The Law of the Land

ons! Now here, now there, and back again, her feet scarce touching the floor, her loose skirt, held out between her dainty fingers, resembling wings, she swam through the air

, this dance of the young girl, all alone, in front of the great mirror which faithfully gave back the passing, flying figure line for line, flush for flush, one bosom-heave for that of the other. Yet the tall white lilies

hand lightly resting on her bosom, looking-looking into the mirror, asking of it some question, getting, inde

iss Lady's hair as she stood there, asking the answer of the mirror. It was morning in the great room, morning for the southern day, morning for the old plantation whose bell now jangled faintly and afar off-morning indeed for Miss L

ing which came in at the window out of the blue sky and from the red rose blossoms, on the warm south wind. Impulsively she flung out her arms to the figure

oubled by the glass, remains to-day imperishably preserved in the old mirror-the picture of Miss Lady dancing as the bird flies, and then standin

ing on with eyes at first surprised, then cynically amused. The intruder paused, laughing a low, well-fed, mellow laugh. On the moment she coughed in deprecation. Miss Lady sprang back, as does the wild deer startled in the f

eems," said the new- comer. "I beg your pardon.

e. The eyes, deep, dark and shaded by strong brows, held depths not to be fathomed at a glance, but their first message was one of an open and ready self-indulgence. The costume, flowing, loose and easy, carried out the same thought; the piled black hair did not deny it;

ing, mamma," said Miss Lady. "It i

d her moth

kly, and turning to her with sudden c

, I

to ask?" This with spirit, and with eyes sh

Indeed, I am not at all surp

ng, mammal? Wh

happen-that you were going

know what

rls do so. They're very strange, these Ellison girls. They dance because they must, I suppose. It's as natural as breathing, fo

gnantly. "How can you talk so?

the Ellison girls-certain marriage! Our only hope is in some miracle. It is time for me to take you in hand. Listen, Lady. Let me ask you to sit a trifle farther back upon that chair. So, that is better. Now, draw the skirt a litt

inly is going to be warm," she said at last. "Lady, dear, please run and get my book, won't you? You k

led, her attitude undecided. Then, in swift mutiny, she sprang down the steps and was off in open desertion. She fl

e, more enigmatical. She gazed after the girl who left her, and into her eyes came a look wh

ve to be careful she doesn't marry the wrong one. They're headstrong, these Ellisons. Still, I think I can handle this one of them. In fact, I must." She smiled gently and settled down into

trasted sharply with a skin just creamy enough to establish it as otherwise than pure white. Egyptian, or Greek, or of unknown race, this servant, Delphine, might have been; but had it not been for her station and surroundings, one could never have suspected in her the trace of negro blood. She stood now, a mellow-tinted statue of not quite yellow ivory, silent, turning upon her mistress eyes large, dark and inscrutable

ch that girl. Tell me what she does. There's very little restraint of any kind here on the plantation, and she is just