The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-08-16
CHAPTER ".

I
CHAPTER ".
Lady Betty Marchmont was in a very
bad temper. The coming of her nus
bands niece had been signal for 81 en-
tire char T.. in her existence. T., the
first time in her life she found herself
; compelled to play a secondary role. II
"as most mOrtifying and equally incom-
prehensible that the world-her world
I should suddenly have determined to regard
Antonia as a beauty.
The girl seemed to lind great pleasure
in being with her uncle, in looking after
tha. much-ncglected man, and in trying
by every little thoughtful act 10 show
him affection and attention. She went
out very rarely with Lady Betty; but
she had been out quite enough to attrac:
attention.
Another thing that annoyed Lady Betty
was the apparent Indifference with which
AntOnia regarded ker social success. An
tonia took all that came i'm the calmesr
possible manner. She was not impressed
with any of the smart people with whom
she was brought in contact. She was not
in the least an ordirary girl.
Her clothes were simplicity itself yet
even Lady Betty was obliged to confess
thaL the style in which the girl dressed
herself was one that enhanced her charms
thrcrfold.
1t was such a contrast. too, to her own
costly and fashionable raiment, and yet
everything that Antonia wore came from
the hands of one of the most celebrated
n ISg,
surprised Lady Betty 50 much, that this
girl, who came, as she phrased it, from
the wilds of nowhere" should have hal
not only a marked individuality bur a
certain knowledge of the world
The gowns that Antonia wore made
her open he- eyes, for, despite their sim
piicity, they were cut and shaped by the
hand Of a genius.
1t was the same thing with the big
picturesque hats and the small Quaker
like bonnets which Antonia wore alter
nately. All this was gall to Lady Betty
IF she had been one of the cleyerest
women in the world, she could not have
hit upon a more splendid idea" the little
lady said to herself more than once as
Antonia's beauty was revealed, perhaps,
in some new light. What the world likes
Is change. All we other women seem n:.t
out in the same pattern. She stands
alone. What will Gerald think Of her, /
wonderw
She began TO be quite eager for An
tonia and Mr.. Tenby to meet. She spoke
Of him frequently. IL was soon evident
to the girl that this particular man oc-
cupied much of Lady Bettys thoughts.
His photograph was given the place of
honor in every room which Lady Betty
occupied, and Antonia was quite familiar
with the fact that great things were ex-
pected of Gerald Tenby.
Antonia listened to all this quite calm
ly, but as the days went by and Tenby
iever made his appearance, the girl had
seEse of bitter satisfaction.
Coward, :" she would say TO herself
between her teeth. ale can face the
whole world, but ne dare not face me-
Well, can wait-wait all my life, If
needs be; and though l may never know
happiness, though l may never see HUI
bert again, will not go to my grave till
have punished this enemy"
This thought was in her mind more
prominently than ever one night as she
sat III Lauy Deity y DoX AT the opera.
listening with dull ears to the voice Of
celebrated singer.
People came and went in Lady Betty's
box--but Antonia never moved until the
door opened to admit another arrival, and
the sound of Gerald Tenby's voice fell
on her ear Then flood of color spread
ovei her face, her little hands clinched
themselves round the fan she held. II
seemed as Ii, when she drew her breath
she were going to take some plunge. The
next moment she had looked around with
a radiant smile and was holding cut her
hand.
You did not expect to see me in Lon
don," she said, as she noted that Gerald
Tenby drew back and hardly knew how
to approach her.
Lady Betty looked from one to the 9TH
er half impatiently.
"You never told me that you knew Ger
ald." she said.
Antonia smiled again.
II never realized that your Gerald and
mine were one and the same-
Tenby fixed his eyes upon her eagerly.
Those casual words of hers sent kind
of fame to his heart. Her beauty struck
him as being greater than ever.
He locked at her eyes. They met his