Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-02-21

rage u culllfen. lou VIII
not, l hope, object TO that, Norton? l
certainly owe him that for the i'm
mense service, without knowing it,
he is about To render me"
And the yiscOunt was, in his heart,
now cursing the woman whom former
ly he had so loved; was striving to
persuade himself hat he was in a
dream, but he was compelled to ac-
knowledge that all was terrible reality.
He had fall, into a sort of stupor,
from which he was aroused by an alb
rupt invasion Of the apar ment by Mrs.
Chesterton's master OF ceremonies,
who entered without any ceremony 1T
oil. supporting, indeed, almost bearing,
In his arms, a young and elegantly
dressed lady, who appeared in Il FAINT
ing condition.
Having placed the lady in a chair,
the master Of the ceremonies apollo
gized that he had intrud>d into that
room; he had had no idea, he said,
that Mrs Chesterton was ~there-had,
indeed, believed the apartment va
cant.
Never mind that, Howard!' said
Mrs. Chesterton; but tell me what has
happened to this ladyY"
And Howard explained that the lady
had suddenly been ovepowere by the
heat in the ball room.
An Mrs. ChestertOn gave her salts TO
the master of the ceremonies, who
employed them for the recovery of the
still fainting lady.
And then, turning towards Viscount
Dareleigh. the widow said, with re-
markable amiability, my presence Is
Indispensable; you will, | am certain,
be good enough to conduct me to the
ballroom"
And taking the ~viscount's unofereo
arm, she quilted the with him.
And, as they proceeded:
Il will be generous, and leave you
this night for reflection, and shall ex-
poet you tomorrow, at
The viscount felt greatly relieved.
Against the morrow he had, l n a mo-
ment, determined to be well prepared.
AS the two quilted the room the
fainting lady revived and cast her eyes
f~earfully around.
While Mrs. Chesterton was 81 bold
ly dealing with her former lover and
associate ia crime, a skillfully con-
trived plot was in progress az inst
herself. which was to render abortive
oil her daring efforts.
The person of whom, awhile since,
we spoke, as watching and listening
to Eugenia. when she had SO suddenly
and Unexpectedly to him, been en-
countered by Viscount Dareleigh, was
Mrs. CheStertOn's master OF the cere-
monies for that evening; and that
master OF ceremonies, himself, was no
other than Noel harrington.
Having discovered Mrs. Chestertop's
residence, Noel set about considering
how it would be necessary that he
should mex proceed.
1t SO happened that the shop of a
music publisher of his acquaintance
was In the neighborhood OF the lady's
house; and thither, on the morning
following the evening on which he had
taken the | berry 10 seat himself be-
hind Mrs. Chesterton's carriage, Bar
rington wendell his way.
And once there. lost no time In com
ing to the purpose OF his visit. .
DO you happen to know anything OF
a Mrs. CheSterton, who has lately
taken up her abode in this neighbor-
hoodr' Noel inquired of his friend.
And that gentleman replied that he
knew the lady very well; that she had
been a frequent customer to purchase
music for her daughter, by whom she
had generally been accompanied.
She has a daughter" Noel exclaim-
ed.
And that daughter, he was told, was
a very pretty and very charming girl.
harrington felt then a pang at his
heart; but he must do his duty; must
not think of Mrs. Chesterton's child,
but must remember the daughter OF
poor, martyred Arnold Lindsay.
Are you in any way interested con-
corning Mrs. Chestertonr' asked Noel's
friend.
And harrington confessed that he
was.
What n pity, then" said the other,
that you did not arrive five minutes
earlier, you would have seen her"
she was herer" Noel excitedly ex-
claimed.
And then was told that Mrs. Chester
ton had been there to say that she was
about to have a soiree. AID to ask that
Barrington's friend would furnish her
with a list of persons whom she might
with safety invite, and who would not
scruple to acc pit her invitations.
Almost n stranger I'm London, she
had said she felt DESTROYS to extend her
circle OF acquaintance.
She had, too. instructed Barrington's
friend to engage for her an efficient
band Of music and to provide her with
a master OF the ceremonies, who was
to be at the house rs soon as possible.
since II would be his task to write the
Invitations.
Noel thought a moment and then
said: You cannot yet have engaged
this master Of the ceremoniesT'
NO." was the reply; but l have
mentioned 10 Mrs. Chesterton The best
man l know. n Mr.. Howard to whom
j must send" !
You must do nothing of the kind"
said Noel. earnestly; 'but must on
this occasion suffer me to become a
master OF the ceremonies"
His friend laughed and said that
would be a good joke; and harrington
assured him that no jest was intended
and that II was a perfectly serious
proposition.
And then the other grew serious,
too. and asked what was the mystery
OF all that. |