The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1901-11-15
49, + 2 80 Is Is = $|| IA! ) J
NSaaS Nl $$$S!46i1EF55S SC
The QSOREKN DAUGHTER.
BY CHARLOTTE N. BRAErE.
INTERNATIONAL sREss ASSOCIATION.
II VI NNINGO1 II TT OTN7VII u.
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION.

eVNN IOJVAI
CHAPTER xXXIx.-(Continued.)
Later on in the evening"" She had
said the words quite thoughtlessly;
they returned to her afterward with
keen pain. She was reckless as to
what followed: as to whether her hus-
band would be angry or not she was in-
different. The only thing was that she
had resolved upon preventing her hus-
band and rival from testing about her;
that should never be.
She went round by the postern-door,
and in the distance she caught a
glimpse of the white dress and the sill
yer veil.
To think that her husband did not
recognize that silver veil as hers! She
had worn 1t ever since she had been
at Ravensmere; there was not a SER
want about the place who would n>t
have recognized it in a minute; wherv-
as her husband did not even know 20
whom it belonged.
THAT proves what little notice he
has bestowed on me-" she thought, hit
terly.
The grounds of Ravensmere were SO
well wooded that behind the safe shell
ter OF the tall trees she could walk
quite unseen by the earl and his COM
panion. The sweet southern wind that
scarcely stirred the leaves brought to
her from time to time chance words,
but none Of them were OF her. She
did not want to listen to their con-
~versation; she only wished to prevent
the story OF her marriage from being
told. SometiLes the low, musical
laughter Of Lady Hamilton reached
her, and then the rich ring Of her hus-
bands voice would sound cheerily in
the gathering gloom; and ali the time
she, his wife, was slowly threading her
way after him like the shadow of fate.
There had not been word OF her
yet-the conversation had all been
about people they had known years be-
fore; and now they stood on the bor-
ders! Of the lake, where the crimson
waters. to the dazed mind of the young
countess. looked like blood. She shud-
dered as the idea occurred to her.
Some Of the crimson glow fell on the
white dress and on the silken veil. She
saw Lady Hamilton hold out her little
white hand and cry, gleefully:
Look. Lord C~araven-my hand is
dyed redr'
They had not spoken Of her. The
red sun w& fast descending.
THAT is what I wish you to see,"
said the earl. The moment in which
the sun seems to touch the water a
red glsam passes through it; then the
next moment 1t Is quite dark.
They watched 1t In silence, while the
dark figure stood motionless and still
behind them. The sun, as 1t set, SEEM
I'd to touch the outer edge Of the lake;
q red gleam anne over it, beautiful.
and curious. and then, almost at once,
It was dark.
we will go home by the ~coppice,"
said Lord Caraven; and his wife re-
membered that the long avenue OF
trees extended to the very gate. She
could therefore walk almost side by
eide with them. yet quite unseen.
They had not mentioned her name.
Could she have been wrong in her
suspicion? Had she mistaken her hus-
bands words?
They were standing at the edge OF
the lake, . cold, dark sheet OF water
now, and she established herself be-
hind a great group Of alder-trees. It
seemed to her that the silver veil on
the fair woman's head and shoulders
absorbed all the light there was.
Presently she drew near. Another
group OF trees separated her from the
two who were 20 unconscious of her
presence-large trees with swaying
branches; through them the night
wind brought every word to her. They
talked only of the light on the water
and the sudden darkness thereof
someone who had known and loved
Lady Hamilton before her marriage.
She laughed coQuettishly over 1t.
How long was that nonsense to last?
the unhappy young wife asked herself.
How long was she to stand under the
darkening evening skies. with the
great alder branches swaying to and
fro. and the soughing OF the wind in
her carr. the IRE Of love. the madness
Of Jealousy raging In her heart-how
.longf It was almost un~bearable. She
felt inclined to cry out that It must
end. She clinched her fingers, she bit
her lip; then suddenly she heard the
sound Of her name-her maiden name
-"Hildred Ransome!" What we're
they saying? Was the earl telling how
he had been compelled to cucumber
himself with . wife he did not love?
Was he saying that, although he did
not love her, and they were strangers
70 each other. she cared for him? Was
he laughing because she had owned
that she was Jealous Of him?
II cannot bear itr she thought.
The next moment there was the
sound Of = shot-something seemed to
rattle through che alder Branches
there was . low cry . startled ex-
claxnation.
There + poachers In the wood"