The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-04-23
CHAPTER XIX.

CAPTAIN LANGToS DESPERATE.
A short period OF calm fell upon Darrell
Court. Miss Darrell's passion seemed to
have exhausted itself.
Il will never believe" she said one day to
Miss Hastings, shat Sir Oswald meant what
he said. l am beginning to think it was
merely q threat-thc DarrelIs are all hot-tem.
pered."
But Miss Hastings had heard more than
she liked to tell her pupil. and she knew that
what the baronGt had said was not only quite
true, but that preparations for the marriage
had actually commenced.
II am afraid it was 10 threat, Pauline,'
she said, sadly.
'Tlen let the newcomer beware" said the
girl, her face darkrling. "NYh0evcr she may
be, let her beware. l might have been .
good woman, but this will make me a wick.
ed one. sliallIiye only for revenge"
A change came over her. The improve.
ment that Miss Hastings had 50 fondly no.
ticed, and of which she had been so proud.
died away. Pauline seemed no longer tc
take any interest in reading or study. She
would sit for hours ingloomy, snllen silence,
with ali distracted look on her face. What
was passing in her mind no one knew. Miss
Hastings would go to her, and try to rouse
her; but Pauline grew inpatient
ID leave me i'll peace" she would say.
"Leaye me to my own thoughts. / am fran.
Ing my plans"
And the smile that came with the words
filled poor Miss Hastings with terrible appre.
tensions as to the future of her strange, will.
full pupil.
The captain was still at the Court. He
lad had some vague idea OF rushing off to
London; but letter from one Of his most
intimate friends warned lin TO keep out Of
the way until some arrangement could be
made about his affairs. More than one angry
creditor was waiting for him: indeed, the
gallant captain had brought his affairs to
such a pass that his appearance in London
without either money or the hope of it would
have been highly dangerous.
lie was desperate. Sir Oswald had limited
to Him, since the failure of their plan, tia,
he should not be forgotten in his will. lie
would have borrowed money from him hui
for that hint; but he did not care to risk the
loss OF many thousand pounds for the sake
of fifteen hundred.
Fifteen hundrcd-tliat was all he wanted.
Ii he could have gone back TO London the
betrotlied husband of Pauline Darrell, he
could have borrowed as many thousands; but
that chance was gone; and he could have
cursed the girlish caprice that deprived him
OF so splendid a fortune. In his heart fierce
love and fierce late warred together; there
We're times when he felt that he loved Pau-
line with a passion words could not describe;
and ut other times he hated her with some
thing passing common hate. They spoke
butlittle; Miss Darrell spent as much time as
possible in her own oon Altogether the
domestic atmosphere at Darrell Court had in
1t no sunshine; 1t was rather the brooding.
sullen calm that comes before a storm.
The day came when the Court was invad-
cd by an army OF Worknen, when a suite Of
rooms was fitted lipin the most superb style,
and people began to talk of the colnirg
change. Pauline Darrell kept SO entirely
aloot from all gossip, from all friends and
visitors, that she was the last to hear on
whom Sir Oswald's choice had fallen. But
one day the baronet gave q dinner party at
which the ladies' of the house were present