The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-09-02

Godfrey thanked him saying he would
take charge of the box himself.
When ne reached The platform he
came face TO face with Dunstan Bur
base, who had travelled from town to
town with him in the same train. a
fact OF which the harister Was ignor-
ant; though DuHStan had seen him at
CharlnS Cross station, feeling toward
him nervous shyness that almost
amounted TO Iimidity.
so we have travelled together" said
Godfrey Il thought YOU had been
staying at the hal! for Christmas"
Lady Bvsshe asked me. but ] had
already promised my Hadley friends to
spend Christmas with them"
y curious kind of a man, Signor
Neneto," the barrister remarked.
Yes, Very clever"
Il suppose he is?" Godfrey affirmed.
Though u stranger might not sup
pose III added Dunstan.
DO you mean a chemist 2"
| He has a knowledge of all kinds
of subjects. some of them out of the
beaten track"
Indeed
| They We're Interrupted by the footman,
who came 70 say that he had got the
luggage, and DunStan followed the bar
lister to the broughan, in which they
were driven to the hall in another
| moment.
Both were too much occupied by their
! thoughts to resume conversation. Lady
BSsshe had long before broken the
| news TO Dunstan OF Edlths engage
ment: and though he forsaw that it
would be Impossible, even If she loved
him. for her to marry him so long as
I: cloud hung over his name-yet he
could not help feeling a bitter sense
| OF loss, and u keen envy Of the man
| whom she had favored
AS they drove up the winding avenue.
GeoftreN unclaimed the box from his
waist, so that presently when he en-
tered the great hall amid the clumor
or 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 aWkwardness occasioned
| by his remembrance that when last
he had been there il was as n prisoner
charged With murder. Lady Bysshe
and Edith expressed their pleasure ut
seeing him, though to his sensitive
mind their manner was tinged with
pity for him, while the count and Max
likewise welcomed him With hearty
frienllincss.
The duh. lowering sky, the thin, per-
SlStent rain. the heavy atmosphere and
drenched landscape We're 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 misletoe had IL
JOYOUS and festive appearance.
When tea was being drunk buttered
toast eaten and talk continued. Geof-
| frey never lost sight of the little black
IL, a Stt a in, ~
a window. Seeing the direction to
which his eyes continually turned Lady
BNsshe asked him what it contained
All, that is a secret" he replied,
smiling at her.
From mc?"
From Edith" said he, glancing
toward where she sat talking to Dun
stan, whose face had frightened, us il
the past six months with their momen-
tous events Were hotted from his life,
ana he was again Il sutton for her
love.
Like al women, l am fond of Sc
crcts,' Lady BySshe said coaXingly
We'll. the box contains something
my mother has sent her future daugh-
ter law, together With my own
birthday Offering" Godfrey explained.
How kind of your dear mother and
yourself"
The something my mother has sent
Oriental rubies given by Mary Queen
OF Scots TO one of her ladies' in waiting,
VINO WAS an anceStreSS Of NINE" Geof-
frey told her
! remember your uncle telling me
of 1t, but | have never seen it, | 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. My own present of a
diamond and sapphire bracelet will
seem as nothing beside it."
ITO Edith it will be priceless-com-
ing from YOU But | am impatient to
see them, Godfrey"
i intend to give her a surprise by
offering them to her tomorrow morn
ing New Year day and her birthday,
you know"
'l3u; am l to wait for sight of them
until then; if SO shant sleep a wink
tonight; you don't make allowances for
womans love of beautiful JEWELS
Lady BySshe said jestingly
But how am l to show them to you
without Edith seeing them also?" he
asked.
His aunt thought a moment before
answering.
You couldn't let me see them now,
OF course, and we shall have barely
time to dress before dinner: but when
Edith and l have retired from the night
| will come back to the drawing room
and you will let me have a peep at
them"
With pleasure. l need not ask YOU,
my dear aunt, not to drop her hint;
L want TO give her n surprise"
You may depend on me, Godfrey.
And now to dress" she called out. as
she stood up, 'or we shall all be late"
and side by side with Edith she went
up the great oak staircase. leaving tbe
men to follow.
Godfrey casually took his book under
bis arm, jus. UrDano, grOtesuua in
figure and with watchful, penetrating
eyes came to lead his master to his
room.
y quarter of an hour later Godfrey
entered the drawing room where, as he
mad expected. he was first to arrive
He stood near the open door listening
impatiently, but only for a minute or
two before he heard Il light step hur-
rEing downstairs and the soft swishinp
OF silk skirts. Then Edith hurried for
ward 10 be clnsped in his arms and
Kissed. She made no protestations of
surprise at seeing him there, where, by
the mysterious understanding that ex..
lists between lovers she had felt Ger
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
he, seeing the glow Of pink underlying
her clear complexion the healthfnI
sparkle of her linpid gray eyes, the
firm pose of her graceful figure.
Il will tell you a secret. Listen.
sometimes wake at night frigid with
fear of losing YOU" Edith replied.