THE STORY TELLER

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 914, 26 January 1878, Page 2

THE STORY TELLER

WIP :? IN NAME ONLY. _V the author of DbaA Teo^cg,'?t 44 On Haa W« .oiwo MoliK," ! v iM DS-atßß'tt BY LoV_," " AWOMAN'B War/ Ac, hn. j, ~V ■ \- . - : :. % A / r A T"'y?';. '--■ ■■. : '. A! (Continued from our issue of the 22nd hyitly "' OHAPtER VJi,A , ! % * 1 can bear it,' she said, « and so can you. Now I can let you go" more willingly, seeing that I shall soon see you again.' And then he wont away. After he had gone, she spoke but little; ouce she olasped her arms round Lady Peter's -neck and kissed the., kindly face. *Do hot apeak to me,' she said, ' lest I should lose the echo of his, voice;' and Lady Peters watched her anxiously, as she stood with a rapt smile. on her face, as one who has he.rrd celestial mußic in a dream. > r .* . * . *. .* r *. v . * The Arleighs of Beechgrove had for many generations beeu one of the wealthiest , as well as one of the noblest families in EuglanM. ; To the [ lot of the only deacendaat pf the race, Norman, Lord Arleigh, IwHb had Bucceeded j his father at^the early ago of twenty, all this goo I gift of' fame, fortuue and wealth had now' fallen, „ L Ho h»4 inherited ,al v so the far famed Arleigh beauty. iHe hiid clear opt features, a fair skin, a fine J man'y frame, a broad cheat, an erect military bearing ; he had dark huir and eyes, with straight clear brows, and a fine handsome mouth, shaded by a dark moustache. Lookiug at hjm, it was easy to understand his. character. There was pride in the dark eyesj in the high-bred manner and bearing, but. not. pride of a common kind. In accordance with his late father's wish, he had gone through the usual course of studies.. He h d been to Eton and to Oxford ; he had made the nsual Continental tour , and now he had returned to livo as the Arlfighs had done before him— a king, on his own estate There was just one thing in his life that had not pleased him. His mother, Lady Arleigh, had always evinced the greatest effeetion~ior her cousin, the gentle Lady L'Estrange. She had paid long visits to Verdun Royal, always taking her son with her ; i and his earliest reco lections was of j his mo her and Lady L' Estrange I sitting side by side planning the , marriage of their two chillren, Philippa and Norman. He could even remember many of his mother's pet phrases — * So suitable,' * A perfect raarriige,' 'The desire of my heart. He could 1 remember the many references made to ir, such as ' When Philippa lives at the Abbey.' 'When Philippa is Lady Arleigh.' AH his mother's thoughts and ideas seemed to begin and end there. He had been taught, half scri >usly, half in jest, to cad Philippa his little wife, tp pay her every attention, to present her with jewels and with flowers, to make her his chief study. While he was still- a boy he hid only laughed at it. Philippa was a beautiful highspirited girl. Her vivacity and animation amused him. He had spoken the truth in saying that he had met no one he liked better than his old Me. d. He had seen beautiful girls, lovely women, bu«; he had not fallen in love. Indeed love with the Arleighs was a serious matter. They did not look lightly upon it. Norman, Lord Arleigh had not fallen in love, but he had begun to think very seriously rtbout Philippa L'Estransfe. He had been fond of her as a child, with ths. kind of "flection that often exists between children. He had called her his ' little wife' in jest, not in earnest. He had listened to the discussions between the two ladies as he would have listened had they been talking about adding a new wing to the house. It was not udUI he came to the years of manhood that he began to see how serious the whole mattfr was. Then he remembered with infinite satisfaction that there had been nothing binding, that he had never even mentioned the word ' love' to Philippa L'Egtrange, that he had never made love to her, that the whole matter was merely a something that had arisen in the imagination of the two ladies. He was not in the least degree in love with Philippa v. She v was a brunette— he preferred a blonde; brunette beauty had no oharm.for him. He liked gentle fair-haired women, tender -of heart and soul — brilliancy did not charm him. Even when, previously to going abroad, he had gone down to Verthih Royal to say good-bye, there was hot the least approach to love in his' heart. He had thought Philippa very charming and very picturesque as she stood under the lilac trees ; he had said truly that he should never see a lilac without thinking of her as she stood there. But that had not meant that he loved her. He had bent down, as he considered himself in courtesy bound, to kiss her face when he bade her adieu ; but it was no lovers kiss that fell so lightly ou her lips. He realised to Ir'mself most fully the fact that, ■ although he liked Philippa, ret rned bis boyish admiration for her, cared a great deal for her, and felt that she stood in the place of a sister to him, he did not love her. But about Philippa herself? He was not vain; the proud, stately Lord Arleigh knew nothing oi vanity. He could not think that the childish folly had taken deep root in her heart-r-he would not believe it. She had beeu a child like

himself; perhaps she had forge ten the nonsense more completely than bfi^igwelf had. On his return to Englandj the first thing thai ho beard when he reachei Lxnd'n w <s rthat His old friend and playif^Bllojrrrthe girl he had called hia 'little'' wife— was the bel e of the Seasbh,/ with half London at her

To it Continued.

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