The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-11-14
CHAPTER XxxIX.-(Continued.)

SAID the words quite LnouSHtleSSly
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 jesting 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 it ever since she had been
at Ravensmere; there was not a SER
want about the place who would not
have recognized it in minute; where
as her husband did not even know to
whom it belonged.
THAT proves what little notice he
has bestowed on me-" she thought, bit
teriy.
Tie grounds of Ravensmere were so
well wooded that behind the safe shell
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 wasn't to listen to their con-
versation; she only wished to prevent
the story On her marriage from being
told. Sometimes the low, musical
laughter of Lady Hamilton reached
her, and then the rich ring of her nus
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 one 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 Caraven-my hand is
dyed redr'
They had not spoken of her. The
red sun was fast descending.
THAT is what l wish you to see."
said the earl. 1.-THE moment in which
the sun seems to touch the water
red CLEAN passes through it; then the
next moment 1t is quite dark"
They watched 1t liz silence, while the
dark figure stood motionless and still
behind them. The sun, as it set, SEEM
ed to touch the outer edge of the lake;
q red CLEAN came over it, beautiful
and curious, and then, almost at once,
1t was dark.
I I'VE 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
side with them, yet quite unseen.
They had not mentioned her name.
Could she have been wrong in her
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 1t
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 SO 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 it.
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 ears, the fire of love, the madness
of jealousy raging in her heart--how
long? 1t was almost unbearable. 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
Mildred Ransome!" What were
they saying? Was the earl telling how
me had been compelled to cucumber
himself with a wife he did not love?
Was ke saying that, although he did
not love her, and they were strangers
to eacl, other, she cared for him? Was
ne laughing because she had owned
fhaA .c a ,urnr ioal .... -