The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-09-02
Godfrey thanked him saying he YOU
take charge OF the box himself.

Godfrey thanked him saying he would
AXE charge Of the box himself.
When he reached the platform he
face to face with Dunstan Bur-
who had Travelled from town TO
with him in the same rain, q
fact of which the barrister was ignor-
ant; though Dunstan had seen him at
Charing Cross station. feeling toward
him Il nervous shyness that almost
amounted to timidity.
$50 we have Travelled together said
Godfrey. II thought you had been
at the hall for Christmas"
Lady Bysshe asked me. but L 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"
u suppose he is"" Godfrey affirmed.
Though a strange might not sup
pose ill.," 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
rister to the brougham, in which they
were driven to 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 lcdith's engage
ment; and though he forsaw that IT
would be impossible, even If she loved
him. for her to marry him SO long as
a cloud hung over his name-yet he
could not help feeling a bitter sense
of loss, and 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 clanor
Of barking dogs and welcoming voices.
he was enabled to lay it down before
hurrying to where Edith stood with
shining eyes and happy smiles, waiting
to greet and receive his greeting.
In the momentary hustle of their en-
trance Dunstan recovered his calm
ness, and the awkwardncss occasioned
by his remembrance that when last
he had been there it was as 4 prisoner
charged with murder Lady Bysshe
and Edith expressed their pleasure at
seeing him, though to his sensitive
mind their manner was tinged with
likewise welcomed him with hearty
friendiiness.
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
light Of candle and lamps, and dec
Grated with holly and misletoe 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
a window. Seeing the direction to
which his eyes continually turned, Lady
Bysshe asked him what it contained.
"Ah, that is a secret" he replied,
smiling at her.
From me?"
"From Edith" said he, %glancins
toward where she sat talking to Dun-
stan, who's face had frightened, as IL
the past six months with their homer
tous events We're blotted from his life,
and he was again a sutton for her
love.
Like all women, I am fon Of Sc
%crets," Lady Bysshe said coaxlngly.
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"
1.-The something my mother has sent
Is an heirloom-the famous necklace OF
Oriental rubies given by Mary Queen
of Scots to one Of her ladies-in-watting,
who was an ancestreSs Of mine" Geof-
frey told herl
IT remember your uncle telling me
of 1t, but l have never seen it. | sup
pose 1t is very beautiful. I long for q
sight Of It,"
1.-The setting is of French workman
ship and the stones are said to be
wonderfully pure. My own present of 9
diamond and sapphire bracelet viii
seem as nothing beside It,"
ITO Edith it will be DrfceleSS-cOm-
ing from you. But l am impatient to
see them, Godfrey"
II intend to give her a surprise by
offering them to her tomorrow morn,
ing New Year day and her birthday
you Know"
until then; If so I shan't sleep a winl
{ tonight; you don't make allowances TO:
a woman's love of beautiful jewels,
i Lady Bysshe said jestingly.
But how am 1 to show them to yo,
without Edith seeing them also?" h
asked.
, His aunt thought a m befor
] answering.
you couldn't let me see them now
l of course, md we shall nave barrel,
/. time to dress before dinner. but whel
Edith and L have retired from the nigh
| will come back to the drawing rool
and you will let me have q peep a
: hem
+ With pleasure. I need not ask you
: my dear aunt, MOI to drop her q hint
l want to give her a surprise"
You may depend on me, Geoffre,
And now to Dress" she called out, a
She stood up, cor we shall all be late,
and side by side with Edith she wen
r up the great oak staircase, leaving tn
: men to follow.
t Godfrey casually took his book unde
S his arm, just as Urbano, grotesque /
s figure inc with watchful, penetratin
eyes came to lead his master to HI
room.
n A quarter of an hour later Geoffre
n entered the drawing room where, as Il
: had expected, he was first to arriv
He stood near the open door listenin
impatiently, but only for a minute e
two before he heard a light step hun
rying downstairs n the soft swishin
Of silk skirts. Then Edith hurried fol
ward to be clasped in his arms an
kissed. She made no protestations {
surprise at seeing him there, where, b
the mysterious understanding that el
lists between lovers, she had felt Gel
tain Of finding him alone.
So they settled down delightedly
talk about themselves, they being a
the world to each other, the world c
nothing beside their love.
You are looking well, dearest" sal
he. seeing the p1ow of mini rndorlvip