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


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 know that you would
meet my husband or that he would love
you! Be just; have suffered enough, for
l love him.
Ihen why did you leave him?' asked
the duchess.
Let me tell you my story" said Lady
Hllda; then you will understand"
hneeling 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
lshed she looked into Lurlne's face.
Are you angry with me now?' she
said. Il never meant to make myself
known. l 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. 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. l love him
with all my heart. ana 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 Dunhaven, had anticipated
his journey by day; he had entered the
room and stood there, silent and bewil-
dered.
"Lurline. darling, what is it?' he cried.
He opened his arms and she hid her
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.
cam l 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.
EYES," she said sadly, 81 am indeed
your most unhappy wife, Hida Dun
haven"
He stood rooted to the ground with
amaZement.
''My wife! and l have known and seen
You all this time, and yet did not recog-
niZe you?"
81 am sorry" she said; and the sadness
i'll her voice was SO great that it brought
tears to his eyes. 81 am very sorry"
she said, II wish I could have died
Death would have been the most well
come friend to hold out his hand to be, but
1 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 al. -
| 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 Il fate L
l am lost. bewildered. Oh. Hilda, this all
seems wrong. Lurline, l know not what
to say"
A new spirit came over the duchess. n
new light shone on her beautiful face,
|
race stirred in her heart.
zone of us must suffer-" she said; ssit
must be |. 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 1
have it so. You will learn to love her and
forget me-"
81 shall never forget you. Lurlne," he
cried in a passion of despair.
you must forget me now Try to love
your wife. Leonard; she is beautiful and
good; she loves you. / 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, l know He WILL
She went up to him. all the bravery and
nobility of her race shining in her eyes
1--WE have loved each other very much,
Leonard" she said. gently. "but you see.
dear. it was not to be. Kiss me before 1
90. lust as you should kiss me if you saw
me lying dead
He took her in his arms. and the tears
that fell from his eyes on her face were
no disgrace to his manhood; he loved her
SO we'll He laid his lips on hers for one
half minute.
: '.Good-by, my love-" he said, "good- ""
Her arms clung round him, her lips
clung 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 a dream.
| His wife went up to him, pale, grave,
i collected.
II 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
TO himself hsN other men would love and
worship her: he remembered, too, how she
had loved him.
"Hilda." he said gently, Il have given
Won no warm words of welcome. but l am
clad 10 see you. l have repented sincere
" of my crutA words, and l have thought
so much of you.