Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-23
CHAPTER N,

~ 0ef dressing room after ner maid .
III hef, that abe had, after al, become
engaged to the man whom she really
tDved; but she had also 10 acknowledge
that, for that other one, her compassion
WAS very great.
She had never loved him, nor did she
until this night believe the rumor Of 90
eiety that reached her ears, to the effect
that hs loved her; hut she had liked him
very much, and his society had always
6een agreeable to her.
And, for she was always frank even to
Aefself, she acknowledged that he was q
man whom she regarded with some kind
Of awe; . man whose knowledge Of the
world wal % much above hers a. his
wealth wal above her fathers wealth.
Yes, che reflected, he was 70 much
shove her that she did not think, In any
circumstances, love could have come into
her heart for him.
AZ for him, he hardly knew what to do
. that night. He walked back to his
house In Grosvenor place the was too un-
easy to sit In his carriage), and, letting
himself in, went to his library, where he
passed some hours pacing up and down 1t.
Afterwards, when he was calmer, he
went to 4 large escritoire, and, unlocking
1t. took out . bundle Of papers and read
them.
They were . collection Of several old
letters, 4 tress Of hair In an envelope,
which he kissed softly, and two slips OF
paper which he seemed to read particu-
larly carefully. Then he put them away
and said to himself:
1T must be done. there IL no help for
- Afw hAuntNnaa e Onun Pnrnvnv oOA r
would not wreck the happiness Of others:
recall II / hesitated."
And, again, after . pause, he said to
himself: 1T must be DONE"
He rose In the morning at his usual
time, though It was nearly six before he
dung himself YEARLY on his bed to snatch
some troubled rest. and when he wen
down stairs to his breakfast he found his
secretary, Mr.. Stuart, waiting for him.
West told me that / should find you
looking better than ever, Mr.. Cundall,"
he said, "but / cannot honestly nay that
do. You look pale and worn"
~ am perfectly well, nevertheless. But
I went to 4 bah last night, and, what
With that and travelling all day. I am
rather knocked out, but Il ID nothing.
Now, let NJ get to work on the corre-
Spondence, and then we must 80 into the
city"
They began on the different piles Of
letters, Mr.. Cundall throwing over to
Stuart M those the handwriting Of which
10 did not recognize, and opening those
which he did know himself.
They went to the city together later on,
and then they separated; but before they
did %, Cundall asked Stuart II he knew
what club Lord Penlyn belonged to.
= sBlack's,' / fancy, and the 'voyagers,'
hut We can see In the directory" And he
turned to the court department Of that
useful work. and found that he was right.
In the evening OF two days later Cum
Aall called ct Blacks" and learned that
Lord Penlyn wal In that institution.
All through those two days he had been
deriving himself for the interview that
was now about to take place, and had II
last strung himself MP to It.
HI had prayed that there might be No
cruelty In what he was about to do; but
- was afraidl
slow are you, Cundal?'' Lord Penlyn
ssaid, coming down the stairs behind the
porter, and greeting him with cordially.
II have never had the pleasure Of seeing
syou here before"
Then he looked at his visitor and saw
that he was ghastly pale, and he noticed
that his hand was cold and damp.
@tOh, / sayg' he exclaimed, 'aren't you
well9 Come upstairs and have some.
thing"
II am well, but ] have something very
serious to say to you, and"
ida u not nj" the other asked ap
prehensively, his first thoughts flying t.
the woman 10 loved. And the familia,
,name upon his lips struck to the other''
heart
ssShs b well, ~ far a. I know. But 4
- Of her that ] have come to speak. Thii
club seems full OF members: win yor
come for . stroll In the park1 It il clos,
ut hand"
Eyes, yesl" Penlyn said, calling to tn.
porter for his hat and stick. "But wha
can you have to say to me about herr"
Then, ~ they went down st. James
street, and past Marlborough House int,
the park. there did come back suddenl,
to his memory some words he had onc'
overheard about Cundall being in low
with the woman who was now his a@
Aneed wife.
"Now tell me Mr.. Cundall," he said
~swhat you have to say to me about m,
future wife"
II have come to tell you frst," Cundal
answered, 'that, three nights ago, I aske'
Ida Raughton to be my wife,"
ssWhat!'' the other exclaimed. "you ash
ID my future
zone moment" Cundall said quietly
"a did not know then that she wal to b
your future wife. II You win remember
I had only returned to London on tina
day."
Ard you did not know Of our engage
.ment?'
II knew nothing. Let me proceed. i
3foposfnG to her and In gaining her Low
-for she told me that she had consente
% be your wife-you deprived me Of til
only thing In this world l prize. the onl
thing I wanted. ! came back to Englan1
with one fxed idea, the idea that sh
toved me, and that, when / asked her, Oh
NpnM accept me for her husband"
He paused Z moment, and Lord Penlyl
1aid:
while I cannot regret the cause Q
1ouf disappointment, seeing what happl
sssnesn Il brings me, / am still very sorr