CHAPTER XLV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 291, 18 August 1888, Page 4

CHAPTER XLV.

THE BALL AT LISLE WOOD. Despite the taiTs illness, and Lady Margueiite's hidden heait-ache, they all went to the ball at Lislowood. The oail, haughty and handsome in his oxqui&iLo evening tuit, betrayed no sign of the hopeloss misery that consumed his heart, savo in his death-white faeo and despairing eyes. The exultant old Countc&s of Mortlake went as a matter of course, rustling in her still" brocade, with poor little Pearl under hoi wing, looking like a while dove in tho clutches oi her vulture,, and Sir Bayard Brompton dancing attondanco on her, Unshod and radiant with success. Lady Neville and Sir Mai shall went also, but; young Loid Angus ordered his roan maro and galloped down to Doctor Renhew's. The ball was a laigo ailair, and very largely attended by the peasantry as well as the nobility of the county. The Lislewood grounds wero beautilully adorned and illuminated, and theie was a long table, in the old banquet hall, laden with e\ eiy conceivable de.icacy ; flagons of wine and alo ran like water. The young heir of Li&lowood, in u hose hoi.our all this gayety was uomg on, v\as 4rai'y called upon by o d Sir lialph, his fathei, to open the ball with the prettiest maiden pi esent. A difficult task it would bo to chouse one from among to many, said one and another ; but young Sii Ralph did not hesitate an instant ; ho made his way to the terrace, whoie the call's party wee seated, and chose Lady Maiguoiite. The old countcs-> chuckled with pleasiue as he icd her lorth in the eyes of the vast assembly ; slender and fair as a lily, in her gleaming gos-amer lobc^, with peails amid bht! golden meshes of her silken hah ; tho fahest anil sweetest maiden } lcsent, indeed, the fahest in all wide England. 'Sec what I'\e done for you,' she said, nuduing bit Bayaid with ho elbow. ' Would ye ever ha\e won such a wile ;h that, think ye, without my help?' Sir Baj ard bowed do< pi}, his grey eyes flashing with admiiatiou a& they followed the giaceful liguie oi his afhancod biide. ' And she's agreed to my plan,' continued the d wager; 'we're to have the wedding in November. B yaul Biompton, you're a lucky fe low— luckier than you deserve to be, I'm thinking.' Sir Bayard Hushed to the roots of his yellow hair, but he met the dowager's keen glance with bold unblinking eyes. ' I don t pretend to say that I deserve my good luck, your ladyship, 1 he replied. ' You don t, eh?' gmnted tne countess. ' Well, now, I want you to deserve it — .1 good, true man deseives e\eiything — don't yo i know that? Bayard Brompton,' she added, suddenly, with anothei keen g'ance abo\c her goggles, 'you're my kinsman, and I used to like j ou yeai& ;i»o, but you have changed — I don't like the look in your eyes. What is it? What e\il thing have you done that has left its brand upon you ?' The baronet was fairly gasping. ■ Why, my deai countess,' he began, hi.» voice un^tea-ty and his eyes shitting beneath hot- gaze, 'it is unfair, ungenerous " 'Oh. Hdile^tickfe I' interiupted the dowager, 'that &orb of stufl is v* asted on me. I ye got my e^es and can see, if I do wear goggles I'm half sorry that I didn't leave you to you i vagabond life ; I don't wonder i hat Peail di&hkes you.' 'My dear countess,' began Sir Bayard again, growing white to tho lips and trembling. 'Hush :' snapped the dowager; 'I tell you I can't trust you, and I'm sorry I dicln t leave you to starve : but you're my kinsman, and 'tis not my habit to turn back when I've once staited. I'll go on, but I shall keep my eye on you, young man ; and, maik what I say, when that pretty child yonder is> your wife, if to my knowing you cause her one hour's soirow, yo«.: shall rue it, you shall, Bayard Brompton. You know I never make idle threats.' • Indeed, my dear countess,' the baronet hastened to reply, his cheeks flushing and his eyes glowing with an emotion that v. as ically sinceie, 'theic is no need of your caution. Ilo\e Lady Marguerite too well to cause her soirow. I would lay down my life to win her regard.' • 1, 1 am glad to hear it,' returned the countes-, somewhat mollified ; ' she's a good, ailectionate child, and if you do as you ought, you'll win her over by and by.' The music had ceased, and tho young heir of LNlewood was conducting his lovely paitner buck to the tcnace, half wny down, the hr-shaded avenue, when a youne man stoppeJ them —a tall, handsome man, with a profusion of black, curling hair, and a heavy, ioreiyn-looking black beaid, ' Sir Ralph,' he Raid, touching the young man's elbow, and nodding significantly in the direction ot Lad/ Marguerite • With Lady Marguerite's permission,' leplicd Sir Ralph, coidially, 'it will afloid mi- much pleasuic ' Lady Margueiite inclined her graceful head in assent, and her escort pioceedod to pio&eut to hei Captain lto&& Fosobiooue, <i young guardsman, |u?t returned liom India. The handsome cipt tin u'ceiod a few pleasant sentences and begged foi tho honour o; the ensuing dance ; and, after his n-ime had been duly inscribed on Lady Marguerite's tablets, the three proceeded to the terrace together, and the captain was introduced to the earl's pai ty. ' Lady Marguerite,' piotested Sir Bayard, as the next dance was forming, ' I surely though n this dance was to be mine.' ' You did not ask for it, Sir Bayard,' replied Pearl, shrinking away from him in involuntary aversion The handsome captain took her hand and drew it within his arm, hi-* bright, biown eyes regarding the scowling baronet with a sto-icly gaze. ' Sorry to supplant you, Sir Bayard,' he said, pleasantly ; ' but I could not relinquish my light in your favour on any account. Come, Lady Marguerite' They floated away under the whispering arches ot the oaks, and Sir Bayard, lcturning to his seat on tho terrace, sat and watched them with no pleasant look in his eyes. The captain waa dancing charmingly, and Pearl was grace and loveliness combined. ' Brompton,' suggested the coante«s, svith another nudge, •if you don't look sharp that handsome captain will be your rival ; he's just the sort of man to win a q rl's heart.' The baronet set his tooth hard together ; somehow the very presence of the captain disturbed and disconcerted him,

The dance over, he went down to claim Lady Marguerite. Tho captain resigned her with gallant rogret, and then sauntered along beside Sir Bayard in casual conversation. ' I happen to havo heard of you before, Sir Bayard,' he remarked, as they reached the terrace. * I had a friend out in India a yoar or so ago, who spoke of you so frequently that your name gob to be quite tamilar.' The baronet bowed, but a slow pallor ciept up to his laec, giving it an awful, ghastly look. The captain's bright brown eyes held him with their steady glance. 'No doubt you remembor him,' he continued, pleasantly. ' Gofonel Brooke, — Colonel Richard Brooke — of the Queen's cavalry ?' The baronet struggled to speak, but his white lips gave forth no sound ; the perbpuation broke out in gieaO beads on his torehead, and his knees refused to support him. ' What ailt> tho man V shrieked the dowager. ' Brompton, are you ill ?' questioned the eail, coming^to his side. 'I—l—itI — 1— it is a sudden faintnoss,' gasped Sir Bayard. ' Tfc is over now — or will bo when 1 get a glass of water.' ' Allow me,' in toi posed the captain, gracefully, taking possession of Lady Marguerite, 'till you are sufficiently recovered ' And they floated off again to the sound of a rhythmic waltz, while Sir Bayard sti oiled oir under the tree.s, muttering bitter curses with every breath. At the door ot the oatl's carriage, when the pallid daydawn began to streak the oa.st, (Juptain Fos&brooke made hib adieu. 4 With your permission,' he said, detaching a half-blown bud from Lady Pearl's bouquet and fastening it in his vest, l I fehall Pee you again To-monow I run clow n to London, but on my return ' Sir Bayard ciowded himself between, cutt.ng shott the sentence, but the captain's blight brown eyes made ample amundb ior it as he bowed himself away; and Lady Marguciitc, plighted to marry Sir Bayatd Brompton in thiec brief months, went homo, to dieiiin through the morning hours ot tho.^e self same brown eyes and that pleasant, musical voice. I