Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-10-05

IN '''
well and good will do my duty with
out the sunshine Of love to cheer me
If it stands he test, | will try to crown
his life with my love-
You are a brave girl, IIildrcd-yOu
are Il good woman" he said, ndmiring
ly. Il wish there were some more like
you. l will tell Uric that you arc
willing to see him now
"If you please" she responded but
RaOul, do not repeat what ! have said.
want to test his love myself"
CHAPTER XXIN.
Lady Carayen decided to follow the
advice Of her friend Sir Raoul, and for
give her husband. She received him
in the pretty little Douh0ir in which the
few months Of her girliSh life at home
had been spent.
"IIildred!" he called. and ut the
sOund OF his voice n crimson flush
seemed to burn her neck and face. She
was quite silent for a minute and then
she turned to him and held out her
hand.
can you-Go you really forgive
me?' he asked. II hardly dare to hope
that it is rue"
1T is quite truc,' she replied and
he detected Il slight trcnor in her voice.
Let me ask Il question in my turn.
Ii it true hat you love mc?'
Yes" he answered. 1T is as true
as that heaven is above me-
Twill you tell me how long you have
loved me?" h asked, quietly.
Il will answer o quite t%ruthfully,
IIildred," replied the earl. Il cannot
tell you. When l first married you l
did not like you; to me you were
simply an incumbrance that | was com
PEELED to put up with. | saw nothing
in you-neither beauty nor mind yet
we had to live together, and in some
kind of way l was grateful to you.
On the night Of the ball, when | saw
what you had inscribed On your tablets
My husband-my heart beat faster
than il had ever done before, II | felt
the greatest inclination to take you In
my arms and kiss your face a thousand
times but 1 could not. After that my
love grew
A glad light came into her dark
eyes,, but she made no reply. He con-
timed:
Mildred, as earnestly as Il man can
speak, | ask yOu to forgive me. For
give the base selfishneSs that married
you for money without love and with
out knowledge of your real worth. For
give the insolent neglect, the cruelty,
the GOODNESS, the pain l have caused
you. Forgive the last and greatest
blunder of all-my unjust suspicion.
I do not deserve your pardon, but l
ask it,"
II forgive you" she replied. I'VE
will bury the past we will talk of it
no more. But, Lord Caraven, 1 am
going to put your love to the test
"Hildred," he said, do not call me
Lord Caraven-try to say 'Ulric.''
Our marriage was a mistake she
said, softly-"perhaos we were not al
together to blame for that. We have
made great mistakes since in which we
have both been to blame. What l pro-
pose is a years absence. A cousin Of
mine, Mrs. Glenvil, is very i'll, and is
OEAtEeu W Mic. L > Sou ~ Z liz
go with her. She will be away a year
see what that year will effect. If
love of me has sufficient influence over
you to keep o good, industrious, ac-
tive. for the benefit of others, rs you
are now, 1 shall believe that you love
If in a years time you come to me
and tell me that you love me better
.i,o, ,v-,, th,f tir,a ,D1 ah,arpn l,,,-
not changed you, l will return with
you, and will make you a most loving,
devoted wife. Do you accept my pro-
posal?'
He stood for a few moments in
thoughtful silence, and then he said:
Yes, l accept it shall be pleased
to prove my sincerity to you"
The earl returned to Ravensmere, to
show all needful politeness and respect
for Lady Hamilton. 1t was a great
relief to him When the doctor pro-
nounced her well enough to return
home, and he was a little surprised
when he found that she regretted Ieav-
ing Sir Raoul more than anyone else.
The noble, honest soldier had made a
lea lhD CSSAoil VIA NiS la5llIotldDIt,
beautiful %coquette. HE is a mar worth
loving she said to herself.
Then the earl returned to London to
see his wife and Mrs. Glenvil off. He
went with them to Doyer-they had de-
cided upon going to Paris first. He
stood for n few moments on the deck of
the steamer before it sailed he looked
with longing, wistful eyes at the face
of his young wife.
Mildred, how 1 wish that 1 were 60
ing with you," he said.
$50 do L. she replied, with a frank,
charming smile. But that would not
do-you must stand the test. You will
come to fetch me-, and the year will
not seem so long"
MY darling. give me one kiss he
cried, suddenly.
NO." she said, that would make the
parting even harder. Good-by. Heaven
bless you, Uric
"Good-by, my wife" he said; and his
the steamer cutting it's way through the
blue waves.
No man ever set to work with great
er zeal than did the handsome earl.
He did moi delay one hour in London !;
he went back at once to Ravensmere,
only eager to begin work. There was
to be no more idlenesS, no more dissipa-