Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-01-31
CHAPTER IX-(Continued.)

his wife had at last succeeded to that
fortune. her before supposed posses
sion of which ad been his only in
duc0ment to wed with her; and he
learned. too, hat the efforts he had
made to break her heart had u C
ceeded, and she was dying.
Pardon your repentant husband,
and embrace nce again u little
TheOdore?" Norton SOwerby pleaded,
kneeling beside the bed Of his dying
wife. and giving into her craving arms
a lovely little boy of about two years
of age.
She gasped family as she strove to
draw the child to her bosom and so ex-
pired.
She had already b~equeathed the
greater portion of her fortune to her
son, if still he should be living, be-
slowing it on her relatives in cas- he
were no more.
For awhile Norton Sowerby -four
ished bravely with that fortune. but
long before he had come into posses
sion of the Dareleigh estates, every
guinea of it had vanished from his
grasp.
Certainly. Theodore, his son was
sent to college; and 1t was there the
young man had first become ac-
Quainted with Edwin Forester, and a
firm friendship had arisen between
them, before TheOdore's father had
become n %viscOunt, which had con
tinued with unabated ardour, and I'M
affected by the dignity TO which n or
these two firm friends had been ele-
waited.
Edwin Forester, as we have seen,
had chosen the medical profession;
and Viscount Dareleigh's son had be-
come a barrister, and had soon given
promise of a speedy rise 70 eminence
In the way of life he had chosen.
Perhaps the chief motive which had
urged Theodore to pursue the law as
a profession, and so somewhat to of
fend the v]iscount'S notions Of perfect
dignity. was the coldness and neglect
with which he had, SO long as he
could remember, been treated by his
father.
TheOdore'S heart had been constantly
yearning for some proof of that fathers
love for his son, but not the slightest
token OF affection had yer been yOuch-
safed.
yiscount Dareleigh was ambitious of
higher worldly hOnorS, and had re-
solved to use his son as a stepping
stone towards the preferment at which
he aimed; therefore, K was that he
had sought for Theodore an alliance
with the daughter of a noble house,
whose head could boast of very I'M
portanr political influence.
And Theodore. at first reluctant, mad
soon gladly yielded to his fathers
wishes, because he has soon become
enamored Of the young lady who had
been selected as his future wife.
Theodore's marriage had for some
time been arranged and decided on, al
though a day had not yet been named
for its accomplishment.
Mrs. CheSterton's invitation would
not have been accepted by the Wis
counts son, but for the hope that, In
the society he would meet there, his
friend might. for a few hours at least,
forget his own sorrows, Of which Theo-
dore had been told the cause.
He could not endure 10 see Edwin
Forester so sad and wretched as he
had been of late, and had compelled
the young man to bear him company
In this visit to the widows house.
And ViScount D%areleigh. too, had
arrived to make one Of this nights
party.
Only a few hours before that at which
we have now arrived had the viscount
received his invitation, which, knowing
nothing of Mrs. C~hestertOn, he had
been, with an impatient gesture, about
to throw aside. when his eye fell on a
few words, which had been added in
pencil at the bottom OF the note.
And those words were:
ut is necessary 1 should see you
concerning the arrangements for your
sons marriage with the daughter Of
the earl of Ashdown."
The %viscount was astounded.
What could Mrs. Chesterton have to
do with any matters between him and
the earl Of Ashdown? How had she
become informed Of the intended mar
rage, which had been and still wasAa
closely guarded secret?
And why was II necessary that she
should be consulted concerning IT.
1t was to know all this that the Wis
count was that evening at Mrs. Ches-
terton's house; and a few moments
after his arrival there he encountered
his son, and both were greatly SIR
prised at their meeting at hat place.
Theodore explained that he had re-
ceivcd an invitation, and for his
frienl's sake only hal accepted it.
Are you acquainted with Mrs. Ches-
terton?" the ~viscount eagerly demand
ed.
Not at all, sir" Theodore replied:
"and l was far from expecting that 1
should have the honor to meet you
here"
And the viscount sank into deep
thought, and was, he knew not where
for, uneasy and a%pprehensiye Of COM
Ing Ill.
He walked amidst the guests, search
ing, yet almost fearing to find this
Mrs. Chesterton.
Suddenly a light hand was laid upon
his shoulder, and a musical voice said
aloud:
Look at me, Viscount Dareleigh,
and let me have the happiness to know
that you have not forgotten an old
friend"
For nearly twenty years he had not
heard that voice, but Its tones were
still and well remembered.
He turned toward the speaker and
beheld, as he had known he would,
-