Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-06-26
CHAPTER XIIi.-4Continuedl

Y
II was n beautiful day in June, and tn
grand Old city of Rome lay resting IN tn
sun, It's gorgeous palaces and castles, III
glorious ruins all shining in the rays o
che fairest sun that ever shines. The ole
palace stood outside the walls Of home
nt some little distance from the cit!
where the 'riher runs wide aud clear; !
" almost hidden by magnificent trees
All iiat day, Ms he Travelled towart
Rome. the duke had been thinking o
Beatrice; he had confused idea tina
Beatrice was waiting Tor him, and yet h'
repeated to himself, agnin and again. thai
Beatrice had been dead many years.
II happened that when the carriage
stopped aud the duke said he could walk
through the garden and reach the house
by the grand entrance. the first thing he
saw in the beautiful walk that led to the
Hex trees was the sweeping train of a
long, black dress; he saw the figure OF
woman. tall. slender and graceful as
any OF the world.famed statues n fncc
90 magnifcently beautiful that no man
who saw ii could ever forget it, yet fnce
with story in it.
A figure, the curves and lines Of which
were all harmony. He stood quite silent
for few moments. Was this what his
dream mennti was this Beatrice! Quite
hvoluntarily he uttered the name.
Beatrice" he cried. and the tail, state
b. figure turned to him at once. All no,
ft was not Beatrice. With all her beauty
che young duchess had not been one.half
90 fair. This was goden-haired woman
with face like a flower.
~ beg Your pardon" he said; IL call
nd you Beatrice"
She came toward him, and he said to
himself that grace itself was centered in
avery movement.
1T is ! who should beg pardon" she
said In low, clear voice; II am intrud-
ing here"
who are your he asked, with perfect
courtesy, yet with the manner OF one who
expects an answer.
She had heard nothing OF the duke :
coming, but 1t was very evident to her
that he was someone who had right to
ask the question.
Il am Irene Darcy, the daughter of
Santon Darcy, the artist" she replied.
And then the duke held out his hand.
- must Introduce myself he said. II
nm the Duke of Bayard."
Irene bowed. All the dukes in the
world would not have essened her self.
possession. He admired her welI.bred
calm.
"Your father knows | am expected, y
ne said. Has he not told you?'
She smiled, and the smile made her so
beautiful that the duke gazed ut her in
silent wonder.
To tell your grace the truth" she said
my father and myself seldom speak OF
anything but art. Sometimes we sit to-
gether for hours and do not speak. Ny
father Is not an ordinary human being
and he never remembers to tell me any
thing. no matter how interesting il may
be-"
~ quite understand" said the duke
gently; and Irene continued:
Since We have lived in this beautiful
old palace, he has been more silent. more
given to dreams than ever
Il remember now" said the duke. sud
denly; your father wrote to ask my per
mission for his daughter to accompan,
him. And are you that daughteri'
Eyes, am my fathers only child" said
Irene.
nv 0uhc Waihtu Wy ciut uoWu NV
winding path.
IL hope" he said calamity, that yor
have enjoyed your visit here and tina
everyone in the place has been most at
tentive to YOU"
II have been happy and we'll care'
for" she replied.
IL Lord Waldo, the dukes nephew, ha,
been there TO see the lingering glance
Of admiration that the duke gave to tn
beautiful woman he would have calle'
out, Danger"
Irene was little puzzled; she had nev
or been vain. and in all her recent dis
tress the fact that she WAS exceeding
Beautiful had escaped her thoughts. Sh
wondered at the dukes Kindness and hi
evident determination to see more of hel
but she did not, as many would hav
done, think that IL was owing to her ow
charms.
That same AFTERNOON the duke foun
his way to the artists quarters, and oyei
whelmed him with kindness He woul
insist that the artist and his daughtI
should dine with him. Lang after ths
dinner party was over, long after the SUI
had set and the moon had risen over Ii
broad river Irene sat watching the biz
night skies.
my vengeance she said; "oh, hea
en-, my vengeance. and now it seems ucl
at hand"