The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-07-11

that she knew so well how to assume,
She was somewhat surprised; she had
not expected to see a handsome, even
fascinating man, with n polished ease
and grace IF manner that did not shame
her own. With a few well-chosen words
she babe him welcome to Bayneham.
Il will look for Lady Ililda and Miss
Earle" said Lord Bayncham; 'they are
amongst the flowers, | expect"
He passed out of the French window,
and Mr.. Fulton, following him, stood
there, admiring the magnificent gardens
with their superb flowers. AS his eyes
roved carelessly from one rose plant to
another, they fell upon some object that
made his heart stand still, while his
limbs shook in abject terror. Who was
that smiling amidst the roses? Could it
be Magdalen Hurst, come back in her
youth and beauty, risen again to shame
and expose him? His eyes glared upon
the lovely face, and the graceful, white
robed figure, the same sweet face, the
same clear, pure eyes and golden crown
of hair, and the same sweet smile-the
one she used to welcome him whit
must be Magdalen. A deep groan burst
from him, and the strong man half stag
gered, almost ~fainting beneath the shock.
He could not take his eyes from that face
and figure. But see! 1t could be no ap-
partition, for another iigurc-that of a
tall, stately lady, with a noble ace-was
standing near; and then he saw Lord
Bayneham join them with a smile upon
his lips.
There could be no apparition-it must
be real. He trcmbled when the white
ROBBED figure drew near; his face still
quivercd and his hands trcmbled when
Lord Bayneham introduced that beauti-
full lady as his wife.
Paul Fulton was too agilated for
thought. The sweet voice smote him like
n sharp sword; he had last heard it cry
out his name in utter despair. He muir
INJURED some few confused words in reply
to Lady Hilda's graceful greeting, then
turned almost abruptly away
What is the Natter asked Lord
Bayneham, looking at his visitors white,
agitated face in alarm.
at is nothing" replied Paul Fulton;
"strong perfumes always oyerpower me;
and your flowers, my lord, are very fra
grant"
With a desperate effort Paul Fulton
-ditCl III II tpulu Ohis NC Il AC-
semblance that dazzled him. During dim
ner he talked to the hostess, yet ut times
the well-known music of that voice thrill
ed through him and bewildered him.
After dinner, and when the whole party
were assembled in the drawing room,
Lord Bayneham asked Hilda to sing, and
she complied instantly with his wish.
The sun had set, and the cleaning was
very fair and tranquil. In the soft sub
dued light of the room the fresh face and
golden hair of the young Lady of Bayne-
ham shone clear and bright. When her
red lips were parted, a rich stream of
passionate melody came from between
them, charming all ears and warming all
hearts, but filling one mind with u~nutter-
able wonder.
Paul Fulton wished to believe that lie
was dreaming. Who could that young
girl be, singing with Magdalen's sweet
voice? All at once-and to the day of his
death Paul Fulton never forgot the shock
with the speed and force of electricity
an idea came to him. Could it be Magda-
lens child? Who else could bear her
face, her ~smile?-who else could be so
wonderfully like her? Could it be Mag
dalen's child and his?
Once more master of himself. when
Lady Hilda's song was ended he went up
to her and began an animated conversa-
ton on flowers, guessing by instinct what
she would like to speak of best. He in
terested her by his novel description Of
the Italian fora; and as he conversed
with her, his conviction grew momentarily
deeper. He felt that he must be satisfied,
Lo n@,. -naxr rh~ +1,. .,r1 u,,r GO ILL.,
to his dead wife. He bent over her in
speaking, and his startled glance fell up
on the white-jeweled fingers. There, be-
tween costly hoops of diamond and pearl,
he saw a plain, old-fashioned gold ring,
and on it in quaint characters was en-
graved the word, Fidelity" He had
placed that ring on Magdalen Hurst's
own hand soon after they were married,
twenty-three years ago.
Paul Fulton was lost in amaZement;
he tried to remember what his heart.
broken wife had said about their child.
He had not cared to ask her many ques.
tons. 1t had been adopted, she said, by
a lady. 1t remained for him to find out
who the lady was. Conscience made him
a coward; it would have been easy to
have made inquiries of any of the guests,
but he dared not do it.
Paul Fulton was fairly puzzled. He
could neither sleep nor rest. He deter.
mined to ask questions, but to ask them
cautiously.
When breakfast was ended on the fol-
lowing morning he sought BERTHE, and
after a long discussion of the coming cleo
ton, he said in a carelessly assumed
tone, "Bayneham is a beautiful place, and
| am charmed with the grounds, and
with the master, too. How frank and
fearless Lord Bayneham is, | consider
it quite a privilege to know him."
BERTHE made some half-audible reply;
he was wondering if it would be possible
to persuade Barbara to let him drive her
out that morning.
Lady Hilda Bayneham is very lovely"