The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-05-28
OWES VICTORY
BY BERTHA N. CLAY.
Will FATE Am rAu1lSE2
CHAPTER xxx.

ilcI Chp anu nelNy Weeks. Il DIX lnGnGlS OF
retirement she considered, were a very
handsome acknowledgment Of NIL her hus-
bands love and kindness. She was in a
state of serene and perfect se%lf-content-
everything had gone well with her. People
had expressed their admiration of her devo-.
ton to his memory. She knew that in the
eyes of the world she was esteemed fault
less. And now it seemed to Lady Darrell
that the time was come in which she might
really enjoy herself, and reap tie reward OF
her sacrifice.
The EARNED neutrality between Pauline
and herself still continued. Each wel,t her
own way-thcir interests never clashed.
Lady Darrell rather preferred tina. Pauline
should remain at the Court. She had a vague
kind of fear of her, u vague dread that made
her feel safer where Pauline was, and where
she could know something of her. Whole
days would pass without their meeting; but,
now that there was to be u little more gayety
at Darrell Court, the two must expect to be
brought into daily communication.
Lady Darrell was an almiable woman. II
was true she had q small soul, capable Of
maintaining ideas only. She would have
liked to be what she called Comfortable
with Pauline-to live nj sisterly terms with
her-to spend long hours III discussing dress,
ornaments, fashionable gossip-to feel that
there was always some one at hand to listen
to her and to amlse her. She, i'll her turn,
would have been most generous. She would
have made ample presents of dresses and
jewels to such n friend; she would have
studied her comfort and interests. But ia
expect or to hope for n companion of that
kind III Pauline was as though some humble
little wood-blossom could hope to train itself
round q grand, stately, sad passion flower.
Lady Darre.l's worldly knowledge ard
kact were almost perfect; yet they could ncv-
or reveal to her the depths of a noble nature
like Pnuline's. She could sooner have sound
ed the depths OF the Atlantic than the grand
deep of that young girls heart and soul; they
would always be dead letters to her-mys-
teries she could not solve. One morning the
impulse was strong upon her to seek Pauline,
to hold Il friendly conversation with her as
to half-mourning; but when she reached the
door of the study her courage gave way, and
she turned abruptly, feeling rather than
knowing why, the discussion of dress and
mere personal appearance must prove dis
tasteful to Miss Darrell.
Little by little Lady Darrell bcgan'to take
her place in the grand world; she WAS too
wise and wary to do it all at once. The de
grecs were almost imperccpt;ble; even Lady
Hampton, one of the most iastidious OF crit
les, was obliged to own to herself that her
niece's conduct was highly creditabIc. The
gradations i'll Lady Dallell's spirits were as
carefully regulated as the gradations OF color
in her dress; with deep lavender and black
ribbons she was mildly solrowlul, the lighter
grew the lavender the lighter grew her heart.
On the first day she wore a silver gray bro
cade she laughed outright, and tho sound of
that laugh was the kncll of all mourning.
Visitors began to arrive at Darrell Court,
but Lady Darrell still exercised great re-
straint over herself. Her invitations were at
first confined to matrons OF mature age. "She
did not feel equal to the society of gentlemen
yet"
There was a grand chorus of admiration
for the nice feeling Lady Darrell displayed.
Then elderly Observation-Disclosures of the
m~atrons-were admitted; and, after q time,
Draw wooers began to appear at the hail."
and then Lady Dauell's reign began in real
earnest.
From these admiring matrons, enthusiastic
gentlemen, ardent lovers, aud ilattcring
friends Pauline stood aloof. How she de-
spised the whole of them was to be gathered
only from her face; she never expressed 1t
la NolNo. ehS Niu " usoOClulS WIN IilCils
and they repaid her behavior by the most
hearty dislike.
1t was another proof of ''dear Lady Oar
rell's sweet temper that she could live in
peace with this naughty, abrupt, wiIlful girl.
No one guessed that the bland, suave, grace
full mistress of Darrell Court stood in of
the girl who had been d;sinherited to make
way for her.
Pauline" said Miss Hastings, one day,
" want you to accustom yourself to the idea
of leaving Darrell Court; for | do not think
there is any doubt but that sooner or later
Lady Darrell will marry again"
II expect It," she returned. Poor Sir Os-
wald! His home will go to strangers, his
name be extinct. How little he foresaw this
when he married!
Let it take place when it may, the Court
can be no home for you then" continued
Miss Hastings.
Pauline raised her hand with a warning
gesture.
sDo not say another word, Miss Hastings;
l canno listen. Just rs criminals were fast
ened to the rack, bound to the wheel, tied to
the stake, / am bound hcre-awaiting my re-
~YcngeI'
.'Oh, Pauline, If you would but forego such
strange speeclll This longing for vengeance
is In your heart like a deadly canker In a fair
flower. 1t will end badly"
The beautiful face with its defiant light
was turned toward her.
sDo not attempt to dissuade me- she said.
''Your warning is useless, and 1 do not like
to grieve you. | acquainted Lady Darrell
with my determination before she married
my r1nniS for his money. She persisted IL
doing II. Let neftake the consequences
bear the penalty. II slIe-lsad acted n true
womaniy part-it she had refused him, as
she ought to have done-he would have Ind
time for reflection, he would not have disin-
herited me III his anger, and Darrell Court
would have descended to a Darrell, as 1t
ought to have done"
"if you could but forget the past, Pau
line!"
II camot--it IS part Of my life now. l saw
two lives before he once-the one made
noble, grand, and gracious by this inlieri-
lance, which / should have known so we'll
how 10 hold the other darkencd by disap-
pointlnent and Swallowed by revenge. You
know how some men wait for tile fair fruit
ton OF II fair hOps--for thedawn of success
for the sunshine Of perfect prosperity SO do
/ wait for my revenge. We Darrclls never
do things by halves; we are not even moder-
ate. My heart, my soul, my life-which
might have been, | grant, filled with high
inpulses-arc concentrated on revenge"
Though the words she spoke were SO terri
bic, SO bitter, there was no mean, vindictive,
or malign expression on that beautiful face;
rather was it bright with q strange light.
Mistaken though tile idea might be, Pauline
evidently deemed herself one chosen to adj
minister instice.
Miss Hastings looked at her.
"But, Pauline" she said, grayely, "who
made yQnfLady Dailell's judgcY'
Myself" she replied. "Mi;s Hastings,
iou often speak Of justice; let INC ask, w.s
his matter fs;f? My uncle was itr,tatcd
against me because l would not matry a man
l dctested and loathcd; in his anger he form
ed the project of marriage to punish ME. He
proposed to Elinor Itochefold, and, without
any love for hin, she agreed to marry him.
| went to her, and warned her not to come
between me and my rightful inheritance. L
told her that II she did | would be revcnged.
She laughed at my threat, married my uncle,
and so disinlleritcd me. Now, was it fair
that ] should have nothing, she all--tllat /, n
Darrell, should SEQ the home Of my race go
10 strangers? 1t is not Just, and / mean to
take justice into my hands,"
.Rnf pnnltuo " nn,,n,o3 ST;,, rI,.ktn.,