Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-07-23
CHAPTER ~.
A DESPERATE LOVE.

A DESPERATE LOVE.
The news of Lady Niola's engagement
spread over the country like wild6re. and
whereas the Duke of Estercourt had been
the lion" of the recent season. he had
now become the enyied and most dearly
hated rnal OF about a score of his fell
low men.
No woman had been more sought after
or desired than this lovely daughter of
Lord 6erys, whose very GOODNESS had but
served &c heishten the passion in her adj
mirers hearts: and this man. whose ideu-
tity had been buried in mysterious past
until few months ago, had come for
ward and stolen her love
Not one of them had despaired whilst
she had remained free but now the Duke
of Estereourt had won her, and all hope
was gone.
One evening, in the smoking room of
large and fashionable hotel in North
cumberland avenue, Detective Smvthe. the
man who had played SO important part
! in the life history of the Young duke. sat
writing letter. lie had small case in
hand. and his duties brought him often
to this hotel, i'll which his present client
was STAYING.
Having finished the letter he took up
an evening paper and glanced through it,
| and an exclamation of surprise broke
! from him as he saw a paragraph headed
| boldly:
| '-'''''' - - $500. .'.'.- ''....
Engagement of Lady Viola Berys
TO the Duke Of Estercourt.
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...............-"
"Ah! Even sooner than / expected .
! oil hn I. t.I'l >
| splendid! And now. if only / can man
age that scoundrel Zinga, the game is in
my hands"
He read the rest of the paragraph with
an evil smile on his coarse lips. 1t al
| iuded briefly 10 the romantic discovery
of the lost heir of Estercourt. and how A
famous detective had found him standing
IN the park, gazing at Lady Viola whom
| he had loved long before he knew who
she was.
The details seemed to cause him much
amusement, and he sat for some time
| laughing to himself over them
| Presently tive men came into the room
and rang for drinks.
Smythe glanced casually at them. and
recognized one of them as Lord Duncan
a striking looking man of about 40. who
had earned for himself one of the most
notorious names in town He was a
noted gambler, he drank freely. and his
moral character was about as bad as IL
| could be. He was, however, immensely
rich, and for this reason alone he was
received everywhere, and he might have
married practically where he chose But
there was one woman who held him in
the deepest contempt, and took no pains
to hide the fact, aud that one was Lady
Viola Berys. A year ago he had dared
! to ask her to be his wife, and she had
refused him with scorn.
All London knew of Lord Duncan's
passion for the ice maiden" for he made
no secret of it, and already it had bee,
the subject of speculation as to the re-
suit the announcement of her enga ge.
ment would have on him.
! Detective Smythe eyed him interested
| ~ from his seat in the embrasure of The
window. Half hidden there, he could see
and listen at his ease There was no one
else in the room.
You've seen it, of course" remarked
Lord Duncan's companion, pointing 10 a
copy of the Evening News, which Law ON
the table beside them
Seen it, OF course I have seen tho
Did thingt" answered the earl. be-
tween his teeth. II suppose there is no
mistake about it, Scottg''
afraid not! No paper would dare 70
publish Lady Niola's engag cement unless
it were authentic. Besides, ! saw Berys
himself yesterday, and he told me. lie
was in town for the day lie and his
daughter are stopping at Estercomt."
A red flush Of anger dyed Lord Dun.
cans countenance
TO BE CONTINUED.