 80 unhappy if you would not come ; do please, Edna." " 1 will. I promise you," said Edna.. "And you will go with me sometimes when I take baby to ride in the park ? And come to me on quiet evenings 1 I must go out some, for Norman's sake, but not too much on account of my little darling." The next morning when Violet met Lord Leigh at breakfast, she told him of the happy visit she had had the day before. " And did you make my peace with that offended goddess, Miss Ambrose Haviland ?" said Leigh. 11 Oh, Norman, I quite forgot ; but it is no matter. You are mistaken ; she is not angry with you ; she thinks Rupert perfectly lovely, and she is coming to our ball." " And will, I suppose, favour us with her wedding cards ?" "Not this season." "Isn't she engaged to Alwold ?" demanded Leigh. " Oh, no. She told him he must wait a year for her answer— at least a year to make up his mind- and if he aeks again, then she will answer." " Oh, a whole year ! That is a cool affair. When will the year be up ? Take another bit of chicken, my dear." " Oh, thanks !" said Violet, flushed at the unusual kindness, as they breakfasted alone. "The year will not bo up til August." "That time will pass quickly," said Leigh, with indifference. Thon came the night of Violet's ball, and Edna was there in tenfold beauty, in a dress of palest naiad-green, embroidered with seed pearls. Admitted queen of beauty, he saw her floating through a waltz in the arms of the Marquis of Alwold. But the indifference was merely outward ; his heart was on fire with jealous fury. Oh, to be able to stop that marriage! Oh, to be able to palsy on Alwold's lipa that marriage offer ! Oh, to keep the girl he loved and could not possess at least unwed ! He could not, he would not, see her married to another ! He felt that if her weddingday daw ned he could not live to sco its setting sun. Ho 8a *v Edna at assemblies ; he took Violet to the opera repeatedly because Edna would be in the opposite box ; he touched her hand in the dance ; he rode beside her carriage in the park, and hour by hour his repressed frenzy grew, until it was veritable madness.