Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-03-05
I hasTFIE~
WORLD AND THE WOMAN
BY Daughter % Judas A
Mystery of the Scarlet Flower"
CHAPTER XIII.
THE DUKES STORY.

The Duke and Duchess OF Doom OF
course were there, as was Dundonald
also. The duchess appeared to have
quite recovered from her emotion Of an
hour ago, and looked radiantly happy.
The duke. as he took Emerald's hand
whispered word into her ear.
Courage" he said. "All is we'll"
"Alas he is wrong" she thought sadly
to herself. '@He is wrong. Nothing will
ever be well with me again"
Among the guests came Lady Mon
tressor, and everybody noticed that al
though she stood for some minutes quite
near the duchess, her grace took no more
notice of her than if she had been a
stone.
"Flossie has put her foot into it at
last" was the general comment. what
game has she been up to now?"
1t so CHANGED that it was Eustaee
Darnley who took her in to dinner. He
whispered word of inquiry into her ear
"What have you done to offend my
noble aunt" was what he asked
"Horrid old cat!" she whispered back
with characteristic effrontery. II told
her few plain truths about that i'm
maculate husband of hers this afternoon,
and she hasn't got over it yet"
The dinner commenced. The duke had
taken in Emerald, and was now seated
on her right A curious consTaint
sat upon the assembled guests. Perhaps
some of them had already heard that
strange rumor of an impending arrest
which was the cause of such eXultation
to Lady Montressor.
A hush of expectation lay upon ALL
but never in their widest dreams did
they anticipate what was really about
to happen.
The last course was served, the dinner
came to an end the servants left the
rooms Emerald looked down the table
towards the Duchess of Doom, and was
about to give the signal for retiring
when the duke laid his hand upon hers,
and gently checked her.
To the surprise of the whole assembly,
1t was he himself who rose.
Whatever does this mean?'' whispered
Lady Montressor in the ear of Darnley.
Every eye was fixed upon the duke as
he stood, tall, and thin, and stately, at
the head of the table, close by Emerald's
side
'rAIy friends" he said, in low but
perfectly steady voice, Il ask your in
diligence while | tell you q little story.
More than thirty years ago a young man
left England on bis travels. 1t was his
ambition to 90 round the world, and he
did so. In the course of his travels he
met with a beautiful young girl who,
although descended Of a good family,
was in humble circumstances. He fell
III love with her, and by secret mar
,5,lo, h 4
however, he did not reveal his true name
and rank. The marriage did not prove
a happy one, for there was incompati-
bility of temper which neither had fore
seen. When, six months after the mar
rage the young man was peremptorily
summoned back to England, he left his
bride behind him in America A little
later he was shocked by the news that
she had eloped with an Englishmsn of
rank, and was living with him. The next
news which came to him was the news of
her death. Naturally, this was a relief
rather than a grief to him. and year
later he led to the o tar q lady of high
rank, and still higher virtue, lady VINO
for thirty years has been the lightener
of his every sorrow, and the sweetener
of his every joy. What he owes to her,
to her devotion, to her tenderness, to her
influence, no tongue can say, but, at any
rate, she has been loved as truly as wife
has ever been loved by husband yet 1t
was all the return he could make her,
and he made it with his whole heart"
Here the dukes voice faltered slightly.
In truth, rush of memories almost
overcome him; but, recovering himself
instantly, he went on in firmer voice
One wrong he did this noble woman
he studiously concealed from her his first
lH-starred marriage. His motive was TO
save her pain; but, in the end, he has
been forced to acknowledge that truth is
always best. A few months ago he was
startled TO meet in society young lady
whose features strongly resembled those
of his unhappy first wife. He was, Of
course, greatly startled by the resem-
blance, and, on learning that the lady
came from America, he could scarcely
persuade himself that it was a merely
accidental one. He made inquiries, and
all he heard confirmed him in the i'm
preston that she was indeed his first
wife's daughter. The painful question,
however, was-was she his own child or
the child of that other man? TO settle
this, he employed one of the cIeyerest
detectives in England. ] name him
freely. His name is Runciman. To the
zeal and industry of this man he owes a
debt which he feels he can never repay.
TO put the matter briefly, it was discov.
cred that he had been the victim of q
hideous mistake. 1t was not his wife
but a cousin of the same name who had
eloped. His wife died in giving birth to
her ehild-her child and his. The poor
little creature was brought up BY O
maiden aunt. It must be remembered
that, as he had married under an as
samed name, the wife's friends had no
means of guessing at his real rank; and,
indeed, as matter of fact, they never
troubled to make any inquiries after linn
at all. 1t was by a mere freak of for
tune that he ever met his child She had
unexpectedly succeeded 10 a fortune;
had come to England; and, little guess
ing of the relationship between them,
had been invited to his house as mere
guest Now she is welcome to his hoiae