CHAPTER XVII. (Continued.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1216, 23 January 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER XVII. (Continued.)

pronounced Denham House to be the finest mansion in London. It had certainly the largest conservatory and the most extensive grounds. The night of the fete the May moon was shining brightly — so brightlyas to form a beauty in itself no art could imitate ; the yellow lamps, half hidden in the trees although they were like-golden stars, had no such light as the lady-moon— a crescent moon rising in t\ blue night-sky. Ah ! what is it to be wealthy ; to be able to surround one's self with all that there is of the most beautiful, the most exquisite ; to be able to make a fairy-land even more lovely than that which the fairies make for themselves.

To have the power of carrying out every beautiful idea that comes to an artistic mind. Lady Denham was able to do this. Lady Denham or her guests were able to walk from the great drawing-room, where the hangings were of white- and-gold ;• through the smaller room, where the hangings, were of palest blue, and where two of Claude Lorraine's finest landscapes hung; through a third room, where was every luxury that art or money could procure ; through the magnificent ball-room, with its painted ceiling, its fine statues, and grand decorations ; through the great domed conservatory, where flowers of the richest color gava forth the most fragrant perfume ; through the cool green fernery, ■whore the light was dim, and the constant sound of water dripping from the rooks was heard ; through to the green lawn, where tall, noble trees lent their shade, and pretty fountains threw their silvery spray high into the air — a perfect fairy-land. It had all the charm and beauty of a town residence, combined with many of the advantages of the country. The place above all others for a masquerade. One could imagine a golden-haixed Undine among the rock- work, the cool ferns, and the tiny silvery fountains of the fernery. One could fancy Juliet, Eosamond, and Viola in the conservatory, flitting daintly among the bright blossoms, just as one might fancy royal women sweeping through that superb suite of rooms. The roll of carriages was like the distant vibration of thunder, on the night of the fete. Vast crowds had assembled, hoping to catch even one glimpse of the brilliant figures that - emerged from them. The house was like a paradise of flowers and lights. The brilliant rooms were not crowded, but they were well filled with guests. Never was scene more beautiful, more' dazzling. Mary of Scotland, in her coif and veil, with a silvery rosary shining in ' her blaok velvet dress; the royal Elisabeth, in cloth of gold, and a jewelled crown ; Eatherine of Valois, fair of face and stately of mein ; Eatherine of Medicis, magnificent and imperious ; Joan of Aro, tall and fair ; Marguerite, with a wealth of golden hair ; Cleopatra, with the imperial robes of an empress. On they swept, that imperial procession of women. Every epoch in history, every figure most remarkable in art, in fiotion, in poetry, was there. Undine, looking as though she had just risen from the fountain; Beatrix Cenci, Amy Eofasart, fti Vernon— a brilliant, yet, in some respects, a motley crowd. . Italian peasants, Jtalian brigands, French chevaliers, Spanish grandees, gipsies, Swiss mountaineers. Some of the gentlemen wore the richest and most picturesque of dresses. There was Richard Cceur de Lion ; the Slack Prince ; at least four Charles's. One of the most striking figures in the room was that of a Knight Templar in the picturesque attire of his order. All wore masks, and no mask was to be removed until supper-time. The disguises were good and well sustained. Lady Westlake,, who represented a Water-Lily, talked for twenty minutes with Oswald Clyde, the poet,- without recognizing him, although he was dressed as a Troubadour, and she talked afterward about the Tronbadour she had met at the ball, and she declared that the one

longing of her life was to meet him again. Lady. Heathers went as Flora Mao Donald, and was one of the most animated figures in the scene. Troubadours; fairies, gipsies, all in one. mad whirl.

The Enight Templar was conspicuous among the men, and a masked figure called the Snow Queen was conspicuous among the women, tall and dazzlingly white. A slender figure, which was the perfection of girlish grace— a perfect Snow Queen. Her dress was of white velvet. The snow was represented by the finest and whitest of the swan's down, the icicles by diamonds ; the rounded white arms bare to the shoulders, the graceful neck clasped by a necklace of what looked like froßted diamonds — so white, co virginal, so dazzlingly beautiful, so radiantly fair, tbat the Snow Qaeen was pronounced on ail Bides the greatest success. Another very beautiful figure was called Dawn. This was also a tall, graceful figure, dreafed in pale rose-oolored tulle, in which were finest flecks of gold ; diamonds' formed io as to present a croro of stars graced a beautiful, queenly head. Dawn was closely masked, and wore her disguise welL The Snow Queen wm Lady Castlemaine. Dawn mi Isabel Hyde. Lord Cartlemaine wore tiMpietaxwqae dr*H of ft Venetian noblefUHk

'i'uu ouij pcrt>ou vdio bteujea to rtoogmze Lady Castlemaine was Lady Heathers.

" I should know you," she whispered, " where others would fail ; you are taller than most of the ladies present, and I should know you anywhere by the carriage of your head. I shall not betray you," she added, " though I am going to take advantage of the masks and speak my mind to several people tonight." " That will not be an unusual luxury for you," was the laughing reply. "Jt will be in the fashion. I shall do it tonight," she answered. "-I think the chief beauty of a masquerade is that for once one may say just what one likes."

No one seemed to recognize Lady Castlemaine. As the hours paesed*the scene grew more brilliant; the lights- seemed to grow brighter. The scenes were Ike fairy-land; an artist who could have sketched some of those groups, would have made his fortune by the beauty of his paintings. There was one group that drew much attention ; Undine in her white dress and white water lilies contrasting with Mary Stuart, in her rich veive^drees ; the Venetian noble in his superb costume of crimson velvet and point lace.

They were only together for a few minutes, but no picture could have been more beautiful as the dancers danced together, as the different groups formed and reformed, it seemed as though all the different colors of the rainbow met, and broke ap, and broke away into a thousand gleaming lights and shades ; where the radiant Snow Queen stood, or danced, or sat, she seemed to make the light brighter. The Enight Templar walked about restlessly ; he had not yet penetrated the secrets of the different disguises. His attention had been drawn for some time to the Snow Queen ; he half-imagined that it must be Lady Castle-, maine — she was tall, and had such a" peculiarly 'proud carriage of her head. He smiled as he thought to himself that it was hardly wonderful that he should not know her when her face was hidden, for all the time he had passed with her had been spent in watching the perfection of that face. If it were Lady ..Castlemaine, he resolved upon beguiling her into a long conversation with him. He would persuade her to go into the conservatory, where the flowers breathed such rich perfume, er into the cool, green fernery, where the moonlight was brighter than the faint glow of the lamps, and he would see if the future held any hope for him.

He seemed to have come to his senses with a sudden shook. It was characteristic of him that the first great, real love of his life should be for the wrong person. He never thought of checking or controlling his love beoause Lady Gastlemaioe was married. Marriage, the sanctity of -married life, the holiness of the marriage tie had never formed the slightest barrier between him and his desire. He hardly gave it a thought. It was the first time in his life that he had fallen deeply, passionately in love, all his other pursuits had been fancies— the foolish pursuit of pretty faces ; this was a very different matter. The pride and the coldness of Lady Castlemaine only deepened bis love. If she would have flirted with him, have encournged him, have given him smilea in return for his profuse compliments, all would have been well, but she was " a goddess in the clouds." She liked talking to him, she considered him a great hero 7 she enjoyed his stories and his anecdotes, she thought him one of the most distinguished of men, but she never deigned even to listen to compliments, implied flattery, or implied love-making, it was that that made the pursuit of her all the more piquant to him. Tha man who had broken so many hearts, who had ruined so many homes, who had blighted so many lives, the man who had forgotten that the true test of a soldier is not only hia bravery in the battle-field, but his reverence for women — this man had fallen in love at last, and, as a matter of course with a man like himself, had fallen in love with one whom he could never marry.