The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-11-29
CHAPTER LII.

The Countess of Avon, persuaded into
| it by her daughter--badgered a promise
| from her son that he would bestow the
living of Great Whitton upon the Rev.
Ryle Baumgarten.
The Earl did not give an immediate
| consent; in fact, he defnurred to give it
at all; and sundry letters passed TO anu
| fro between Avon House and Paris-for
his lordship happened just then to have
taken run over to the French capital.
Great Whitton was too good thing to be
| thrown away upon young Baumgarten,
| who was nobody, he told his mother, and
he should like to give it to Elliotsen but
Lady Avon, for peace's sake at home,
urged her petition strongly, and the Earl
at length granted it and gave the prom
| ise.
| The morning the letter arrived, contain
| ing the promise, and also the information
that his iordship was back at his house
| in London, Lady Avon was feeling un-
usually i'll. Her head was aching vio-
lently, and she bade her maid put the let
ter aside; she would open it later. This
she did in the afternoon when she was
| sitting up in her dressing room and she
then told Grace of the arrival of the un-
Il
expected promise.
"Oh, let me see it!' exclaimed Grace,
in her incautious excitement, holding out
her hand for the letter.
She read 1t hungrily, with flushing
checks and trembling fingers. Lady Avon
coulG but note this. 1t somewhat puz-
| zled her.
Grace" she said, II cannot think why
you should be so eager. What does ii sig
Nifty to you who gets the living-whether
Mr.. Baumgarten or another"
In the evening, when Grace was saun-
tering listlessly in the rocky walk. won
dering whether any one would call that
night or not, she saw him. He was COM
ing along the path from the rectory. The
old rector had been buried some days
now II have been sitting with Mrs.
Chester, and thought would just ask, in
passing, how Lady Avon is,' he remark
ed, swinging through the gate. as If he
would offer an apology for calling. "The
last time was here she seemed so very
poorly"
"She is not any better, am sorry to
say. to-day she has not come downstairs
at ALL" replied Grace, meeting his offered
hand. "What will you give me for some
news I can tell you?" she resumed, stand
ing before hip in the full blow of her
beauty, her hand not yet withdrawn from
him.
He bent his sweet smile upon her. his
deep, dark eyes speaking the admiration
that he might not utter. Ryle Baum
garten was no more insensible to the
charms of fascinating and beautiful girl
than are other men-despite his love for
Edith Dane. She was awaiting an an
swer.
"What may give?" ne said. Moth
ing that could give would be of value
to you."
"How do you know that. Mr.. Baumgar-
temp
With a burning blush for she had spok-
en- unguardedly, Grace laughed merri.y.
stepped few steps backward. and drew
a letter from her pocket.
III is one that came to mamma this
morning. and it has secret in it. What
will you give me TO read you just one
little sentence"
Mr.. Baumgarten. but that Edith and
his calling were ia the way, would have
said a shower of kisses il is possible that
he might in spite of both, had he dared.
Whether his looks betrayed him cannot
be known. Lady Grace, blushing still.
took refuge in the letter. Folding it so
that only the signature was visible, she
held it out to him. He read the name,
Henry"
is it--frop ari on:' he said,
with HESITATION
''It is from Lord Avon IIc does pot
sign himself in any other way to us.
Your affectionate son, Henry it always
runs to mamma; and it is no unmean-
ing phrase; he is very fond of her. But
now for the secret. Listen"
Mr.. Baumgarten. suspectiny nothing.
listened with a smile.
II have hecn dunned with applications
since got home" read Grace. aloud.
from Lord Avon's letter. "some OF them
from personal friends but rs you and
Grace make so great point of it, mother.
| I promise you that Mr.. Baum:artcn shall