Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-03
IRENE'S vow
BY CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAENE.
By CHARLOTTE NJ. BRAEME.
SHs<s2=Het>4&Ha<<< -,
CHArrER NNI-lConlInncdl

CHATTER VI.-oContinucdJ
Alone, aud reading Ircnct Are lou
lonely. my darlmgE
NO. am never lonely she replied,
'unless | hnd myself in a crowd. with %
book | have always q companion.
He then informed her that J, was GUS
tomary, during the rail- and winter, Z"
have a pumhrr Of guests al SaNonhursl.
and that it was his intention to present
some OF his most intimate friends to hcr
II have written list W those whom !
think we ought 10 invite hr said, ami
will describe hem ~ ! GO
He then named Ford and Lady Waldo
Hurst. his ncNt of kin; Lady Lyslcr Il
wealthy widow; Miss Caring an Amcri-
cau heircss. and several others. But IT
was not until he mentioned. as on" Of
his friends. Lord Gcran', that she man,
Tested any interest
Then it seemed 10 her that her heart
stood still aud refused to beat; that great
red light shOne before her eyes, ana a
mist OF sorrow and pain EMBODIED her out
OF which sns heard the SLOW tones u the
dukes voice nttcring these words
my most hOnored guest vii. be the
great statesman, Lord Gcrant. am
anxious to show him all honor and You
will help me, | am sure.
The voice that answered him WAS IAint
and low. aud seemed to come from afar
off
Il will do my best, lIdcphonsc, to meet
your wishes in every way" it said.
lower sank the beautiful golden head;
the rich draperics OF muslin and lace rose
NJ Gall h., l.
ing; the beautiful face dropped more and
more from his sight.
THAT brings me- said the duke, TO
che next name on my list My old fricnd
has daughter who is one OF the most
beautiful women and the richest hciress
In Englnnd-@Lady Lira Gerant"
Had he noticed his wife more, he would
have seen her face grow deadly pale. and
q great gasp come from her parted lips.
Lady Lira married man who will
leave his mark on The age--Sr Hubert
Estmere, of the Mere"
1t had come at last--this name. which
was to her like the knell of doom. For a
few minutes she thought she must fall
from the chair to the ground. The sound
Of the name so long and so dearly loved,
so long unheard, struck her with keen,
passionate pain mist swan before her
eyes, sound OF rushing waters filed her
ears. With 2 violent, almost desperate.
effort, she recovered herself she stilied
the trembling, she forced the color back
60 her face.
lyon interest me greatly, Ildephonsc,"
she said
DO |? am very glad. | feared from
your silence thai it was otherwise. | was
telling you that my friends daughter.
Lady Lra Gerant. had married a rising
statesman. Sir Hubert Estmcre. like
him very much; we agree exactly in our
notions of politics; have asked him with
his wife. Lady Estmerc; and if. in all
England there il one woman with whom
1t would delight me to see you on friend
iy terms, il is Lady Esrmere. She is
young ike yourself, hpautiful-nog as
Son, but next to you-clever and good. |
feel sure that you will love her, mud it IS
the dearest wish of my heart that you
should do SO. Our families are and al
ways have been 50 intimate that | shall
hope to see you and Lady Estmere like
sisters"
Oh, heaven! would the voice never
cease? Would the torture never stop ?
Would he never rise from that chair and
leave her to the anguish of her own
thoughts?
How long will they remain" she ask
ed.
Lord Gerant for two weeks: the 9TH
ers longer, Irene" he cried. catching Il
glimpse OF her pale face. Irene. yOl
are not looking Well | am firing you"
And she was only too pleased after
any fashion, to make her escape.