The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-08-23

2
by. loved Bertha as If she had been
my own sister,"
| IF Hubert Tenby still lives" said Ed
ward Marchmont gently, then, indeed, he
has right to hold the title and to claim
the estates. Time will show if he IL still
| in the world"
There is no ono to seek for him, ;iii-
Gle. His father is dead, his sister at the
other side Of the world, his friends and
relations have forgotten him, and you
do not suppose, do you, that Gerald Ten
by will do anything to bring him back?"
MY dear, Gerald Tenby, l am sure, is
| the soul of honor"
Antonia went away. When she reached
| her room an unexpected touch of pleasure
/ awaited her. Some letters were lying on
her table. She glanced at them listlessly
enough, till she came to the last one, bear
| ing an old-fashioned writing. and carry
| ing with it the fragrance of some old
fashioned scent.
A light came into Antonia's eyes, and
the color came to her cheeks as she tore
open this letter.
Dear Antonia Marchmont," it ran,
unless my old eyes played me false,
believe | caught sight of you driving
the other day with Lady Elizabeth March
mont. If so, and you are really staying
| in Town, will You come and see meI |
am an old ana sick woman, and have very
| little entertainment TO offer a young crea-
ture Ike yourself; but though | do not
know you very we'll, | believe it will give
you pleasure TO spare an hour with me.
In case you may have forgotten me,
will remind you that the last time / saw
you was at Mill Cross Court. If you will
let me know what afternoon you can
come, l will send my maid to bring you
here. We are terribly out of the fashion
in this part of the world, and | should
so far. Believe me, Yours very sincerely,
"CHARLOTTE SINGLETON"
There was a quick beat in Antonia's 5
heart as she read through this letter
twice. She remembered so well those
days when Hubert's godmother had been
wont to spend a short period at Mill
Cross Court.
Hubert had loved Lady Charlotte al
most as If she had been his mother, and
certainly no mother could have seemed
prouder or more devoted to boy than
Lady Charlotte had been.
| Antonia did not walk all the way to
Lady CharlottCs house not that she was
afraid of n distance twice the length but
because she was in such haste to reach
her destination. AS she alighted from
| the hanson and rang the bell her heart
was beating almost wildly. She sent in
| her name in a low voice.
please ask Lady Charlotte not to treat
me with any ceremony" she said. IF it
is not convenient to see me | will come
tomorrow or next day" But the maid
| admitted her instantly.
At the first glance at Lady Charlotte's
| we'll remembered face, grown very thin
and worn, mist of tears passed over An
tonia's eyes. \ moment later she was sit
ting by couch, her hand clasped in
Lady Charotte's.
Il came at once" D. said, simply. II
| wanted to come so much"
| The eyes of the old woman rested on
the girls lovely face with tenderness, and
| yet with concern.
How you are changed" =" she said. in
| voluntarily. ''Of course you are two or
three years older, and you have grown
| taller. | almost doubted whom | saw Won
| in the street the other day that you were
the Antonia Marchmont l remembered.
rut this is not the only change"
'Time does not stand still with any OF
u.s." Antonia said, with a faint smile.
| She drew her hand away from the old
| ;ady's and she trembled. For the first
| time in all this long, weary anguish she
| had endured she broke down. The tears
rushed from her eyes and she buried her
| face in her hands.
The oj woman paused a moment. Her
| own tears were running slowly down her
! cheeks. Then she leaned forward on her
| elbow and she touched Antonia on ths
| arm.
Tell me, child" she said. "are you
weeping for him-for my boy?"
Il love him, Lady Charlotte" she said,
| without hesitation. II don't remember
when l did not love Hubert. and l be-
| !ieve in him. Something tells me that
he is not dead, and l am working to give
! him back his honor when he shall come to
claim it once again."
The fire in her voice passed into the
old woman's.
God bless you for that, Antonia You
| have dared to say in words what l have
| felt from the ve:y beginning. Yes, be-
| lievH in him, even though they put the
proof before me that branded him as a
| thief. l love him as | have loved him
ever since he was born, and l have yearn.
ed over him. l have prayed that he
might not be allowed to die until had
seen his name cleared, his honor restored.
| But l am nothing but an old worn-out
creature. There has been no one to re-
spond, no one to stand forward and work
| for me until now; and now"
Antonia kneeled down by the couch and
| buried her face.
| "And now," she whispered. II will work
tor you and for myself. If human brains
and hands can give Hubert justice it shall
be given him -
| (To be continued.)