The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-08-27
HAPTER XXV.-(Continued.)

Jew from the coppice. You have not
NV home-Havendale-h you,
ess"
o. | have seen but few of the ancient
es of England" she said; very few"
DIV Hilda's heart had given one great
at the sound of that word, Haven
that had been her fathers home,
great house where her fair young
her died. How often she had longed
be it. If she had never left him they
ld have been living at Havendale
How her whole heart and soul
led for some news of the place which
lid have been her own. she looked
he master of it, but he had eyes for
one and nothing except the lovely
hg face before him.
Do YOU live at Havendale, Lord Dun
en: z" asked Lady Hilda, after a short
se. He glanced at her with a bright
{.
ought to do so; it has always been
home of the head of the Dunhavens
g last earl was the only one who lived
bied out of it,
EMhy did he not live there?" asked the
hess.
5Uru puUutlSe eu SltuSStu Ills SuOul-
EHe was eccentric, Duchess Lurline-a
hdsome spendthrift in his youth, a
eer in his age; would rather not speak
him"
Lady Hilda bent her head, that no one
ght see the sudden pallor of her face
Ewas of her father they We're speaking,
father whom she had kissed for the
1t and last time as he lay dead. She
ID no more, but the curiosity of Ouch
Lurline was aroused.
sYou need not talk about him unless
h like she said, "but am much inter
ted. What relation was he to you, this
earl?" she asked.
E'My father and he We're COUSINS" re-
ed Lord Dunhaven.
e'Ihen how came you to succeed him?
lad he no sons Of his own?"
('No.' replied Lord Dunhaven, che had
3 sons; hehad one daughter, and 1 be-
: Eve he hated her. He never forgave her
ecauSe she was not boy. l have heard
mother say that he never kissed her
lce in his lfe."
&"Poor girl!' murmured the duchess, in
bnes of sweetest compassion.
Eyes, she was greatly to be pitied," he
eplied sadly; mo one knows how much"
Duchess Lurline was looking with curl
ps eyes into his face.
"rel me about her." she said. 81 am
berested in her; what became of herr"
IA sunbeam came over the greensward,
bright-eyed bird hoped under the
thade. the wind stirred the deep boughs,
But where those two sat there was no
Found. The words that the duchess spoke
seened to linger in the air.
Lady Hilda rose from her seat: her
heart was beating, her pulse throbbing,
per brain seemed to be on fire. She could
pot remain there to hear what answer he
fad 10 make. Dear heavens! what would
3le say: She must hear it; she could not
30. She leaned against one of the big.
tlck branches. She was fascinated; she
could not go. She must hear it, if the
hearing Of it killed her. They were too
much engrossed in each other to think of
her. She buried her face in her hands
and bent her head on the cedar bough.
Duchess Lurline repeated her question.
Tell me-" she said, "what became Of
her."
He was silent for few minutes. Then
he answered.:
DO you not know? Have you never
heard:"
NO, never heard even of her existence
until this moment. OF course the name of
Dnnhaven, as belonging to the haute
noblesse. has always been familiar to me,
but | know no details of the family his
tory: tell me.''
Il must tell you, since you ask me"
he SAID. Can you not guess what be-
came of herr
No, how should II" she asked.
II married her. She became my
wife,
Your wifc!' cried the duchess; SIS it
possible you married her? What was
her name:''
Lady Hilda Dunhaven," he replied.
You married her." repeated the duch-
ess. 1T seems hardly credible. What
was she like?''
Il can hardly expect You to believe me, y
he said; but l hardly know what she
WAS like. If l were to meet her, | am
afraid | should not know her. l am
to say so, but l do not believe L
ever really looked into her face. My
mother said she gave great promise of be-
ang beautiful woman-all the women
oi the Dunhaven family are beautiful"
You never looked at her." cried the
duchess, in wonder. 81 cannot under
stand-nay, l do not believe it. Did you
not love her?'
ut was no question of love-" he an
swered. Il cannot explain more to you,
because the secret is not my own; but 1t
was no question whatever of love-
But did you love herr" persisted the
duchess.
Since you ask me the question-no.
did not love her.
There was no one to see the agony OF
the white face that lay on the cedar
hough, or to hear the stit1ed cry thai
went up from that heart to heaven.
Il did not love her." he said; "yet
Know now that she was worthy of love
Poor girl, it would have been far bettel
1or one of us to have died than for tina
marriage to have taken place"
Where is she now?" said the duchess
lie looked at her
DO not ask me-" he said. 81 woul!
leii YOU every secret of my own, thougl
may not tell hers. There is .myster;
about my married life, Lurine, | may 2el
no one. That mystery has made for M
a lonely heart, a lonely home, lonel'
lie STONED Suddenly. A low, Wallln