Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-09-06

HOW queer tllstt ue kGeN Soul A.tlAAC
if YOU have never met him be-
fore" said Mrs. 'Selby. But dare say
it's through the Flores-Carters; they're
such great friends of mine. you know,
and they are staying ut LaXter's HUI
as well as the SoEthwold party"
Yes" Despard agreed. "he had evil
IDENTITY heard Of you
And Of you, too. in that case. REQ
pie 60 so chatter in the country. The
Carriers are dying to get you there.
They have got the Southwolds to prom
Use to go to them next week. They
the Carter girls-are perfectly wild
about Lady Margaret. l think it would
be better taste not to make up to her
so much; it does look as if it was be-
cause she was what She is. though
know it isn't really that. They get up
these fits of enthusiasm. And she Is
very nicc-not very pretty. You know,
but wonderfully nice and unspolled,
considering
"Unspoilt," repeated Despard. He
was glad to keep his sister talking about
Indifferent matters. Il don't see that
poor Lord Southwold's daughter has
any reason to be spoilt."
"Oh, dear, yes-didn't you know?
thought you knew everything of that
kind. 1t appears that she is a tremen-
dous heiress; forgot the figures Ihe
fortune comes from her aunt's husband.
Her mothers elder sister married an
enormously wealthy man, and as they
had no children or near relations on
his side he left it all to this girl. OF
course she and her father have always
known it, but it has been kept very
quiet. They have lived in the country
six months of the year and Travelled
the other six. She has been most care
fully brought up and splendidly edu-
Gated, but she has never been out in
society at all till this year.
Il never remember hearing of them
in town." said Despard.
"Oh.Lord Southwo.d himself never
goes out. He is dreadfully delicate;
heart disease. think But she-Lady
AIargaret-will be heard of now. 1t
has all come. out about her fortune
now that he has come into the title
His cousin, the last earl only died
two months ago"
"And," said Despard. with a strange
sensation. as if he We're listening to
some one else speaking rather than HIM
self, It'll he came into the title what
was he called? He was the last mans
cousin, you say?'
YES of course; he was Mr. Fforde--
Fforde with two rs and an e. you
: know. It's the family name of the
Southwolds. That young mantle one
you spoke to-is Mr.. Conrad FIorde,
as told you. They say that
But a glance at her brother made her
hesitate.
"Despard. is your head worse?" she
asked, anxiously.
1T comes on by fits and Starts he
replied. But don't mind mind; go on
speaking. What We're YOU going to
say?'
''Oh, only about young Mr.. Fforde
They say he is to marry Lady Margaret;
they are only second cousins. But l
don't think he looks good enough for
her She seems such wonlanly, nice
feeling girl We had just been intro
duced when Mr.. Fforde came up with
your message, and she wanted him to
go back to you at once. But he said
you would be gone already, and I
didn't quite believe about your head
being so bad and perhap: seemed
very cool about it. fer Lady Margaret
really looked quite vexed Wasn't it
nice of her: The Carriers had bee tell
ing her about US. "vlde1 k
she was rather disappointed not to see
the famous Despard Norreys, do you
know? rather wonder you never
met her this summer in town, though
perhaps you would scarcely have re-
marked her just as Miss Fforde, fol
she isn't"
But an exclamation from Despard
startled her.
''Maddic," he said, "don't you under
or 1~<> ~, el,o <1,so ToI~,
Margaret-the great heircss! Good
heavens!'
Mrs. Selby almost screamed.
''Despard!" was all she could say.
But she quicly recovered herself. "Well,
after all, she went on, II don't see that
there's any harm done. She will know
that you We're absolutely disinterested,
and surely that will go long way.
But-just to think Of it! Oh, Despard
fancy your saying that you half thought
She was going to be a governess! Oh,
dear, how extraordinary! And l that
Was so regretting that you had not
met her! What good thing you did
my letter showing your ignorance was
written and sent before you knew
who She was! Don't you see how
lucky il wasp
She turned round, her eyes sparkling
with excitement and eagerness. But
there was no response in Mr.. Norreys'
face; on the contrary its expression was
such that Mrs. Selby's own face grew
pale witt, dread.
"Desnard," she said, "why do you
look lie that? You are not going to
say thtt now. because she is an heiress
just because of money" with tone
of supreme contempt, that you will
give itfup? You surely"
But Mir. Norreys interrupted her.
"Has the letter gone, Aladdie?"
She nodded her head.
''Thcn I must write again at once
myself-to Gertrude Englewood to
make her promise Oh her honor never to
tell what you wrote. Even if thought
she would believe it-and am not sure
that She would could never allow
myself to be cleared in her eyes now -
Madeline stared ut him. Had the
SunstrOke affected his brain?
"Despard," she said, what do you
mean?'
He turned his haggard face toward