The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-08-20
CHAPTER NNIII.


Lady Hilda never remembered how she
reached home; how that interview ended
how she recovered her self-possession
aud talked to the duchess and her hus-
band She did not seem to regain DOS
session of her senses until she was in the
i carriage with the duchess, going home.
When they reached home, the duchess
looked curiously in Lady Hilda's white
| face.
Miss Dunn, you have overtired your
| until you have rested We will &C to
! Dnhaven? BY the way, how strange it
should be so like yours"
Il saw him for but so short a time, I
cannot Judge" said Lady Hilda, family.
i Il judged when l had only seen him
4 for five minutes" cried the duchess. 81
laNdsomest and noblest man in the
world
u quite agree with you. l think few
men are equal to Lord Dunhaven.
should imagine that he is a man who will
leave MS mark on the age. Does he in
tcrest himself in politics?'
tiilllh Ilc lllleIiuS uOlllS SO. he tOlu
me once that his life had been shadowed
by great sorrow, but that he intends
10 forget that sorrow and throw his whole
heart and soul into work. l am going to
be his friend and help him. He is mar
RED; he has never said so, but l believe
that is the shadow that lies over his life -
She did not see the sudden pallor that
came over the beautiful face. She went
ON. itn +hnt &c
! was talking to Lady Hillerton the other
day about it. and she said tnat there was
something very queer about Lord Dunha-
Nen's wife. The real truth, that which
people believe to be the solution of the
mystery, is this-that Lady Dunhaven is
i'll some insane asylum abroad. That ex-
plains everything. 1t is not likely, in that
case. he would ever care to speak about
her"
Lady Hilda was slent-her burning in
dignation prevented her from speaking.
80 this was how they accounted for her
absence. 1t was some minutes before she
could speak. then she asked:
WHO is it tells this story-Lord Dun
hayen?'
No cried the duchess. eagerly. she
has never named her. 1t was Lady Darel
who hintcd it TO Lady Hilerton. She did
not say it in so many words, but she
hnted at it. l think it is true"
Poor wife, said Lady Hida, in tone
OF profound pity.
Yes, it is sad for her, but it is more
sad for him, Mamie. l shall always be
HIS friend. and try to make it up to him. y
She looked as serenely unconscious of
al! danger rs a child who longs for the
f,.,,it 4 Il ~,
Lady l1ilda knew that she was dead to
Lord Dunhaven for all time; that no
chancc of winning his love would ever be
hers. She knew that he had once pro-
h"NEced her unattractive, had said she
would never win any mans love-that
now all his admiration was given to the
duchess. Yet woman-like, she studied
now to look her best. A beautiful dress
OF pale gray silk and velvet. fitting her
rAllsite figure to perfection; a scarlet
flower in her breast. and one in her hair;
'Aeh she went down to see her husband,
VINO did not know her as his wife
she asked herself as she went down
'he great marble staircase whether she
WAS ma dream or whether it was possible
mat the Lady Dunhaven was going to
meet her husband.
l"usAter as she opened the door; he was
'"Ihlhs to the duke, and the duchess sat
near them. She saw the start of admira-
"oh mat he could not repress when his
'yes tell upon her. He bowed, placed a
.n''r Tor her near the duchess and re-
"",neo his conversation with the duke.
:, nIfins luncheon it was decided that
, ,'' duchess should give her first ball, and
neF delight knew no bounds. The duke
rr'ied 1r'I!i, only too happy to leave all the
I"pie to Lord Dunhaven's hands.
"a was lovely afternoon; spring seem,
.,.i l"f once to have borrowed the warmth
".'a ,,'; beauty of summer The long French
.',!oWs ,'' were open; the .sunbeams came
n%"i'hs ,,,;. IN; the western wind was filled
VT" me sweet odor of mignonette.
'o'o Dnnhaven went to the open win
Gin,' GM' ana placed chairs for the two la,
so:, -ee US have one hour of elysium,' he
"G Shall We read poetry or speak it?'
speak it," said tbe ducfeSs with leI