Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-24
IRENE'S vow
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAEME.
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAEME.

were all startled 10y the bark OF dog
n pretty white dog who came Ieaping
and barking in the midst OF the circle,
with less respect than had they had been
50 many pheassntS some laughed, some
moved away, but the Duchess OF Bayard
sank back in her seat. pac AS death and
trembling in every limb. She knew the
dog: it was her own. ucautiful, petted
little animal. given to her by the duke;
and she had missed it since morning; and
now il was here with, surely. blood
stained handkerchief tied round his neck,
oh, heaven, what could it mean? In nm
instant, and like flash of lightning, it
came home to her. that wonderful truth
The dog must have Followed her into the
woods, aud have found Sir Hubert. She
remembered how often she had seen hin
fondling the animal II must have gone
to the wounded. helpless man, who had
| found strength to tie this round his neck.
and send him home.
Pale. breathlcss, her heart beating al
most to suffocatiou, Irene listened, In
her heart she cried out that it was unfair.
Heaven had not intcrfered to save her;
but it had interfered to help the man who
had betrayed her In that one minute u
mind and the picture that dwell there
longest was Of the dukes MS he asked her
the name OF the man who practiced this
vile fraud upon her--asked her as they
were standing by the sunlit fountain IN
| Rome.
| There was a russia great stir-a cry.
She looked up. Lady Estmere lay faint
/ ing on the terrace, with group of cleo
trihed ladies around her, and the gentle
men we're all bending over the dog, the
duke foremost among them.
Irene" he called, excitedly, come
here"
She rose. though her limbs trembled so
that she could hardly walk. Tall, state
ly. with her rich dress and trailing laces,
with her diamonds and her white face,
she FASTENED to him. The group of men
made way for her.
Col Leighton held the dog in his arms,
and the duke held a white pocket hand
kerchief stained with blood.
See, Irene" he cried; ~ am sure !
am right. Sir Hubert is lying some
where wounded in the woods, and this
dog has found him. He has managed to
tie this round his neck, and send him
messenger to us"
He stopped abruptly, for the CHASTITY
pnllor of his wife's fa,e startled him.
DO not be afraid, my darling" he
cried; The must be living or he could not
have done this"
But in her heart she was crying out
that heaven had helped him-had taken
her vengeance from her.
1T must be So" THE duke is quite
right" Messengers should be sent AT
once were the cries she heard all round
her; and the duke opened the handker
chief, that all might see it. There was
his name plainly worked in one corner,
and near the work was great crimson
stain. 1t was quite evident that some
one had tied 1t round the dogs neck
There was great excitement among the
group; some of the women were weeping
like children and strong men had grown
pale. The duchess stood by, cold, silent,
motionless as stone.
The duke went up to Lady Bstmere.
Take courage, my dear" he said, kind.
iy IL feel sure now that all will be well.
Hubert has certainly met with SOM
accident, but we shall find him and bring
him home for you to nurse, Cheer up
and get well for his sake. Irene" he
continued, 'sce, my darling, that Lady
Estmere is attended to-" but the duchess
. stood by motionless--shs neither moved
nor spoke.
Then the duke ordered all the keepers,
all the men servants In the house to be
called together and a regular orderly
search to be instituted
Thai found him, although more than
;. once Nle men. with the coolne at the
head, had been tempted 10 give up III,
chase.
They followed the little dog. although
ii seemed useless. Sir Hubert, they
said to each other, would never be able
to wander through this tangle.
: But they found him, and when Col
= Leighton tried TO raise him his head fell
= like a dead weight on his arm.
y "He is dead" cried the eoolnel; I'VE
have come too late"
But one of the men laid his hand on
= Sir Hubert's breast.
" He is not dead; his heart bents." nc
. said.
The accident was patent to all-ln fall
J, ing the trigger OF his gun had caught IL
y the branches of a tree, and the Who'll,
contents were lodged in his side: the
: could see, also, that his ankle had beer
y broken. How long, they asked each 9th
err, had he been lying here so cruell!
> ded-here-alone2
He could hardly live until they reach-,
u home His face was CHASTITY white, an,
!" his lips burned with cruel thirst. Blu
what seemed the most strange was th
u that they found on one of his bruised
Z cold hands q womnn's wedding ring.
!. CHAPTER ZNIV