Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-09-02

Godfrey thanked him saying he would
take charge or the box himself.
When he reached the platform he
came face TO face with Dunstan Bur-
bage. who had trayeiea from cw 70
town with him in the same train. a
fact Of which the barrister was ignor-
ant. though Dunstan had seen him at
Charing Cross station, feeling toward
him a nervous shyness that almost
amounted to timidity.
$50 we have travelled together?v said
Godfrey. Il thought you a been
staying at the hall for Christmas
Lady Bysshe asked me, but ! had
already promised my Hadley friends TO
spend Christmas with them"
"A curious kind OF a man, Signor
Veneto,'' the barrister remarked.
Yes. very clever
II suppose he isg" Godfrey affirmed.
Though a stranger might not sup
pose it, added Dunstan.
DO you mean a chemist"
He has a knowledge of all kinds
OF subjects. some OF them out OF the
beaten track"
Indeed
They were interrupted by the footman.
who came TO say that he had got the
luggage. and Dunstan followed the bar
llcAtl W TIC ukOuEAdttt ia NUkNit AANo
were driven 10 the hall in another
moment.
Both were too much occupied by their
thoughts to resume conversation. Lady
Bysshe had long before broken the
news to Dunstan of Edith's engage
ment; and though he forsaw that it
would be impossible, even IL she loved
him. for her TO marry him SO long as
n cloud hung over his name-yet he
could not help feeling a bitter sense
of loss, n a keen envy OF the man
whom she had favored.
AS they drove up the winding avenue,
Godfrey unclaimed the box from his
waist, so that presently when he en-
tered the great hall amid the clamor
of barking dogs and welcoming voices,
he was enabled &c lay it down before
hurrying to Where Edith stood with
shining eyes and happy smiles, waiting
to greet and receive his greeting.
In h momentary hustle OF their en-
trance Dunstan recovered his calm
ness, and the awkwardness occasioned
by his remembrance that when last
he had been there 1T was as a prisoner
| charged with murder. Lady Bysshe
n Edith expressed their pleasure at
seeing him, though TO his sensitive
mind their manne was tinged with
pity for him, while the count and Max
likewise welcomed him with hearty
f%riendliness.
The dull. lowering sky, the thin, per-
sistent rain, the heavy atmosphere and
drenched landscape were all shut out,
and the great hall. glowing with the
heat of burning logs, bright with the
light Of candles and lamps, and dec
Grated with holly and nlisletoe had a
joyous and festive appearance.
When tea was being drunk, buttered
toast eaten and talk continued, Geof-
frey never lost sight OF the little black
box he had set down In the alcove OF
a window. Seeing the direction to
which his eyes continually turned, Lady
Bysshe asked him what 1t contained.
All, that is a secret" he replied,
smiling at her.
From me?"
From Edith" said he, CHANGING
toward where she sat talking to Dun
stan, whose face had frightened, as IL
the past six months with their momen-
tous events were blotted from his life,
and he was again a sutton for her
love,
Like all women, / am fond OF Sc
crets.' Lady Bysshe said coaxingly.
We'll, the box contains something
my mother has sent her future daugh-
ter-in-law, together with my own
birthday Offering" Godfrey explained.
How kind of your dear mother and
yourself"
The something my mother has sent
is al heirloom-the famous necklace of
Oriental rubies given by Mary Queen
OF Scots to one OF her ladies-in-waiting,
who was an ancestress of mine" Geof-
frey told herl
II remember your uncle telling me
of IL, but / have never seen 1t. / sup
pose 1t Is very beautiful. / long for a
sight Of It,"
''The setting is of French workman
ship and the stones are said to be
wonderfully pure. Ny own present of a
diamond and sapphire bracelet will
seem as nothing beside it."
ITO Edith 1t will be priceless-com-
ing from you. But i am impatient to
see them, Godfrey"
Il intend to give her q surprise by
offering them to her tomorrow morn
ing New Year day and her birthday,
o know"
'But am / to wait for sight OF them
until then; if SO ! shan't sleep a wink
tonight; you don't make allowances for
a woman's love of beautiful Jewels
Lady Bysshe said jestingly.
but how am / to show them to you
without Edith seeing them also?" he
asked.
His aunt thought a m before
answering.
You couldn't let me see them now.
or course. ana we Snail nave. barely
time to dress before dinner; but when
Edith and / have retired from the night
/ will come back to the drawing room
and . will let me have a peep at
them
with pleasure. / need not ask you,
my dear aunt, not to drop her a hint;
1 want to give her a surprise
You may depend on me, Godfrey.
And now to dress she called out, as
h stood up. "or we shall all be late,u
and side by side with Edith she went
up the great oak staircase, leaving the
men to follow.
Godfrey casually took his book under
his arm. just as Urbano, grotesque in
figure and with watchful, penetrating
eyes came to lead his master to his
room.
A quarter of an hour later Godfrey
entered the drawing room where, as he
a expected, he was first TO arrive.
He stood near the open door listening
impatiently. but only for a minute or
two before he heard a light step hur-
rying downstairs and the soft swighing
OF silk skirts. Then Edith hurried for
ward to be ciasped In his arms and
kissed. She made nc protestations of
surprise at seeing him there, where, by
the mysterious understanding that ex-
lists between lovers, she had felt cer-
tain OF finding him alone.
So they settled down delightedly to
talk about themselves, they being all
the world TO each other, the world as
nothing beside their love.
You are looking well, dearest" said