Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-31
THE AUTHOR OF
Rathbone," "Poor Gene

liso IGiSSNot liz NDNNN >OfN
and sternly on his formerly adored
Eugenia.
Pardon me that I did not forewarn
| you of nv presence in London" said
Eugenia, lightly and smilingly, and,
with just a little touch of irony; "but
I wished to be a witness of your sur
| prise, and l see that it is very great"
The v~iscount was forced for a time
to contain himself, for people We're
about him, witnesses to all that was
| passing, and so he muttered, constrain-
| eddy, that his surprise could be sur
| passed only by his joy at the present
meeting.
And Mrs. Chesterton smiled gra-
~ciously, ard thanked him, and asked
to be introduced to his son, and greeted
Theodore warmly, and bestowed on
him a long and very approving look.
And, perfectly radiant, said:
II can perceive, ~viscount, that your
son Is most completely worthy Of the
praises which everywhere are show
cred upon iim."
And almost beside Mrs. Chesterton,
though unnoticed 10y her, was n who
was watching her every look, listening
eagerly to her every word.
III thht ptlSOhs VI WYNN We "'A
presently speak, was saying to him
self:
How easily flow her ~words-how
| calm her smile! Looking at her now,
who would believe that she had aided
in assasination!'
Withdrawing quietly and unnoticed,
| Mrs. Chesterton had made her way to
a snug apartment very remote from
those in which her guests Of that even
ing were assembled.
To that room she vas speedily fol-
lowed, as she had known would be the
case, by Viscount Dareleigh.
Mrs. Chesterton had been seated
scarce a moment in n of the most
handsome and luxurious of her hired
easy chairs, when she saw the ~viscount
enter the room and hurriedly close the
door behind him.
Once more. after so many years,
alone together, these two looked curl
ously at each other; perhaps each Of
them was noting the havoc which time
and a guilty conscience had wrought
with the other since the days when
they were lovers and accomplices in a
terrible crime.
For some moments not a word was
spoken between them, yet was there
not perfect silence around them; for
the music Of the waltz, which the fash
iunabie band Mrs. Chesterton had en-
gagged for the ~enlivenment of her
guests were playing, reached ever to
that room, although but family pene-
trating to its interior.
Presently Mrs. Chesterton broke into
a slight, quiet laugh; she was greatly
amused with the stupefaction yith
which the viscount yer still looked
upon that Eugenia, formerly so dear
TO him, and whom, she had no doubt,
he had most completely forgotten.
Mrs. Chesterton explained that she
had been many years absent from
England, to which she had but very
lately returned.
A few weeks before, on her way to-
wards London, she had thought to
write to the viscount to inform him
that she was still in existence; but
having reflected, had torn her letter,
thinking 1t best to give him an agreed
bic surprise.
And again she laughed, as she read
ON the viscount's face the annoyance
and vexation which he felt.
1t will be easily understood the torn
letter to which she alluded had been
that which had been found by Noel
harrington.
Now, listen to me very attentively,
Norton" proceeded Eugenia." My hus-
band, Mr.. Chesterton, who died some
eighteen months ago, had encountered
great reverses and so has left me en-
tirely without fortune"
The yisoount would not believe that,
beholding the luxury with which Eu-
genia was surrounded.
But the lady explained to him by
what means she had obtained posses
sion of the house and furniture; that
before returning to England she had
collected together all her little scat
tered property, and had converted 1t
into money; and that, a month hence,
she would be without resources.
The ~viscount could not understand
her-in that case, wherefore such prod
igality?
And Mrs. Chesterton responded:
Because the lady with whom Wis
count Dareleigh's son shall wed must
be very wealthy, and because it was
necessary that a world, which judges
only by appearances, should believe
Miss hurelia Chesterton to be a very
heiress."
The viscount started and frowned
darkly on Eugenia, who, with a pecu-
liar smile, said banteringly:
Il see, Norton, that you now begin
to understand. Fate has decided
against u own felicity, but we may
yet be happy in beholding u children
united"
"Audacious as I have always known
your spirit" the v%iscount very wrath
fully cried, II could never have thought
it would imagine a project so madly
absurd"
"ReailyT" exclaimed Eugenia, with
a knocking smile.
mo more of this!" pursued the Wis
count. You appeal to my former
friendship. and 1t shall not fail you'll
will provide for you and your daugh-
ter. / shall remember the Eugenia
Reckless whom formerly, In my evil
days, l loved!'
But is that all you viii remember"
Mrs. Chesterton ironically demanded.
"Are you quite certain that you will
have forgotten One Tree Square, and
the Fifth of February, 1907"
The lady had, unconsciously perhaps.
romayyhat rafSad her voice and the