CHAPTER XVI—Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11340, 5 October 1898, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XVl—Continued.

OR THE STRUGGLE FOB A BIRTHRIGHT. » 'By Mrs Allxandee McVeigh Millbe, Author of ft The Senator's Bride," "A Dreadful Temptation," " The Bride of the Tomb," <Be.

JS|§upf ECIL caught the gentle look, <jpP|% and a pang pireced his heart. |I<hl|§» He remembered how ranch |?S|i?e£r Sir Wilfred always admired ' IrPi*W *ne s^y» un*n*°red mountain "^sSl girl, and predicted that she y^ would grow into a peerless beauty. • " 4 And she has,' Cecil thought to himself, while that sudden jealous pang quivered in his heart. • She has the most soulful face % ever beheld, and her form is statue-like in its rare grace and perfection. Sir Wilfred has found her, and he has won her heart. This lovely creature—tbe only woman I ever loved —will be his wife.' ' Lady Leigh,' he said with outward calmnes?,' you must tell me how fc-ir Wilfred found her, will you not 7' I am all impatient to know, lam quite sure it ia a romantic story.' ' Yes, it is,' said her ladyship. * I will tell it to you some time, but I can- j not now, for 1 see the earl coming to I us, and I must present Hilda to him.' Tbe earl looked at the ' beautiful, j graceful visitor in surprise arid admira- { tion. He started when^ he heard her name, 4 Surely it is not the Hilda Aylesford who was supposed to be dead,' he cried j looking earnestly at her. llt is the same,' said her ladyship, •ojoying his surprise and • admiration. flt was a mistaken notion about her death/ The earl took tbe girl's hand in his, and pressed it fervently. 4 Miss Aylesford, lam very glad to j know yon,' he said, in his most cordial ] manner. ' I have heard such brave, things of you that I have longed to know you They have told me of j your brave and daring deeds, but they j did not tell me that your person was as lovely as your soul." IMy lord, you flatter me,' Hilda said, drooping her spirited face, now glowing with painful blushes* ' Forgive me, little one,' laughed tbe earl, rather pleased than otherwise at her graceful modesty. ' I did not know you were so shy. But here comes your cousin, who will rejoice to meet you again, I am very sure/ j ~ The door had opened, admitting Lady j Florence, who had, as usual, lingered later at her toilet than any one else Her maid had told her of the arrival of the expected guests, aud her dress was even more oostly azure satin trailed its sweeping lengths after her upon the velvet carpet, and glittering diamonds loade \ her neck, arms and bosom. She swept into she room, throwing a curious glance around her for the girl whom she bad instinctively Jeared and dreaded as a rival, but she only caught a glimpse of a white dress, for Sir Wilfred and bis sister came forward to speak to her, and intercepted her view of the newcomer, The earl looked on anxiously as tbe group fell away from his granddaughter,

permitting her an unobstructed view of Hilda. He francied that Florence would be filled with joy at the meeting I with the noble young girl with whom j she had been reared as a sister. Hilda rose and made a ' few paces forward as her cousin tnrned toward her. Florence * moved toward her haughtily and jproudly at first, and then ! suddenly stopped still at a nearer view of the face. She had not quite recognized Hilda, but there was still enough familiarity in her face to appall the beautiful im- 1 postor. in that moment's indecision every one in the room noticed the striking difference between the two young girls. Florence's blonde beauty was set off to the greatest advantage by her rich and becoming attire and the jewels that gleamed upon her white neck and arms, but the pricv) of rank and the innate arrogance of a little mind lent an air of offensive haughtiness to her style and manner. No greater contrast to her could be imagined than Hilda in her bright, sweet, unadorned beauty and snowy dress, together with her unconscious stateliness, that made the haughty Florence look vulgar, inferior, and overdressed . It was 8 perfect triumph of nature over art. 1 Florence, have yon forgotten me V I asked Hilda, in her clear, sweet voice. ; A frjghtened cry arose from Florence's lips. Her cheeks, so lately flushed with pride, grew decidedly white. She retreated as Hilda advanced. She looked like one .terrified by a nameless fear. 4 Florence, wy love,' said the earlj hastily, ' it is your cousiu, Hilda Aylesford. She was not dead, as you supposed. Go and speak to her, and bid her welcome to your ancestral home.' Florence heaid the words, but her self-possession seemed to have deserted her. She looked at Hilda, who stood' calmly regarding her agitation, and gasped out almost pleadingly : ' Oh ! Hilda, why are you here V ' I came at Lady Leigh's solicitation,' the young girl answered, cresting her head with a stag- like movement of offended pride. 4 She fancied that you might be glad to see me, but I perceive that I am an intruder.' ' Every one was disappointed. They had expected that the two girls would meet with every appearance of affection. But no one conld doubt that Florence was frightened and sorry at the re-ap-pearance of the girl with whom she bad been reared as a sister, and Hilda's spirited words gave little promise of amity. The earl went forward , and shook Florence's arm gently. *My dear,' he said, almost sternly, f in your fright and surprise yon forgetting everything. Bid you friend welcome.' Florence lifted her head and saw that her grandfather was regarding her with displeasure, and CecU Oourtenaye and the guests were surprised at her emotion. She realized instantly that her ondnct would draw 1 suspicion upon her. Anxious Ito retrieve the bad impression she had created, she made an impulsive rush forward and clasped her arms around Hilda's neck, while she exclaimed in affectionate tones : 'Hilda, mv dai ling, you must forgive my apparent coldness^ 1 did not mean it. It was only that I was frightened and shocked by your sudden appearance when I believed you were "dead. Oh ! how glad your fa 1 her will be to find yon living I Hilda suffered 1 * her cousin to draw her smooth cheek down and kiss it with apparent tenderness, while she answered, in the quietest tone in the world : 1 Yes, Florence, I can well fancy how glad be will be.' Florence, vaguely fancying a veiled sarcasm in the words, looked at her furtively, but the dark eyes met bers ! with calm serenity and innoceuce, and the suspicious blonde fancied^ she must have been mistaken. 4 Hilda, I am very impatient to know what became of you that night when you wandered away in yonr fever,' she said, sweetly. ' You must tell me aii about it to-morrow. To-night the , happiness of seeing you again h quite I sufficient,' _