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

That Is enough, said Sir Gerald, quiet
Ily. you can put your things together
and leave my service Immediately. No, l
will listen to no words. You go, and go
at once, within the hour"
The servant attempted to make a fur
ther protest; but Gerald's manner i'm
inediately suppressed this.
"iou will give me a character?" said
Stephens. II have served you well. l
don't deserve to be turned off like this, at
a moments notice"
II allow no one to be insolent to me.
II you can find others who will put up
with your impertinence you will be
lucky"
Its ruin to turn me away like this,
sir" said Stephens, and there was break
in his voice, but Sir Gerald made no
answer, and, seeing that his case was
hopeless, Stephens picked up his portman-
teau and passed out of the chambers.
|
| Antonia went out early She was too
restless to remain in the house. That
short interview with Lady Betty had left
her with a pleasant sensation. 1t was
the first time she had really felt that it
would be possible for her to have a grain
| OF sympathy for her uncle's wife.
Hubert had given her full description
OF Ben Coop, and rs she saw a burly man,
wearing sun-burned look, and having an
| air of travel upon him, approach her un-
cle's house, her instinct at once told her
that this man was Hubert's one friend.
She spoke to him almost before she was
aware of it.
"You are Ben Coop" she said "You
have come to find me?"
Ben looked down into her beautiful
eyes, and his heart went out instantly to
this girl whose love for Hubert was writ
ten SO eloquently in every line of her ex-
pressive face.
cay, MISS" he said, "I am Ben Coop.
MIR. Hubert sent me to you with this let
ter. l was just wondering whether to
ring the bell at that big door, when saw
you coming, and / knew the first time,
miss, that you were the one wanted"
Come back with me to the park" she
said; I'VE can talk more freely under the
trees, and. oh have so much to say,
so much to ask. 1t was good of Hubert
to send you to me-"
He would have come himself" said
Ben; shut you know what keeps him
back"
| Ben was walking shyly beside Antonia.
1t seemed to him that Hubert's declara-
tion that she was more an angel than a
human being had actual truth in it.
| Out in the park Antonia led him to her
favorite tree, and there they sat and talk
cd, needless Of time, and the happiness
] of the girls heart was deepened and
| made certain, now that she assured her
self that Hubert would not fight alone.
1T ought to be so easy" she said to
Ben, when they had discussed everything
"and yet we must be prepared for difficult
ties. Gerald Tenby will not give up what
he holds without a great struggle"
"Mr. Hubert win win, miss" Ben said,
stoutly: ''but now I'm thinking must
leave you. Mayhap the lad will be back
at the hotel waiting for me-"
As he was crossing the soad Lady
Betty's very smart carriage rolled swiftly
by. Antonia did not notice it but Lady
Betty leaned forward and looked keenly at
Antonia and at the girls strange compan-
ion.
To Lady Betty, of course, Ben had q
rough and common air. A frown con-
tracted the pretty, babyish face.
'That must be Hubert Tenby's FRIEND"
Betty Narchmont said to herself. "She
has met him already. He looks as IL he
could fight. Gerald must see rue. I shall
go to his rooms this afternoon. He will
have got my telegram early this morning.
| and will in all probability have left by
| the first train he could catch that would
bring him to his chambers about five. At
| sny rate, l will risk 1t. If l 60 quickly
on foot no one will recognize me. and he
will thank me when he sees me, for there
is not a moment to be lost"
| But the best plans are apt to 60 awry
sometimes, and Lady Betty's plans receiv-
ed an unexpected check when she reached
her house, for her husband was waiting
for her return.
81 have just had this telegram from
Marchmont, my DEAR" he said. He is in
town, and Is coming here this afternoon.
thought had better tell you, as he
will expect to see you"
| Lady Betty's face had pinched look
| Lord Marchmont does not come to see
me-" she said. ale comes because An.
tonia is here. l cannot possibly be at
home"
Then Edward Marchmont demonstrated
for the first time in his married life the
fact that he had will of his own.
whether my brother comes to see his
daughter or not, l expect you to be here
to receive him." he said, coldly, and with
that he went away.
| Lady Betty stood and watched him go.
4 strange kind of chill crept into her
veins. and yet she seemed to be in fever.
She mounted the stairs slowly.
| 1t was a strange thing that her hus-
band should have chosen this moment out
i of oil their mnrrial lifn 70 Lot hnr fool