Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-05-24
CHAPTER vi.
In Peril.


course. she knew that the trouble was
in some way conn ,ttctl with Radstock
and guessed that there had been try
ing scene before he was got rid Of; bul
she had the tact not to allude to the
subject even when the two ladies Were
left together
AT last the unhappy young wife took
refuge in the nursery: and there, hang
ing over the innocent babies, she did
find some bitter-SWeet comfort. Blu!
when the luncheon bell rang, she had
again to face NIinna with her searching
eyes and busy wits; and when the meal
was ended, Cicely Went into the drawing
room with her Sister-in-law. following
their usual custom. For she knew that
she must make an effort to carry Oh
life as if no frightful break had oc-
Cured in it's level monotOnV. So they
sat down together. the one with her
embroidery, the other to the making OF
a dainty muslin piLafore; and with her
fingers busy Cicely found that Il dull
rest came to her thoughts. But she
was not at ease. When the front door
bell rang loudly she started up with
wildly beating heart, the shadow of
some new calamity already darkcning
her face.
Then a telegram was brought in. and
Cicely took it. and held it in her hand
afraid to open the envelope. The SER
want was waiting. salver in hand, to
know whether there was an answer
Nina rose, ard touched her sister-in-
laws arm gently.
''Ncw, dear, you had better read it.
You have to know what it says at
some time or other" whispered the girl
coaxingly.
Cicelv opened the telegram, which
she had crumpled up i'll her hand.
The message was this:
"Shau call on you this afternoon. Be
at home. WILLIAM BENNINGTON"
Cicely re-read it aloud, with astonish-
ment and some relief.
1T is from Dukes uncle, isn't it,"
she said.
."Ye-es," answered Minna obviously.
1t was clear that she did not share
the faint satisfaction the other felt.
You don't know Uncle William, do
you!' she asked rather anXiously
while her siSter-in law sat STILL regard
ing the paper with CLEAN of nope
in her eyes.
No. Why do you ask like that"
"Because-well because you seemed
S1du w ASitl liz WIS SolllllS.
and are rot you:"
Nina shook her head emphatically.
No
He is-dreadfully good; so good that
he turned his son adrift for something
quite trivialHe wanted Duke to marry
his daughter and take his sons place
to him; but to do him justice, Duke
wouldn't"
"Of course not said Cicely warmly.
1T was a temptation. though. They
say Uncle William will leave quarter
of million when he dieS-'cut up Well
is, | believe, the correct term. And
now he hates Duke for getting on with
out his money, and for living in a man.
ner re doesn't approve. He's very re-
igious. you know"
Cicely's face frightened again. Her
own father and mother We're religious,
and the words suggested to her simpli-
city Of life and manners. kindly con-
sideration for others; with a touch of
harmless Puritanism.
Minna had not been left by herself
more than half an hour when the door
Very reluctantly she stepped through
the French window on to the lawn;
and resisting the temptation to linger
in the neighborhood. strolled away
among the trees toward the fishpond
just as she heard the drawing-room
door open to admit her uncle.
Mr.. Bennington was Il stout man. of
the middle height with narrow fringe
of black hair round perfectly bald
crown. and face which was shrewd,
hard and rather vulgar. He glanced
round the room with small, bright
black eyes, which took in every detail,
and he pressed his lips together with
more and more disappprobation as he
did so.
If poor Cicely had only known it,
she would have spared herself the
trouble of putting on, to do honor to
her husbands uncle. the very pref
test gown she possessed. Mr.. Berring-
tons aesthetic susceptit ilities were not
keen, and the dainty embroidered mus
lin she wore was fresh offence, COM
bining as it did the maximum Of ex-
nense with the minimum Of ostenta-
tous show. Nor had her personal
beauty, dimmed as it was by her trou
bic, the power to mollify him. He
stared at her critically as she came for
ward, and just suffered her to shake
hands with him.
ClcelyS heart sank a little. She had
expected stcrnness, but it was the
sternness of the TALL slim. well-dressed
uncle Of the novels and plays, with all
aquiline nose and an deliberately cour-
teous manner, and not this pharisai-
cal. stodgy self-sutticiency.
Duke is not here to introduce us,
uncle,' she began. with a nervous, ten
tative smile. But 1 may call you
uncle may not?"
You may call me whatever you
please, ma5am," answered Mr.. Bcrring-
ton, in stift1y discouraging manner,
without meeting her eyes.
"And I'm sorry to have to come on a
very unpleasant errand now," he said.
"But that is Marmaduke's fault, not
nine.''
Cicely began to tremble.
Il have a question to ask you, mad
am. and I'm sure you will give me a
straight forward answer And he
looked ut her with an expression full
of suspicious penetration. "Whcre Is
Joseph Radstock?"
"Where is Joseph Radstock:' repeat