The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-30
THE DUKES HEIR

|
Outside thick yellow fog huns over Pic
cacilly anG the raw damp air chilled one to
| the marrow.
Inside the club things wore very differ
ent aspect with it, roaring fires and lighted
gas, as Castle1aaine ran lightly up the steps,
holding to a little group of acquaintance
gathered in the huge vestibule among whom
was Captain TreVanion but he failed to no
| tice the curious glalces that followed him or
the significant look that passed between
them.
Looks pretty cheerful, guess he hasn't
heard the news yet" said one of the number
soto voice. Philip vanished into the read
| ingroOm.
Pooh! that's his iolicy; you wouldn't
credit Castlemaine with the bad taste of
wearing his heart upon his sleeve, and openly
| bemoanins the fallacy of human Wishes
surely?" retorted Cantain Trevanion between
whom and Castlemaine there existed no very
cordial feeling, the latter having several
times made the former feel the brunt of his
| quiet contempt. Poor old chap! I'll GO and
offer my coincidence. You fellows don't really
understand what blow this must be TO
his sensitive feelings; yesterday an heir pre-
sumptive, and today clerk he added,
with his unpleasant laugh, as he left them,
not at all loath to Seize this opportunity of
| wipng off old scores.
| Il say, Castlemaine, what shame-deuced
shame I call it, eh?-awfully sorry, old fell
| low, sincerely condole. and all that don't you
| know" he drawled, as he went over to the
table at which Castlemaine was seated.
! Philips look Of surprise was genuine.
II don't understand he began.
"Eh, you haven't read the news then; it's
as much OF surprise to you as all of us?"
cried Trevanion congratulating himself
being the first to convey the unpleasant in
telligence.
What is? Speak out, man, can't you?
| have not seen the paper today" was the
| impatient reply.
why this, of course" answered Trevan-
ion. taking the Morning Post from the others
hand and glancinG through it, laid it down
again, pointing with his finger to the fol-
lowing:
1--WE are authorized to state that a mar
rage has been arranged and will shortly take
place between Miss Lucy Muriel Ravens
wood, only daughter of Mrs. and the late
General Ravensw God, of the First Life
Guards, and the Duke of Craymore."
1t seemed to the keen eyes watching him
time in piercing the brief announcement vet
not muscle of his face moved, nor so much
as the culver of eyelid.
1T u.s. as you say, strange news to me- he
said in his usual tone at length "And
whether it may be accurate or inaccurate |
am not in position to affirm or deny"
We'll call it deuced hard linesH' cried
the Life Guardsman, a little disappointed to
find that he took it so coolly But always
said that sly little Lucy Ravenswood was
angling after a oorunet"
But, LII tell you. my dear fellow, what's
done the mischief, pique, nothing but nio1Ie
She set her cap at the duke simply because
you proved adamant. Everyb body knows she
would have had you for the asking That u.s.
OF course" firing his last shot with brutal
laugh, your prospects that were"
CaStlemalne got up from the table and
looked the other straight in the face. He
knew TreVanlon for a brute and coward as
Iar as women were concerned; saw, too, that
under all this apparent sympathy lay moth
ing but the keenest satisfaction and spite
peheve you proposed and were refused
by Miss Ravenswood during your visit to
Inc Towers" he said, slowly raising his
voice sufficiently to be heard by the fellows
who had sauntered in, and were hanging
about with ll-concealed curiosity to hear
what the two We're saying. "As for myself
| never had any intentions that way and If
L had'-heaven forgive the lie it was tho
Only reparation he could make herr am
quite sure she would not have accented mo
AS far as [ am concerned and think nav
add anyone is concerned, his grace has No
cause to fear rival in Ills fiancee's affeco
toins' "iie'
Then he moved away to where Lord Ken
ton, one of England's cleverest statesmen
was seated, who greeted him cordially and
apparently failed to notice or unders+as anu
silence, ana chatted pleasantly while he cast
over IN his own mind certain likely 70 he
vacant appointments, and Castlemaine lis
over and over again he found himself ronant
ing in dreary, unvarying MONOTONE
The hope dreamed of was a dream
Twas but dream and I awake
Exceeding comfortless. cold and worn.
For dreams sake"
That same day he wrote to Lady Kitty
telling her of his change of prospects. and
tenderly relinquishing her, then waited in an
agony of suspense, the reply.
1t came at last, a few simple lines ev
pressing sorrow and coincidence, and an ar
ceptance of her freedom, that was ali NJ
grlish outburst of grief, no protestations of