Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-02-12
CHAPTER X

i Tho words seemed to fly from one TO
another--the very air seemed to catch
them and carry them along.
one OF the keepers. ON going between
o IL aud five in tho morning to look after
some waterfowl, fancicI he saw some-
thing strange in the lakc-a light u
parcel. floating as the wind blew. He
took II long pole and drew it toward him,
and. on opening it. found that it con-
tanned Il skrin of fine blue sewing-silk,
such as Indies use in embroidery. Fur
tlirr down. near tho fountain. something
else was stirring in tho water. This too
he drew out. and found it to be II lady's
handkerchief of fine lace. with dclicatcly
embroidered the letters uf
which We're &c. r."
In n moment he understood. He had
heard of the missing lady as he walked
from his home to the Park. He had met
two of the Culdalc men-scrvants search
ing. and the three had stopped and
talked together for some time. The mnn
stood dazed ard bcwildercl rs he held
the handkerchief in his hand. He has
tened toward Culiale. and when half
way there. he met Lord Culdale. with
! W or three gentlemen, and told them
his terrible news.
His lordship looked at the handker.
chief. with its finely embroidered mono-
gram of &c. r."
"Glndys Ranr!" he gaspcd. "But how,
in the name of heaven. could she have
fallen into the lake at Brantomc?"
They hnstened to the lake, and soon
raised the body. and laid it reverently on
the stone terrace. The face was calm,
even smiling. Perhaps-heavcn was
good!-her last thoughts had been pleas
ant ones. The exquisite features and
the ripping black hair were almost as
they had last seen them. They were
strong men; but, as they looked on the
fair dead woman. tears filed their eyes.
The alarm had been given at Bran
tome now, and the servants came hurry
ing out. Hearing the commotion, Angela
asked the hOusekeepcr what it meant,
and the answer almost stunned her.
There has been a terrible accident.
Miss Charles" replied Mrs. Bowen. ..One
of the ladies who has been stopping ut
Culdalc has been found drowned in orr
lake."
"A lady from Culdalc:" Angela qucs-
toned: and then Mrs. Bowen told her
the whole story. as She had heard il from
ili". scrvants-how one of the visitors at
'%i'i'a!r. a very beautiful lady. had been
missing since yesterday afternoon, and
had been found drowned in Brnntom.
Lake.
What WAS the lady's name:" Angela
asked. i'll IL voice quite unlike her own.
The housekeeper replied that she was
not quite sure-it WAS either Dame"
or "lsanc:" but she knew that the unfor-
tunate lady Was IL famous London
beauty.
IL am going down 10 the lake, Miss
Charles she added: come with me-
and Angela went.
She was bewildcred and incrcdulous.' 1t
could not be Gladys Isanc. she tried To
convince herself. She had been with her
On the evening brforc. and had left her
we'll and strong. What should bring hes
to Brantome? What had led to her
death: How we'll she remembered her
sitting under the shade of the trees. AS
she thought of their meeting. the dark.
lovely face seemed to rise again before
her. Surely Gladys Ranc. with whom
she had spoken so lately. was not the girl
who had been found drowned.
Angela had never felt any respect for
Miss Ranc; but she would have been
shocked ut such a terrible calamity, had
tho victim been the greatest stranger. 1t
seemed hardly credible that this beauti-
full III who had been queen of the
season. should have mot with such an
awful death while help was so close at
hand.
When her eyes fell on the little group
of men standing near the silent figure OF
the terrace. she uttered q cry of anguish;
but apparently no one noticed it.
Keeping close to Mrs. Bowen. she walk
ed slowly to the terrace. One glance was
enough to satisfy her that the dead body
found in the lake was that of Gladys
Rane. The face that not many hours
before was so brilliant in its loneliness
and bloom was now white US marble, cold
and still!
What brought her here:' Angela ask.
cd herself. Could it be that Gladys hai
come in search of her, and that, in try.
ing to make her may to the Hall. she had
fallen accidentally into the Lake
Every one seemed to agree that she had
fallen in accidentally. When Miss Kane
was last seen she was wearing valuable
jewelry; and costly gems still shonc or
her fingers, q necklace of gold clsaped
the white throat. They had mot beer
touched; therefore, it was evident her
had been no robbery, no assault. As fo.
murder. no snch thought was entertained
WHO would rave any interest in til.
death of this beautiful woman whom
"v onc Low u and admired. NJ oil.
lined that it was anytG:n- worse than
, q; terrible accident.
angela did not go near the little knnt
Of gentlemen; but, seeing one of the Cul
dale servant standing alone, she wen
; up to him.
Does IL one know" she asked. show
the accident happened?'-and the answer
; was No."
Does any one know what brought til,
poor lady to the lake?" she asked again
r and again the answer was NO"
"She must have come in search of me,
. thought Angela; and the thought sad
, dened her inexpressibly.
Suddenly she saw something on til