The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-08-27
CHAPTER XXyI.

Il
summer dream; to Lady Hilda it was
one long dream of pain. She saw so plain
ly what would happen. and she was so
po"erless to prevent it; she saw that day
ps day the love between them grew
stronger and sweeter-that heart and soul
were drawn nearer together-that life
neld nothing but their lo-e for each other.
II was poetical, graceful. beautiful, but
now would it end? She asked herself if
1T were possible, after having lived all
these weeks with the duchess, he would
ever live without her again? And her
own heart, her own instinct answered,
NO; certain, keen conviction came to her
that they would never part again.
Inc autumn was passing, and the duke
did not renew his invitation; he had many
friends; perhaps he thought it was time
some others enjoyed his splendid hospi-
tallty. He said one morning. when he
felt better, and had come down to break
fast with them:
I'VE shall miss you, Lord Dunhaven,
during the long winter months-you must
come back to us in the spring."
The earl bowed his Acknowledgements
in silence; but Lady Hilda saw his eyes
meet the loving ones of Duchess Lurline
and she understood the glance that pass
ed between them-it meant that there
should be no parting for them but death.
How that one long. lingering, lovinH
glance haunted her with a presentimenu
of coming evil! She thought she woulA
see what the duchess herself felt on the
matter. They We're alone together that
day in Lurline's room. Lady Hilda said
to her:
I'VE shall soon have winter here now,
with the frost and snow"
"1es," said the duchess, with dreamy
eyes; sit will soon be here
'How much you will miss Lord Dun
haven" she continued; your life will
seem quite changed when he is gone
What month does he leave us in?"
He is going at the end of October"
was the quiet reply.
The words We're simple enough, but
something-a strange, firm look had come
into the beautiful face-something of
calm and self-reliance; strange smile
played round the lovely lips.
"What are you thinking OFF," asked
Lady Hilda.
The young girl waited in silence for
some minutes, then she said:
II am thinking that those quaint words
are true: The world is we'll lost for
love-"
Again something in her manner struck
Lady Hilda-a certain quiet, grave re-
straint.
'Those are words that require eXplana-
tion," she said The world is well lost
for Il good love, but never for bad one.
To lose the world with honor is to lose
it well-to lose it with dishonor is death.
Take yourself, for instance, Duchess Lur
line; suppose in some mad moment you
were to say to yourself that the world
was we'll lost for love, do you know all
that would entail on you?'
no." said the duchess quietly, 81 do
not"
LET me show you. If, in some mad,
romantic mood, you said to yourself that
the world was well lost for love-and-
you left your home" Looking fixedly at
her, she saw a flush rise on the fair young
face-the dear eyes fell before hers. "If
ever you are tempted to be so mad, let me
show You what you would lose. Your fair
name, nothing could give it back to you;
even if the man you left with married you,
you would never be received by one re-
position. your state. rank, and everything
belonging to them
A quiet smile came over the fair face.
| Lady Hilda saw it.
'You would lose what is dearer to you
than any of these things" she said.
Your husband loves you and trusts you;
there is no doubt that if you proved so
| foully disloyal and untrue to him that the
| knowledge of it would kill him. Would
You ever be happy again if that happen
ed%'
1T is not bound to happen said the
girl duchess; ''men's hearts, so l have
| heard you say, are not soon broken"
"He is old and feeble; he has been very
| good to you. Lurline."
81 never have complained; I complain
of those who sold me. who deceived me-
and said love was folly; l complain of
them, not him; and still, despite all that
YOU may say, Miss Dunn, maintain that
/ the world is well lost for love-"
"For honorable love, Lurline; not the
false passion which takes the name OF
love-" said Lady Hilda.
| The duchess raised her fair face with
proud eyes.
81 say that love is the greatest gift
she cried.
"Yes, honorable love-" repeated Lady
! Hilda, and Duchess Lurlne turned from
her with an increduous smile. A keen
certain conviction came to Lady Hilda's
mind that the temptation would be toe
strong for them, and that when Lore
Dunhaven left the house the duchess
would 20 with him. She could hardly
explain to herself why she had this strong
esentiment-nothing would drive il
away
What could. she do? Watch them
4 watch them closely and frustrate theil
design. even if she had to call the duke
to her aid? 1t should never be carried
out: she must save her husband from Sc
deadly sin; she must save the fair-facet
child from ruin.
As the days grew colder, and the flow
ers died. as the leaves faded and the bird!
sought SUMNER climes, her watch became
keener; she felt quite sure of it; one tv'
minutes off her self-imposed duty and i
might happen. 1t was nearly the end o
October. and one day at luncheon the ear
said to the duke that he thought of leav
ing Fernhurst on the following Tuesday
There were polite expressions of regret
earnest entreaties that he would conn
ogsin. and once more Lady Hilda saw
II. oh,