A Struggle for a Ring — page 329: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A WIFE’S HOPE. 426 fact that she made herself more attractive, made it almost impossible for Lord Carsdale to escape his fate. He waltzed with her for the third time, owning to him- self that after all it was a species of delirium which would soon be over. ‘‘T am tired,” she said, looking up at him with a half- wistful glance. ‘‘I have hardly stopped dancing since the ball began; I am tired, Lord Carsdale.” Without a word he took her through the brilliantly- lighted rooms, through the long, bright corridors, until they reached the picture-gallery; it was well lighted and fragrant with the breath of choice flowers, ‘Tt is cool and pleasant here,” he said; ‘‘ rest awhile.” He placed her on one of the most comfortable loung- ing chairs near the large western windows, from whence she could see the lovely silver moonlight as it lay on the flowers. She helda fan in her hand, witha jeweled handle, one made of the white plumage of a beautiful and rare tropical bird. He took it from her hand and examined it, he asked her some trifling questions about it, and it seemed to her that he was ill at ease. . There was no one else in the gallery, although it was . often used on ball nights as a promenade. From the dis- tance came the soft, sweet music, that, even when most gay, has in it a current of sadness, The murble statues cleamed from the background of crimson, the gorgeous pictures on the wall, the jardinieres, with their costly flow- ers, all made up a beautiful scene. The magic of the hour emboldened her. She raised her head, and, looking with sweet shyness at him, she said: ‘‘Do you remember the last time we danced together before you left England, Lord Carsdale?” _ She had asked the question suddenly. She saw y his face Eomichboo cS (eo)