The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-09-03
CHAPTER XVIII.

&Therc had surely never been a more
3ramalic scene than this-the dark sky,
BE- great bare trees, the CLEAN of faint
tarlight, the tall, queenly girl with royal
bee and figure, who stood clasping the
roopng, weeping girl defying the whole
Forld. rs it We're, for her sake; the man
ho stood with a world of passion OH his
scc ut war with everything and every
nc, knowing every word Lady Hilda said
las rue, vet loath to lose the beautiful
kirl he loved so well.
4 There came sounds of quick footsteps,
q horse galloping, of men shouting,
lnd the little group by the trees stood
1aralyzed with amazement.
& What is the matter?" cried the earl,
Dis the men galloped past, and another
|bnc ran to open the gate. 'What is the
3natter?"
They did not stop to answer him, they
Nid not stop to see who it was standing
Ahere: bnt one of the men, as he FASTENED
Zby. cried:
I'VE are going to Hardale for doctors;
Hhc duke is dead" And before the words
Alad died away he galloped on.
The duke deadw cried Lord Dunha-
EcH. sit cannot be true. Dead"
The duchess had flung herself on her
hnecs on the grass, and hid her face in
Rcr hands, while Lady Hilda said:
"1ou have cause to kneei and thank
(tfod as never woman thanked Him be-
fore. You are saved on the brink. Thank
Him from your heart. If had been five
;Dinu;es later, your good name would have
sbcen lost forever. Thank Him, Duchess
mi ro, doc Il !, no ND
Duchess Lurline bowed her head and
Iwcpt like a child.
How terrible she said with shud-
Ider, that l should have been running
away from him when he lay dying! Oh,
,God forgive me, for l have done wickedly
.wr0ng'
The earl raised her and pillowed her
head for one minute to his breast.
My darling," he said, ''forgive me. l
should have known better; the angel OF
death frightens me. l see that l have
done wrong; it is all my fault. sweet Lur-
line; not yours. Say you forgive me, and
| will go-I will GO
Il forgive you,' she whispered. "1ou
were no more to blame than l. Heaven
pardon us both; we were mad, Leonard
both of us mad"
lie knelt down and kissed the lovely
pale face. then turned to Lady Hilda and
held out his hand to her.
'Wil you touch my hand?" he said to
Arr. You have saved us. l owe you Il
debt that the gratitude and affection of
my whole life will never repay. You
nave saved her fair name, and my honor;
may God bless you and reward you.'
He !ent down and kissed her hand; it
was the first time, and that kiss seemed
% burn her for hours afterward.
AXE her back to the house" he said
ion will find some excuse if her alb
sehre has been noticed; but most likely
IN the confusion it will not have been
deserved. Good-by."
hr next minute he had FASTENED down
Tie high road alone, and they were left
10 return to the house. Lady Hilda kissed
me young girl with a passion of love and
tenderness.
You are saved. my darling" she said.
AS they drew near the castle it was
4"lte evident that something unusual had
occurred; there were lights in many of
5't Windows: they entered by the side
u''f' and went straight to Lady Hilda
.gg'll: 1t took but Il moment to strip OIL
me 'ark travelling dress and find white
0'SsSlns gown.
was nearly daybrealS when the doc
'N Sald the ladies could enter the death
,.r ."Ilner There lay the dead man whose
~ Tt'e mad been so near forsaking him.
s ne Young duchess shuddered as her eyes
Ii IIn "h the white silent figure. Lady
-''I"' remembering what she had suffer
~ was full of kindest sympathy for her
,"r stood by her side while the duchess
,, ".'', up to the bed whereon her dead nus
DO you think he knows?' she whis