A Wasted Love

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1241, 3 February 1905, Page 4

A Wasted Love

; CHAPTER XKVJII (Continued) But though Koyce did not hoar the ' inalgnant sneer,.Madge the color fled flfoni her (aoe. She put down her tea cup and rose, " I think I will go straight to my room," she said. He had destroyed all her innocent pleaiuref Irene put down ber cup also, and followed her. The countess •& looked at Seymour; Royoe had gone ttftrbugh the hall to see after the horses. " How long do yon intend to torture i triat girl?" she asked coldly. J;He smiled, %My dear mothpr, isn.t 'torture' rather antexaggeration? People of that class, do not feel very keenly, alas! Beßidos, it was a harmless pleasantry.' Now, if J had said that she should have had too much fellowfeeling with the fox to join in the hunt, because both foxes and gypsies are partial ujt'o other people's poultry—l say, if I had frittered this little epigram, which came inso my mind, our and really in- ../ Westing gypsy bride might have felt a •: little annoyed, But I refrained," Thecountess regarded him sternly. "Sometimes I think you have no heart,' 1 . she said'grimly. " Oh, believe me, madam," he said with asneer;" and if I may ask tho question, whence this newborn consideration for Royoe'a Wife ? I fancy, my dear mother, you have stung her with you iOy iook<s far worse than I oan have done." The oountess bit her lip, and looked jßtraight before her. f" What, is done is done," she said| " Spare her for the future. I make it a' request." " My dear mother, a request from you —" he said with a sneer. ' She turned, upon him with a look that startled him, so its soorn and - hanteur. - '• It is a command I" she said, and left ' the hall. Seymour, leanel baok and looked after her. "So madamps going to side with it Boyce's vagabond wife, is she? If 60, 1 ® think I oan pay you baok, dear mother, in 1 your own coin. There should be somo fun , to bo got out of Madge at the ball, and if' bo, I'D. get it." ; : When Madge got up to her room she found Marion on her knees before ft couple ef wooden boxes,

" Oh, mad»ui, pray do not oome neat until I get off your riding habit. It is dreadfnl to think of mud coming near such beautiful dresßea." "Beautiful dresses I" repeated Madge, wearily. "The ball dresses, madam, explained "Marion, "I was just u'upaoking them, Lady Irene's"—lrene preferred to drop her oourtesy title, and liked to be called " Miss," but she was as often called one as the other/ "Lady Irene ordered her box to be aent in here so that you, might see them'together." Irene knocked at tbo door as Marion was getting Madge out of her babit.' "1 thought it would be a good time to try these dresses on, dear, if you are uot too tired," she said, She thought it bet* not to refer to Seymour's cruel sarcasm. "Very well," said Madge, indifferently. "No, I am not too tired," "And madam has had such a hard run," said Marion, gazing at Madge with affectionate admiration and respect. ' Giles told me all about it, mad*m, and he said it was the finest bit of riding he had ever seen; a perfect triumph, he culled it, begging your pardon, ma'am." " Yos," said Irene, " and your mistress is going to have another triumph at the ball, Marion. Now make haste and let us see the dresses." Marion took out the costumes tenderly, reverently, uttering little exolamations of, delight. Oh, my lady, oh, madam, see this! It is like a fleecy oloud with tbo stare shining through ifc f And this one of mauve silk—is it silk ?—it is like a cobweb I And here is one in black lace with poppies—and this—and this!" Aud her yoice rose to a pitch of ecstacy. ■ Irene laughed, " Marion is getting exoited," she said. " Now, Madge dear, which will you try on first?" * Madge looked on pensively. " The plainest and simplest," she said decidedly. " The black one will do if the poppies are taken out," Irene laughed, "That is nonsense, doarl Come, Marion' slip it on," Madge stood up, and between them they put on the dress, and Marion clasped her Lands in speechless admiration. " Ch madam, oh Misss Irene, it is tbo very thing I" " If you would only look in the glass, madam —" Madge cast a glance in the cheval glass "Yes, it will do," she said; ''but they would not let her off so easily, and made her try them all on; but she kept to her first choice. "Yes I think you are right," said Irene. "Very well then, put the rest back, Marion," "Butyon, my lady," said Marion in socentfl of disappointment;,, ".you have not obosen one of yours yet," "Oh, IT' said Irene "It does not matter; why should it ?'' And she sighed, thon as Madge stared at her she coloured and forced a laugh. "If I must put t ono

, , BY CHARLES GARVICE,

on, I will try the mauve," she said." Like you, Madge dear,.l want something simple." She put it on and deoided at once that it would do. Above the faint colour of tho silk her fair face and neck shone like ivory. " With your set of pearls, Miss Irene," exclaims! Marion—'and oh, my lady, your hair looks likes gold itselt against it!" "It is a good thing we are not enher of us incline-! to be vain," said Irene with a smile. " Take it oi, Marion " "Yes, miss, One moment. There ought, to be a ribbon here, but I do not see it. What a pity I Oh. wait, miss, do please I" she ran on, " I saw a piece just the same colour among Mrs London's things, It was in the imperial when I unpacked it," To be continued.