The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-09-10
CHAPTER yXXI

why should l have told you nv secret?
When l went to live with you in that
gloomy northern abbey there was no
thought then of your ever coming to Lon
don; how should l know that you would
meet my husband or that he would love
you! Be just; have suffered enough, for
| love him"
Then why did you leave him?" asked
the duchess.
"Iet me tell you my story" said Lady
Hilda; "then you will understand"
kneeling at the young girls feet, she
told her all, every detail what she had
suffered through her love, her pain, her
struggle-the most pitiful story that wom-
an ever had to tell. When she had fin
ished she looked into Lurlne's face
Are you angry with me now?" she
said. Il never meant to make myself
known. meant to keep my word in all
honesty and be dead to him for all time.
The only thing that could have forced
my secret from me was the fear and hor-
ror of sin. l could not see you marry him,
because l knew there could be no such
marriage while I lived"
You should have told me; it was so
cruel, for l love him, too. love him
with all my heart, and now l have lost
hint was cruel"
She wrung her hands with a cry of de-
spair that Lady Hilda never forgot. Then
they both started and stood erect, for
Leonard, Lord Dunhayen had Anticipated
his journey by a day; he had entered the
room and stood there, silent and bewil-
dered.
'Lurline, darling, what is t." he cried.
I1n nnnDaI hic Oh l.:
face on his breast.
Leonard, Miss Dunn says that she is
your wife, Hilda Dunhaven, and that YOU
can never marry me; you must choose be-
| tween us: here is the woman who desert
ed you, and here the woman who loves
you; choose between u.s..
Am going mad, Lurline? and is the
whole world mad? My wife?''
He went up to her, the duchess watch
ing him with jealous eyes; he took her
hands from her face, and looked earnestly
! in it.
| "My wife!' he said again. "Hilda, are
you indeed my wife?"
She raised her eyes to him.
"Yes," she said sadly, 81 am indeed
your most unhappy wife, Hilda Dun
haven"
He stood rooted to the ground with
amaZement.
"AIy wife! and have known and seen
you all this time, and yet did not recog-
nize you?"
81 am sorry" she said; and the sadness
in her voice was SO great that it brought
tears to his eyes. II am very sorry.''
she said, 81 wish l could have died
! Death would have been the most well
come friend to hold out his hand to be, but
l cannot die, and l dared not stand by in
silence while this wrong was done. My
life has been all pain, but this---of bring
ing myself back to you, of telling you that
| live, of standing between you and your
marriage-this is the keenest pain of all -
| Lord Dunhaven looked from one to the
other-these two beautiful women who
both loved him, one Of whom he loved; it
was impossible to tell which was most
beautiful-the queenly, royal woman
| whose exquisite face was bowed with
shame, or the fair young duchess whose
eyes We're full of love.
MAY heaven help us all!' he said.
There was never SO strange q fate /
I am lost bewldered. Oh. Hilda, this all
seems wrong. Lurline, know not what
to say"
A new spirit came over the duchess. a
new light shone on her beautiful face.
something of the grand spirit of Il grand
race stirred in her heart.
"One of us must suffer- she said; ''it
must be l. You, whom God joined togeth-
er no man shall put asunder. Leonard,
Lady Hilda is your wife; can be nothing
to you; she is true to you. Even if you
would be divorced from her, you cannot;
there is no ground for it; neither would |
have it so. You will learn to love her and
forget me-
Il shall never forget you. Lurline," he
cried, in passion Of despair.
you must forget me now Try to love
your wife, Leonard; she is beautiful and
good; she loves you. l will leave YOU
now Do not ask for me again. l am
going to my own room to say my prayers,
to ask God to help me to forget you; and
He will, know He Will
She went up to him. all the bravery and
nobility of her race shining in her eyes.
I'VE have loved each other very much
Leonard she said. gently. ''but you see
dear. it was not to be. Kiss me before
go, just as you should kiss me if you saw
me lying dead
He took her i'll his arms, and the tears
that fell from his eyes ON her face were
no disgrace to his manhood; he loved hel
so WELL He laid his lips on hers for one
half minute.
! "Good-by, my love-" he said, ''good-by.'
Her arms clung round him, her lips
chung to his; then she repeated the words
"Good-by. my love, good-by.'
The next moment she had passed from
his sight, and the name of Lurline, Ouch
ess of Nairn had become to him a memory
and Il dream.
His wife went up to him. pale, grave,
collected.
..I am very sorry." she said mo words
can tell you how sorry. You love her,
and she loves you. l am the curse of
YOUR life to come between you"
He looked at her so royalty beautiful, so
graceful, SO queen-like, and he thought
ia himself hvN other men would love and
worship her; he remembered, too, how she
had loved him.
.Hilda." he said gently, 81 have given
vou no warm words of welcome, but am
glad to see you. l have repented sincere
" of my cruel words, and l have thought
so much of you