THE STORY TELLER.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 877, 2 February 1878, Page 2

THE STORY TELLER.

WlFE .W&btiii ONLY. Bi/ the author. oOsf s ",{ ,ra THOfcNB,* ON .ijSR VVs m>oMo*t*," •* itf. DBAIBB' Bf 'ittVIB. " ' A WoMAN'e (Continued from our issue of the 29th ult.) CHABTER VII. „ Lord, .\rlei4h uad l>een so accnsomed k> think of Pailippa as a ohil'i that he cou>d with clifficaby (Oi igine the foot that she was now a ovely girl, and one of the wfialthest heiresses m Lmd m. He felt some curiosity ab.mt hr*. How would she vjreet him ? How wonld *he receive him 1 lie wrote to her it once, asking pernissi-m to visit '■it ; an I -hf» awne a*uy from that -isit with hia cv-?« »t li*t.le dl^as'pd, i'u brain somewhat <l-zH, imtfitjpi i*art untKHichel. Hi* fancy" was omewhat dtNtmbe«! the haunt* ng memory of <iark, splendid eves • lighted with tir* and pas ion, and a •right md nnt face and ac.rrU't lips— by » Mttangc of nm'»er, W* , and .itirfnmv — bbt hid heart whs un ouched. Sh« warf l>ea itifnl beyond nis dr.«ara of woman — he >wued that to him- If— ba it was -lot the kind of bemtv thit he ad nir.'d ; it Waa too vivid, too highly culoired, fcjo ' briliian b. He referred the pure sweet lily to the q ieenly rose. Still he gtid to lintisel* hat he had unvpr seen a fice or figure like .Miss L'E-itrange'a, N"o wonder ih-t s.ie'hud half London at her feet ! He was pleased with her kind :«ct-ption of Y.im, althiu rh the hd not read her welcome aright ;heo as too true a gentleman even a think that it w-.is love which shone m her eyes — *nd trembled on her iits — love which trnde her voice ialter and die awiy — love which <;tn->ed h^r to exert every art and /race of which she was raistr^ss to fasc nate him. He was delighted wir.h her — his heart grew warm under the charm of her words ; but *c nev«r dr*»amed of lov.-. He had snid to hrnself that there must bt» no renewal of the childish .(Onsen-e of early days — that he uust be careful not to ullu>le to it; ;o do so would be m bad taste. Not that ho was vain enough to thiok she would a'tach any imporrance to it even if he did so ; but he was one of nature's i?entlemen,and he would have sunrned to ex sgerate or to say one word more than he meant. Her welcome had been. most graceful, most kind — tb.3 beautiful face had softened and changed c mnletely for him Sho had dovored herself entirely to him ; nothing m all the wide world had seemed to her of the least interest except himself and hia aff.irs - books, music, pictures, even herself, her own triumphs, were all as nothing when compared w : th him. He would h*ve bden less than mortal not t > have been both pleased and flattered. Pressed so earnes ly to return to dinner, he had pr aniscd to do so; und evening, the sweet^conte 1 May evening, found him once more at Hyde Park. If anything, Pliilippa looked evon more lovely. _^he wore her favourite colours— asaibwv and white -a dress of rich ftmijrafc brocade trimmwl with wbi Gfeljftpe ; the queenly head vra* oirfSed with diamonds ; jewels like fire gleamod on the white breast ; there was a cluster of ch>ioe flow«ra m hei" bodice, l^Q had see,U hqr

ea'^^^who wiifrib aee-her as the 4)i^i>u^ nu teas, the mistress of a lftfifelilfd mHgfiifii'etft mansion. He OWiit?U o biwß if that she was eirnply perfect. He had sieii nothing m better iast«, although he had l>een on intiruute terms with the great ones of the earth. she watched her. he thought to himself that, hgh and brilliant as wa« her station, it was not vet high eaough for her. She fl.ing a charm so migical around her that he was insensibly attracted by it : yet he wgs not the least m love — n iibing was farther from his thoughts, tie, could not help seeing that, alter a fashion, she treated him difß-reutly from her other guesttt. He couid not hare told why or how ; he felt ... only a certain suotle difference ; her voice seemed to take another tone m addreasiug him, her fuce another * expression, as though she regardod him as one apart, from ail others. The dinner-party was a success, v as was every kind of entertainment with which Philippa L'Estrangc • .was concerned. When the visitors rose to take their io»ve, Norman rose also. She was standing near him. 'Do not t>o y°*» Norman/ she said ,it is quite early. tay, and I will sing to you.' She spoke m so low a tone of . voice tha»Juo one else heard her. He was quite willing. Where could he feel more at home than m this charming drawing-room, with this beautiful girl, his old friend and playmate? •dtte bade adieu to her visitors, and then turned to him with such a snide as might have lost or won Troy. *I thought they would never go,' she Httid ; mid it seems to me that I have baruly exelmi.gtx) oue word With you >et, .' %, 1 We have talked many hoiirs,* he returned, laughing. 4 Ah, y. v count time by the old fashioi:, hours and minutes I I forget it *hen 1 »«m ta<king to one I to an ulii friend line you.' 'You are enthusiastic,' said Lord Arlrigh, wondt ring t the light on the Bj>iendid lace. 'Nay, t am constant/ she rejoined. And for a few minu-es after, that silence remained between them Ffailippa whs the first to break it. * Do you remember/ she a>ked, that you usfd to piatse my voice, ard prophesy thai 1 should sing wellY ••Ye-, I Jt-mc-iuber/ he replied. ' I have worke.l iiaril at my music/ she couuuu&i, ' m the h«v« of | -leasing jou.' ' lv the hope oi pleasing me?' tie interrogated. 'It was kind oi you to think so much of me.' 'Oi whom shoul i I think if not of you V i-.be inquired. There were twth .ove and reproach m tier voice he iicurd neither. Had be been as vain as he was prow*, he wuuhi have bee.* quiukei ratqt-UCt i<er ove lor uiu.seii. jL^\Tlie Windows had Oeeu opened /Because the evening air wv.s so clear avid sweet ; it came m now, and seemed, to give to the flowers a sweeter fragrance. Lord Arleigli drew bis chair »o ihe piano. ... '1 vkum.^uu only to listen/ she said. * You will have no tnrningover <o do for me ; the songs 1 love tea 1 kiiow by heart, fehui your eyes, JNotman and dream.' ' 1 shall dream more vividly if 1 kee ; 'hem open and took at you/ he returned. Then m a few minutes he began to think he must be m dream-land the rich, sweet voice, so clear, so soft, so low, was filling the room with sweetest, music. It was 'ike no human voice that he remembered, seductive-, fall of passion andtendeines>—a voice that told its own stort, that told at its owner's power and charm — v voice that earned away the hearts of the listeners irretf * tibly, a* vbe strong current carries the leaflet. fche hang ot Jovr», mighty, irresi*. tible love, the king before whom all bow dowi. ;_ and^ as sle Nanj*, he looked at her. The Soft, pearly light of the lamps fell on ht't glorious face, and seemei to render it moia l>»au;ifu». He wandered wba spe.. vmb fast falling over him, for he 8i w i.o hitig bu< Philipua's face, heard no hmg but the music that setrntd to steep his senses m a dream.

fn he Continutd.