CHAPTER XX.—Continued.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13240, 11 August 1906, Page 6

CHAPTER XX.— Continued.

While speaking; sac extended . " her luuid, v.iute as snow, scented "with the perfumes, not of Arabia, J>ut,of a famous druggist, and on which sparkled two exquisite rings. .' /Though Danae adored jewellery, she had not that vulgar taste which converts a hand into a simple show-place for a superabundance of gems. The colonel could but advance and raise the soft, slender fingers to his lips with an appropriate* speech. Danae scarcely heard, her gaze had 1 travelled beyond him to auother personage, who was conversing; with Lester Ra'e> but with his eyes upon her. She had / started, very sli-gilly, but the colonel had been awaare of it.. "That man again I" she thought. The gentleman who had accompanied Colonel Forteseue was even more striking than handsome ; in a i'ooni lull of men. he most certainly would have first attracted notice. His complexion was a clear cream white, perfectly colourless, giving a marked character to" the well-cut features, but chiefly to the dark^brewn moustache, eyebrows delicately lined, and close-cut hair ; his figure was above middle heig«ht, well formed, with an erectness which gave an . air of coldness, of pride, to all his movements, which were slow even to being methodical. He was exquisitely tailored, / wellgloved and boated ; one large d!iamond stud sparkled on his shirt-front A his cuffs were similarly secured. His costume, indeed, was severe, and, apparently, a part of the wearer's nature. Only one feature possessed activity, warmth, life— the -eyes ; large, dark, an inner fire seenied to gleam through them ; they held one as under a spell. It was fire and ice.. "Who is your frjend ?" a sked Danae, dropping her voice. "Gordon Vanston,Y answered the colonel, "-the modern Croesus at whoso touch all turns to gold ; the great financier." "Indeed I Ig- is possiMeJ?" "It is true," ths dfEcer, 'his g-aze on her face. "'YJou h-avo seen him before ?" "Yes," she laughed, dropi#ng> back in her chair, "last- night atf the opera ; he honoured me with particular attention through his lorgnette/ "He was much struck with you," smiled the officer, "and, naturally, desired to bring you as near as possible. Only just now he was hoping 1 for an introuuetion, little imagining he was so soon to' have that pleasura. May I bring him?" "Certainly." A moment after, Gordon Vanston was also bowing over that white hand, and Danae's heart was, fluttering slightly beneath the laces, of her dress. After a brief space, the party separated. Lester Eac had em appointment'he inufctt keep, so they all desceuded to the street together, where awaited Danae's hired brougham, and a splendid phaeton, drawn by a pair of equally- splendid bays, whose cost must have run into four figures,, and attended by well-trained attendants in jqjtamt, but rich,, liveries. Danae's ■ eyes devoured them ; then, entering her brougham, which suddenly looked very small and mean, sank back with a stifled sigh. "Oh ! these financiers," she thought; "they say Gordon Vanston's wealth is almost fabulous, that he has a rssidenoe which is a palace In every civilized capital in Europe. I wonder if he is married." Gordon V'anston, as the two left Tfcae, looked after that little brougham before he turned his horses' heads in an opposite direction to which it was •goftng. What his thoughts were, he kept to himself. 'Colonel Fortescue also glanced after it. • • . "I wonder— l wonlder/' he mused, '■'if I can save Rae, after all? iWiho knows ?" Meanwhile, Lester Ra«, summoning the more v commonplace, but delightful, hansom, drove to liis appointment at a handsome house in Picadil'ly. The footman who replied to his knock said his master was not at home ; he was expected every minute. Would he wait ? After a moment's consideration, Rae answered i»i/ the affirmative, and was shown into the library, whera ho was examd'nin'g a few gems in painting, - which hung between the high oak-carved boalc2ases, one '-a, ' Moissonier. , when the. Joor abruptly' opened, ' and a lady, mtercd. Rae - turned. " TV>r ' a r second 'they lonfrontod oach other, gazing ; then swiftly the. lady came forward, both lands extended, her countenance animated, her eyes f sparkling with joy. "It is yovi— you' — at last ! ' I have ound you !" she cried. While Rae, «rJad — very 'glaidt— bxit 'vcrwhelmed by the intensity of his lurprise, cjacailai ed but one word as ie .stepped quickly to meet her : "Alma !"