The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-08-20
"That is home worth marrying for

. lual is nome WOftn marrying Tor,
she said
But the next moment her beautiful face
mad clouded over, and she looked thought
1ul. They spent whole days in looking
round the magnificent mansion, with it's
superb grounds; and then the duchess,
with sigh of content, declared that she
should be quite happy to live there until
the London season began again.
The duke had not been sparing in his
lnvitations-a large party was expected.
The duchess said, with a well-pleased
smile, they should not be alone for one
day. The first installment of visitors
was the Earl of Dunhaven; Lady STAINS,
beautiful young widow; Captain Yer
non, the heir presumptive to an earldom;
Lord and Lady Alcaster-a well-seiected
party, with every element of enjoyment
len days passed like short. bright
dreams. They all met at breakfast; then
the duke went out in closed carriage,
not asking his wife to go with him now.
one rode, drove or walked with the 9TH
ers, but it always happened that her
companion was Lord Dunhayen. He said
she did not ride well, and he must give her
some lessons; so that three or four morn
llSs each week they would start off to
gallop through the green lanes round
Fernhurst
They were fatally sweet, those hours
spent IN the summer sunshine-fatally
sweet. They We're both so sure of them
selves. SO sure of their good intentions.
so safe in the pretty picture of brotherly
love, that they did not take even com
mon precautions: never did two people
gilde more calmly, more innocently, down
the hill that leads to ruin, then they.
Ihey were both so happy, so bright, SO
evidently pleased with each others So
ciety that it seemed by general consent
that they were left much together. When
they drove out it was Lord Dunhaven
who drove the duchess ponies; If they
rode, he was her cavalier; if they walked
he was by her side; if they spent any
time indoors. he never left her. No one
ever made any remarks about it; it seem
cd by general consent that together they
must be. So far. all was good and right:
neither had the least thought of going
wrong; they would have shrunk with hor-
ror from such notion
Il cannot remember a summer like
this, said the duchess one morning. She
was with Lord Dunhaven and Lady Hill
ia; they We're walking through the rose
gardens, for it was her grace's whim that
at the earl as she spoke. ''The sun has
been brighter and the roses sweeter this
year than ever"
lie bent his head over her.
1T is not that" he said "This sum
mer seemed more beautiful to you, be-
cause 1 am with you''
Lady Eiilda heard the words; they pierre
ed her heart She made way that they
should pass her. She said to herself bit
tefly that 1t was the old story. For them
the sunlight and the roses: for her al
ways and ever. thorn in her heart Even
though she fingered behind them. she
could not help hearing his words.
Il have always thought" ne said. ''that
the presence OF the one we esteem makes
our heaven on EARTH"
"How many heavens have you found
below" asked the duchess.
"This is my first" he answered; "aud I
am quite sure it will be my last"
Again his beautiful. unhappy wife,
hearing the words. felt how cruel was her
fate, that this love so true, so devoted.
pure, generous and noble, had not been
given to her.
How many more such summers shall
we see:" asked the duchess, and there
was something of sadness in the laughing
voice.
"How many?" he repeated "Who shall
say? If we live for fifty summers. then
we shall have fifty more. One thing is
quite certain, that so long as 1 live and
you live, Duchess Lurlne, our summers
will be spent together"
"And that will make their beauty she
said
''Yes, that will make their beauty" re-
piled Lord Dunhaven.
And the wife to whom he had never
said one loving word turned away. be-
cause she could bear to hear no more.