The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-09-13
CHApTER XII.

/ CHAPTER XII.
Antonia received the news OF her faith
er's approaching visit with sensation OF
surprise.
II don't know anything about your
father" Lady Betty complained, "but
believe your uncle is not so considerate.
He has practically commanded me to be
here when Lord Marchmont arrives. Oh!
you look astonished, but can assure you
1t is fact"
II expect" said Antonia softly, eager
to make things right, that Uncle Edward
is thoroughly upset by the news that my
father is coming to London. BY this time
you must know as well as we do that it is
O very unusual proceeding on his part.
IL know one thing" she said, irritably,
''ano that is that you Marchmonts are
very queer lot. One never knows what
to expect from any one OF you"
After that she and Lady Betty separat.
ed-thc girl to 90 to her own room, to
sit down once again, and to tell over to
herself the wonderful story that had hap
pened, and Lady Betty to go also to her
room to make her plans for the afternoon.
IL must see Gerald" she said, between
her teeth lit makes me sick to see that
look on Antonia's face. She is so conf
dent. Gerald must act quickly. II 60
now dare say he will not have arrived;
but am sure he will come. My telegram
| must bring him. If he has not come,
then l shall have to return later on, al
though my dear husband has commanded
me to be here. l must go out now, at
any rate Lady Betty mused on, restless
| ly; "I feel l shall go mad IL l stay in
this house. Even though l may not find
| Gerald, / will 60 to his rooms. If l meet
| Edward, l shall snap my fingers at him.
| He has dared to speak to me tonight as
no one has ever dared to speak to me be-
| fore; but he shall be punished for 1t.
l shall wait and find my opportunity"
The carriage had scarcely left the door
and was rolling swiftly down the street,
when Mr.. Marchmont came out Of his
study.
Can you tell me where her ladyship
is?" he asked of the butler, and the SER
want answered that Lady Elizabeth had
just gone out.
There was a curious look on Edward
Marchmonts thoughtful face as he turned
and entered his study.
His wife called him dull, stupid; she
|
doormat, quite forgetting that there had
been days when this man Of books and cul-
ture had laid his very heart at her feet.
The words he had spoken to her to-day
had been a revelation to her; but she
would have been far more surprised could
she have Looked into the mans heart now.
and realized the trouble that had gathered
there. For, blind, and dull, and unworld-
ly as he was, Edward Marchmont was still
| a man, to whom honor would always be
dear; a man to whom pride and dignity
had their fullest meaning; and to this
| man there had come all at once a great
awakening.
| Two days before an anonymous letter
had found it's way to Edward March
mont's table. He had opened it and read
it before he realized the purport of such
a missive. His first impulse had been to
tear it into a thousand pieces, and this
he did, but the sting still remained.
Till now he had never doubted his wife,
He had regarded her as a butterfly-a
beautiful, useless, and, he was obliged to
| add, heartless little creature who played
about his life just as a butterfly hovers
about a garden.
He had never supposed that she cared
for him; but he never supposed that it
| would be possible for her to care for any
other; but this poisonous letter had open
ed his eyes.
Ignorant of what was passing in her
husbands mind, Lady Betty Marchmont
ordered her carriage to set her down at
one of the largest shops in the West End.
1t was a shop through which she could
pass, leaving her servants at one door ig-
norant of her departure at another. And
she sped swiftly through this shop, and
passed out at the other side, when she
Immediately hailed a hanson and was
driven to Gerald Tenby's chambers.
Just as she reached Gerald's door it
was opened and a man passed out. He
looked both confused and annoyed to see
Lady Betty standing there, and she in her
turn was confused and annoyed to be
found there.
She instantly recognized him as the
man who had interrupted her interview
with Gerald at Mill Cross Court.
II have brought a message from my
husband to Sir Gerald" she said, as cold
ly as she could.
George Stanton answered her without
any hesitation.
"Can be the bearer of your message,
Lady BettyT he asked. II expect Sir
Gerald to arrive this evening, although I
fancy he will not cone here, but will
probably go to hotel"
Mot till this evening"" Lady Betty re-
peated. Dear me! This is very annoy
ing. hate this man." she said to her
self, "and he's got such funny look
about him. He looks so white, and his
eyes shine so brightly. What can have
induced Gerald to have taken him for a
secretary There is something about this
man don't understand"
Immediately she was in the street she
started walking swiftly away from him,
which was exactly what George Stanton
wanted. He asked for nothing better.
The moment he was by himself his smile
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