Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-01-12

forced to recognize it as 50 probable as well
as plausible that peace of mind could never
be hers until it were diSproved
| Accordingly, one day she went to her
chaperon and constant companion. wild
owed relative, and abruptly proposed a trip
to America
| The Countess stared in surprise.
''My dear, what can you be thinking of
| Nobody but the Princess Louise, and the
| wives of such officials as arc Obliged to go
| to Canada, ever set foot in that benighted
land"
'.Well. my dear aunt, I am sorry to dis
! agree with you, but I am going
| there, and as you surely can't let ne
| go alone, you. too, are going,'i said this
spoiled young woman.
The Countess looked agEast and groaned
feebly. She knew we'll the manifold whins
OF her niece and the utter futility of oppos-
ing them. That young woman having taken
into her head the extraordinary notion of
going to America, there was really nothing
to do butgo
Her aunt inquired the time of departure.
surprising tnat, as a matter of course, it
was so distant that there might be remote
possibility Of her niece altering her mind
meanwhile.
''1Hd chsre tdzls.'' answered LYDIA in a
quiet, decisive tone, Il have engaged pas
sage for our party-ourselves, maids and
| coLriers - in the 'Servia.' That vessel
sails from Liverpool day after tomorrow
at three p. We must leave here early
tomorrow for CrGigie Castle, and the next
morning for Liverpool
The Countess sat down on the nearest
couch and gaZed at her niece as if she con-
sidered the latter bereft OF her senses
But that imperious, yet shrewd maneuver-
er sailed magnifcently out of the room,
and soon her clear, firm voice was heard
a 9 n al of har. h.a
longings.
There was no mistaking it all.
The Countess was in straitened circum-
stances, and depended solely on Lydia's
warm heart for the necessaries of life,
and, moreover, she simply adored the girl.
After quiet and comforting cry, all by
herself, she dried her eyes and resolved to
put the best face she could on the matter
In experimenting the packing of their
goods and chattels she soon forgot her
grief, and actually began to take an inter
est in the coming voyage-an of which the
observant Lydia took notice of with secret
satisfaction, as she entered the room from
time to time.
Next morning they left the village, took
the steamer at st. Malo for Southampton,
| and at six o'clock that evening were in
Craigie Castle. Here they hastily set about
collecting all the riecessaries for "a trip of
several weeks or more.
Lydia had previously telegraphed her
friends for letters of introduction to influ-
entail Americans. Several of these she
found awaiting her.
The following day, at three o'clock, they
left Liverpool in the s'SerVia.;'
AS Lydia sat that evening on the vessels
deck with the brilliant light of a full moon
glittering upon the rolling waters of the
Irish sea, her thoughts wandered to Nata-
lie and then to the young American. Her
L -. l. l.
flushed, as she thought of the mission she
was undertaking. The question came
point blank!-to her:
care you doing this solely from pure love
of Natalie.''
And the truthful answer came fearlessly
back:
'.No. But because, in addition, 1 do not
wish my fears realized; I do not want to
believe, or even suspect of him being
guilty.
For the first time she began to appreciate
the true nature of her unprecedented err
rand. Had she been any one else but Lady
Lydia, she would have INDUCED in a fit of
crying and even begged the captain to hail
the first returning steamer.
But she cast aside this momentary weak
ness, plucked up her courage and frankly
confessed to herself:
He is the only man toward whom [ ever
felt even an attraction. But how can 1
bring myself to tell my suspicious TO that
French detectivel And yet l feel that /
must satisfy myself they are grOundless.
And, if do not find N.-::clie. may, at least,
prove mis- innocence to my ccti3faction.
Almost at the same moment yacht was
silently gliding over the waters of the At
lantic, off the coast of Maine. An hour or
two after midnight, it came to anchor in
Frenchman's bay that washes the eastern
shores of the island of Mt. Desert 1t was
the '.Namovna."