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


Standing she urged. In soft. clear
tones. at the same time placing a small,
gloyed hand upon Sir Dereks arm. IS
though to afford him support. Il have
come at gour own elvitation, 20 cheer
you up, If | can. not to weary yGr.
The dim old eyes sought Ter right
ones. as though 10 gauge what measure
of deceit might Turk in them, Dut they
We're no match for the flashing dark
orbs they encountered. Then thcy
wandered to the slim, graceful figure.
and the ghost of an approving siaile
fickered upon his thin. withcrcd lips.
.'That was certainly prct.iiy said,
child" ne remarked, drily: but II
comes natural 70 your sex to humbu5
even old men like myself"
rs that quite fair, Sir DarekF the
asked. roproachfully. might | moi re-
tort that ii comes still more natural to
your sex TO betray-evan young girls
like me-"
Meaning that rascally nephew OF
mine, Ell? BY Joye! very neatly PUT,
indeed. And, pray, how came so clev-
er n young woman TO be so stupidity
taken in!'
simply because I 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 son death.
But, by Heaven, hill lying shall profit
him little, so far as | an concerned!
Il would | could say the same she
added. bitterly. 1T may be wicked or
me. Sir Derek. but | think | would DO
almost anything to be revenged upon
Stephen Deane."
Would you? Almost anything. Ell!
Se repeated, with a grating little
laugh. well, perhaps we may n
means to crafty your wish. What is
your full nameT"
Alice Constance Bennett" she re,
piled.
Have you any plans for the future!
Any means of livelihood"
mo; none. After what has hap
pened. | cannot and will not return to
my old home; and | must earn my hv
ing by accepting work somewhere.
Fortunately, l 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, u
which was somewhat embarrassing.
"You are not the material governess-
es are made of" he remarked, drily.
II cannot discern a single dement, or
the drudge in your composition. No.,
no. We must find something better
than that for you. Meanwhile, If you
can put up with an old mans whims
and fancies, you may come down To
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 and void, l am
not your niece and"
IF you We're 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 y.sy 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.
| think it does 10 save you, so far as |
can, from the ruin he has brought upon
you. And the performance OF this task
will be the more agreeable to me be-
cause any kindness shown TO you will
be as gall and NORWOOD to him. Do
rot imagine, therefore, that | am actu-
ated solely by a desire for your well
fare; 1t is not so. But, luckily for you,
you may benefit very materially by my
determination to make my nephew sur
fer for his infamous conduct toward
myself, and Incidentally toward you,
also"
Il think / understand you," she said.
quietly. ''Your main object, like mine,
Is TO be revenged upon Stephen"
Say. rather, to insure that he shall
rear 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 l am upwards Of
eighty years old? Come as my amanu-
ensis, my secretary. distant relative, II
you prefer Il. The world can have
naught to say as between you and me-"
"If you assure me you are eighty, OF
course l am bound to believe you," re-
marked Alice, with q faint smile. But
you certainly do not look anywhere
near 1t. 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.
We'll. WELL" he rejoined, we must
think that matter over. l shall be In
town for several days yet, and, pom
my word, / believe the London air has
made me feel ten years younger. May
| offer you a glass of wine, or do you
prefer tea. like the rest Of your seyy'
Honestly. l should prefer the wine,"
she answered, quick to see the answer
he wished for, land some cake. please"
These refreshments were duly served.
and the old gentleman did the honor
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.