Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1902-07-10
CHAPTER NIX.

CHAPTER NIX.
There came a change over the young
duchess. She had never been gay Oh
frivolous, but she had taken a vital in,
terest in all that surrounded her: she
had been a leader in all the gayeties of
the II ighborhood; her beautiful face had
been alive with el%oquence. But now she
seemed distracted; she was always deep
" engrossed in thought; il anyone sud
denly entered a room she started rs
Enough aroused from sleep. The express
sion OF her face changed to one OF deep
study and profound thought.
How am | to strike the heart of a
mai who has no hearth" she asked her
self in despair. The only thing that
could make him suffer would be the loss
Of fortune, the loss of the means he en-
joyej for the purchasing of all his pleas
Nres that might hurt him: the loss of po-
sition nigh, be a keen blow to him. but
then he had his wife's fortune to fall
back on, and Lord Gerant was known TO
be rich; if he lost his own position, he
had Away the position that being sOn-in-
Jaw to all earl would give him; neither
loss OF fortune nor position would punish
him as she desired. What should her
vengeance be?
Yet think az she would. the great Won
der of her life remained a puzzle still.
she had sworn to be avenged. and she
could find 10 method of vengeance.
Il will think over it, until | do man
az it," she said to herself. And these
WORDS encouraged her until she reached
London, when the season began-the sea-
sen OF which she was to be the queen.
One evening as she sat at the opera.
lrr eyes sidnctng iniifferently round the
house, fingered on u face that was ter
riuly familiar to her-the face Of Nane
Forester.
Her face flushed slightly as she looked
at him. AID her white jeweled hands
clinched each other tightly. She watch
ed him, while the breath came in hot.
Quick sasps from her lips, and then she
smiled to herself-a slow, almost cruri
smile. The duke was in the box with
her. and when all signs Of emotion ha.i
left her face and manner, she turned to
him.
"Ildephonse," she said, in a slow. calm
voice, do you see Il d~ark-haired man in
the sJalls-the third to the right-a man
with Il handsome, evil face?'
The duke raised his glasses.
Yes, l see him. he replied.
~, no is he" she asked. with complete
t~nr'Dcern.
4 hnOw him; his name Gs-let me think
-fOrrester-Vane Forester; he is what
Is commonly called a man-about-town."
~ nat is heT' Size asked.
"Str.nge you should ask ME that ques-
tjon. iur my influence procured him the
appointment. He was down in the world
Lord Gerant spoke OF him to me. |
believe sir Hubert asked him TO use all
his iuiLence In his favor"
Her face grew a shade paler, and her
lips had d hard look about them; still she
fnaiI,a ined her Indifference of manner.
altno.Sa the hand that held tie richly
5ewe.o. lorgnette trembled.
He IS a friend Of Sir Hubert Est
mere: she said.
liz vas; Sir Hubert spoke to Lord
Gelint about him, and Lord Gerant
spo,e - me-"
AMI your she asked.
Il: / found him u most excellent DO
$ition 4 the inland revenue office. with
an in,o-le of no less than eight hundred
Fcr anIull, and he was well plea sed over
al. | assure you"
She WAS quite silent for a few min
UteS; theE she laid her head on his arm. !
"ildephonsr," she said, gently. Il am
going 10 ask you a favor-will YOU grant
II without wanting to know why | ask
it?'
That | will, most assuredly." he said.
If you Obtained that position for him, !
1ouid you take it away"
o course | can. Surely. Irene. that !
Is not the villain who tried to-"
He paused looking ut his wife in utter
CONSERVATION.
mol I'LL lerstand-no, that is not the
man. Bat there came to my knowledge
once a great wrong that he had done-a
horrible wrong-and the person to whom
he did that wrong. hoped that ne would
be punished. Punish him. Ildephonse-
take from him what you gave him"
The dukes fine old face grew dark with
a frown.
"You cannot tell NE the wrong, IreneT'
BE said.
"EO. | cannot tell you: my word should
Ae sufficient she replied proudly.