Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-09-21

CHAPTER NNNI.
Arlcy ltansomr had not worked quite
so hard of late: there was but little
need. He had achieved the height OF
his ambition: he had il large fortune ;
he was able to speak of his daughter.
the Countess of Caravpn: be could
claim ~kinsmnnship, through his daugh-
ter, with some Of the noblcst families.
On this morning he had seated himself
so as to enjoy three things at once.
the beautiful view of the river from his
window. the bright fire in the CRATE and
the breakfast thai had been served up
to him. 1t was Il sudden shock to him
when, on hearing a sound, he raised his
eyes to the door, and saw there II pale,
beautiful woman, who stood wringing
her hands
"Father,' she said, II am come
home.'
In utter amaZemcnt, he started from
his seat. Ills daughter. his beautiful
IIildred, h Countess of Carnvcn. pale
as death, wrapped in n dark travelling
cloak What could it mean?
II am glad to see you. my dear
he said, but he had Il horrible forpbod-
ing that something terrible had oc-
Cured and that the days of his great
ness had vanished. Come Il pray
come in, my denr-do not stand there.
How strange you look. Where Is Cara
ven? Dear, dear, how odd it is. Come
in, IIildred-the servants will think it
strange to see you standing there
This is the end Of my marriage.
father" she said. ~calmly-"thc marriage
that you told me could be happy with
out love. This is the enc Of it, and I
am come home.'
"Sit down, my dear; sit down. There
is nothing so horrible as a scene and
this looks like one. Take off your cloak
and your bonnet. What a strange head
dress!"
You have %quarreied with the earl, I
hope-that is, o have not left him?"
"He has sent me away" she replied !;
and Arley Ransome's face grew very
dark.
Il had been doing my best for my
husband, and we were growing happier.
In time l think that he would have
loved me; but some one else, Il fair wo-
man-one of the kind of women that
he admires-Lady Hamilton. came,
and
II see" said the lawyer" the old
story, jealousy and quarreling. Surely,
Hildred, o have not thrown away the
labor of a lifetime by growing Jealous
and vexing the earl:'
SCI Ir.-n 1~,., Du- +l,, XI-X ~ IT,
said-"far worse. l was jealous of
Lady Hamilton. I thought that both
she and my husband We're deriding me.
| followed them when they went out
to see the sun set over the lake. J
hid myself behind the alder trees ia
listen if they said anything about me;
and then-I cannot tell how it happened
.-my husband saw me. He was very
angry he said | was never to enter his
doors again, but to return home at once
to you. 1t seems a very hard punish
ment for what was merely a fault
rather Of Judgment than anything else.
l told the earl that I loved him, and
that jealousy had driven me mad
You told him that? Then rely upon
it in a few days all will be well. He
will forget his anger and come to find
you. You are quite sure, Hildred, that
you have hidden nothing rom me?"
he Intercepted, adding, lit is, as you
say, severe punishment for so small a
fault"
She looked up at him in surprise.
"What a l have to hide, papa?
In telling you Of my love, and my jeal-
ousy, l have told you the worst"
'erhen all will come out right again.
In the meantime keep up appearances,
go to your w room unobserved and
wait until your luggage arrives. 1 shall
say that you are come for a few days
change. Keep up your spirits; all will
come right again, I feel sure
Il am very tired, papa" she said.
81 think l will stay IN my room to-
day"
very we'll, my dear; do Just as you
like you know best, of course. l will
say that You do lot feel very well. Now
try to cheer up; it will be all right.
l will see to this difficulty with your
husband for you.'
IL udu HOT DeeH an aSfeeaDle inter-
ruption to his breakfast, but he tried to
think little of it. 1t was only a quar-
rel, after all, and his daughter had done
nothing wrong. lie should make it all
right in a few seconds when lit saw
the earl. He wrote to him before he
went to the city. telling him that his
wife had reached home safely. but was
looking very Ill.
The rest Of that day Hildred remain
ed In her room. and on the morning
following she did not come downstairs.
1t was afternoon when Arley Ransome,
with a ace as pale as death, asked for
admittance to her apartment. She
babe him enter, md he did so, with an
open letter In his hand. 1t was her
husbands writing. she perceived.
"Yeu have deceived me- said SeT
father, stcruly "yoa tald ne that you