Kate Danton | Page 7

papa! My boudoir and bedroom are
charming. Eeny is going to chaperone me all over to-morrow--such a
dear, romantic old house."
Grace sat and looked at her. How beautiful she was! She still wore
slight mourning, and her dress was black silk, that fell in full rich folds
behind her, high to the round white throat, where it was clasped with a
flashing diamond. A solitaire diamond blazed on her left hand--those
slender, delicate little hands--her engagement ring, no doubt. They
were all the jewels she wore. The trimming of her dress was of filmy
black lace, and all her masses of bright golden hair were twisted
coronet-wise round her noble and lovely head. She was very tall, very
slender; and the exquisite face just tinted with only the faintest shadow
of rose. "Beautiful, and stately, and proud as a queen!" Yes, she looked

all that, and Grace wondered what manner of man had won that
high-beating heart. There was a witchery in her glance, in her radiant
smile, in every graceful movement, that fascinated even her father's
sedate housekeeper, and that seemed to have completely captivated
little Eeny. In her beauty and her pride, as she stood there so graceful
and elegant, Grace thought her father was right when he said a prince
was not too good for his peerless daughter.
He smiled down on her now as men do smile down on what is the apple
of their eye and the pride of their heart, and then turned to Eeny,
clinging to her stately sister.
"Take care, Eeny! Don't let Kate bewitch you. Don't you know that she
is a sorceress, and throws a glamour over all she meets? She's uncanny,
I give you warning--a witch; that's the word for it!"
Eeny's reply was to lift Kate's hand and kiss it.
"Do witches ever eat, papa?" laughed Miss Danton; "because I am very
hungry. What time do we dine?"
"What time, Miss Grace?" asked the Captain.
"Immediately, if you wish, sir."
"Immediately let it be, then."
Grace rang and ordered dinner to be served. Thomas, the old butler, and
a boy in buttons made their appearance with the first course. Grace had
always presided, but this evening she sat beside Eeny, and Miss Kate
took the head of the table.
"The first time, papa," she said. "If I make any blunders, tell me."
"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Eeny, "I thought some one else was coming. A
sick gentleman--Mr. what?--oh, Richards?"
The face of Captain Danton and his eldest daughter darkened suddenly
at the question. Grace saw it in surprise.

"He will be here presently," he said, but he said it with an air of
restraint; and Kate, leaning forward with that radiant smile of hers,
began telling Eeny some story of their life at sea that made her forget
Mr. Richards.
They adjourned to the drawing-room after dinner. A long, low,
sumptuous apartment, very stately and very grand, and decorated with
exquisite taste.
"What a beautiful room!" Kate said. "We had nothing half so quaint
and old as this at home, papa?"
There was a grand piano near one of the tall windows, with a
music-rack beside it, and the young lady went over and opened it, and
ran her fingers with a masterly touch over the keys.
"That's right, Kate," said her father; "give us some music. How do you
like your piano?"
"Like is not the word, papa. It is superb!"
The white hands sparkled over the polished ivory keys, and the room
was filled with melody. Eeny stood by the piano with a rapt face.
Captain Danton sat in an arm-chair and listened with half-closed eyes,
and Grace sat down in a corner, and drew from her pocket her crochet.
"Oh, Kate, how beautifully you play?" Eeny cried ecstatically, when
the flying hands paused, "I never heard anything like that. What was
it?"
"Only a German waltz, you little enthusiast! Don't you play?"
"A little. Rose plays too, polkas and waltzes; but bah! not like that."
"Who is your teacher?"
"Monsieur De Lancey. He comes from Montreal twice a week to give
us lessons. But you play better than he does."

"Little flatterer!" kissing her and laughing, and the white hands busy
again. "Papa, what will you have?"
"A song, my dear."
"Well, what do you like? Casta Diva?"
"I'd be sorry to like it! can you sing the Lass o' Gowrie?"
"I shall try, if you wish."
She broke into singing as she spoke, and Grace's work dropped in her
lap as she listened. What an exquisite voice it was! So clear, so sweet,
so powerful. The mute-wrapped stillness that followed the song was the
best applause. Miss Danton rose up, laughing at her sister's entranced
face.
"Oh, don't stop!" Eeny cried, imploringly. "Sing again, Kate."
There was