Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-08-25
an awkward moment. especially for

SlaIlltIS- she uTEtu, III Soiti ~
tones. at the same time placing a slniI.
gloved hand upon Sir Derek's arm, IS
though to afford him support. Il nave
come at your own Hlyitation. 20 cheer
you up. If l can. not TO weary ycI.
The dim old eyes sought her ,right
ones. as though 20 gauge what measure
OF deceit might Turk in them. Dut they
were no match for the flashing dark
orbs they encountered. Then :hcy
wandered to the slim, graceful figure,
and the ghost of an approving si''ile
fickered upon his thin. withcrcd lips.
THAT was certainly PRETTY sald,
child re remarked, drily; "bur IL
comes natural TO your sex to humbus
even old men like myself"
us that quite fair, Sir Derek?" she
asked. rcproachfully. Might | not re-
tort that it comes still more natural TO
your sex TO betray-av1n Young girls
like meg'
Meaning that rascaily nephew OF
mine, Ell? BY Jove! very neatly put,
indeed. And, pray, how came so clev-
err a young III 10 be so stupidity
taken in?'
simply because | trusted blindly to
Stephens honor"
AYE, aye. and he himself valued that
~honor-the honor OF the name he bears
no higher than a dicer's oath! He
lied to you about this marriage, just
as he lied to me about my sons death.
But, by Heaven, hill lying shall profit
him little, so far as | am concerned
II would | could say the same" she
added. bitterly. 1T may be wicked or
- ST.. no,nt. I,t \ thinE Vnl1I6 DO
almost anything to be revenged upon
Stephen Deane."
Would you? Almost anything, ehg'
re repeated. with a grating little
laugh. well, perhaps we may find
means to crafty your wish. What Is
your full Nance"
Alice Constance Bennett" she re-
piled. !.
Have you any plans for the future!
Any means of livelihoodT'
NO: none. After what has hap
pened, | cannot and will MOI return TO
my old home; and must earn my Nv
ing by accepting work somewhere.
Fortunately, / have a good education
to fall back upon"
Sir Derek adjusted his folders and
favored her with a long and critical
inspection. which, in so very old a man,
could scarcely be deemed rude, but
which was somewhat embarrassing.
"You are not the material g~oyerness-
les are made Of" he remarked, drily.
IL cannot discern a single element or
the drudge in your composition. NO,
no. We must find something better
than that for you. Meanwhile, il you
can put up with an old mans whims
and fancies, you may come down tn
Deanshurst, if you like"
Alice started in surprise. "You are
very kind, Sir Derek," she added. hest
tatingly, but have you reflected that,
my marriage being null N void, am
not your niece and
IF you were Stephens wife | would
not have you down there at all" in
terrupted the baronet, promptly. See
here. child-the point is this: You have
been very basely tricked by a scoun-
drel. who, unfortunately, is Of my
blood and has a legal right to my name.
1t lies within my province Tor at least,
I think 1t does TO a you, SO far as
can, from the ruin he has brought upon
you. And the performance OF this a
will be the more agreeable TO me be-
cause any kindness shown TO you will
be as gall and wormwood to him. DO
rot imagine, therefore, that am actu-
ated solely by a desire for your wei
fare; 1t is not so. But, luckily for you,
you may benefit very materially by my
determination to make my nephew suf-
fer for his infamous conduct toward
myself, and incidentally toward you,
also"
Il think I understand you," she said.
quietly. "Your main object, like mine,
is TO be revenged upon Stephen"
"Say. rather, to insure that he shall
reap nothing save what he has sown,
and that his punishment shall be com
mensurate with his blackguardism. As
to your presence at Deanshurst, are
you aware that 1 Am upwards OF
eighty years old? Come as my amanu-
ensis, my secretary. distant relative, II
you prefer it. The world a have
naught to say as between you and me-
IF you assure me you are eighty, of
course I am bound to believe you," re-
marked Alice, with a faint smile. But
you certainly do not look anywhere
near it, and-well, people will talk, you
know
Sir Derek adjusted his wig, straight
ened his back, and strobe, with quite
youthful energy. towards the bell.
There was, he told himself. something
in this charming young woman's objec-
ton. after all.
well, WELL" he rejoined, 1--WE must
think that matter over. l shall be i'm
town for several days yet, and, pom
my word, / believe the London air has
made me feel ten years younger. May
I offer you n glass of wine, OF do you
prefer tea. like the rest of your seyT'
Honestly, should prefer the wine,"
she answered, quick to see the answer
he wished for. "and some cake, please
These refreshments were duly served,
and the old gentleman did the honors
in a style that put him On excellent
terms with himself. In fact, he could
not remember when he had passed the
afternoon so pleasantly.
lTn Do Continued