The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-09-17
Barbara Breton
! o.eAmbit,ionoc
CHAPTER xxl--continued.


"Sir Gerald Lysle," Feline answered.
"Then 1t was for his earldom, for
wealth and land and tities, he bartered
my love- And you have known his
existence all these years and have not
told me! He died and ] was not
revenged!"
In frantic excitement she sprang
from her chair and paced to and fro
within the confines Of her room.
"He is dead" she repeated to her
self; "and these lying, flattering lines
are written of him. How do you know,
Feline, 1t is the same?" sudden doubt
crossing her mind.
Il have followed him, madame, for
many reasons, through his course.
Madame has been kind to me-" Feline
continued, land have thought might
serve her interest"
"But he married. This article does
not mention his wife,"
He never married, madame. The
young lady to whom he was betrothed
died few weeks before the ceremony
was to have been performed 1t was
= fortunate escape for her, since the
earl Was already married man.
"A married mani" She smiled biz
terly. yes, tied to woman by an
empty mockery OF form, annulled as
easily as the air that blows across
ones face and is forgotten. My lord
was high In power. He could even
play at marriage"
"A dangerous game, my lady. Edge
tools require careful handling. The
watchdog follows close on his mas
ter's track, even though he is only
thrown the bones from his masters
table. was your watchdog, Madame
la Comtesse."
Madame la Comtesse?" she repeat
ed after him. Feline, have you gone
mad?"
mo. madame, that is left for the
poor girl upstairs. 1t Is your rightful
title. You were the Earl of Bertram's
lawful, welded wife. You are his law
ful widow"
Barbara's face grew ashen, her eyes
dilated. her frame Quivered with ex-
sitement.
you have known this all these |
years and have dared to keep silence! !!
You let me suffer through all that
wretched time when by word you
might have set me free-might have
given me my rights--might have
saved the life of my child and. his
man! Were you my enemy
that you should do this thing?"
mo. madame; your friend. Else
why should now confess to you the
truth? Besides, madame. he would
have killed me had he known the trick
played him. pretended to be his
tool, his dupe. He thought SO: but
the man who married you was no sham
clergyman, hired by his gold to per-
form a mock ceremony, to satisfy. as
he said, youi foolish scruples. but
clergyman ordained by the church. |
did not keep any of his gold-I gave it
all to the holy father He looked in
amaze at the liberal Offering, but he
asked me no questions. knew he
never would acknowledge you, but
kept the certificate for the child's
sake. Then she died, and l dare not
tell you. until yesterday l saw in the
newspapers that he was dead and my
secret burned in my breast. All night
d voice said to me, Tell her--tell her!
until was forced into obeying it,"
"And have been an earl's wife and
am an earl's widow, Barbara Bret
ton, the actress-aye, an actress still!
My moment for announcing my proud
station is not yet at hand, but 1t Is
drawing swiftly on. What need have
I now OF the Meredith name or money?
I can forego them both; but not yet
not yet can restore to Travis Mere
dith his coveted freedom She had
forgotten the presence of the servant
as she thus communed with herself.
Suddenly she turned toward him. AS
you have kept my secret thus far,
keep 1t yet a little longer she COM
manded. Nov you may leave mel
would be alone"