The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-11-15

A day or 30 later modest funeral left
that little house. The hearse was follow
ed by one carriage. in which sat Sarah.
Ben and Antonia. These two felt that
though they were strangers in name, Q
common bond of sympathy linked them
IN with this solitary, humble woman, who
had played, innocently, so great a part
in Hubert's life.
There were many. many heart-breaking
days before peace began to dawn for An
tomas heart. There was mach to darken
the happiness that should have been hers.
Not even the knowledge that her dear one
was creeping slowly back to health could
lift from the girls heart the shadow that
fate had thrown upon it. There was al
ways her uncle's death to haunt her, and,
even sharper and more hurtful than this,
the memory of Gerald Tenby's self-sought
death. This death was hushed up. The
world never knew exactly what had hap
pened, and for time this same world
was full of CONSERVATION and even regret
for the untimely death of one who possess
ed SO much as Gerald Tenby had done.
Perhaps on no one did the report of this
death make deeper impression than up
on a certain Englishman who lived un-
der an assumed name in the only land
where the hand of justice could not reach
him.
The man Stephens had found him and
boldly taxed him with all that had been
done, but Stanton had not hesitated to
buy this mans silence. Yet, at the same
time, he trusted so little to this that he
had gone as quickly as he could to Spain,
where, if Stephens had wished to set the
law upon him, he could remain untouched
Antonia and Hubert were married very
quietly. AT the girls own desire, this
marriage took place up in the North.
1T is long way for you to travel,
dear" she said to Lady Charlotte Single
ton, "but I want you to take this jour-
ney. do not feel that should be mar
ried properly if you were not there"
Simple as the wedding was, a rumor Of
1t had spread in the village, and outside
the church all the people who had known
the bride and bridegroom as children gath
cred together to give their blessing and
their good thoughts on their marriage day,
and as Hubert came out of the church
with his wife leaning on bis arm, the veil
thrown back over her face, her eyes shin
ing like stars, her sweet lips smiling, a
cheer went up that was irresistible and
HEARTFELT cheer that brought the tears
to Antonia's eyes and made her heart leap.
As they we're alone in the carriage to-
gether she turned to her husband.
"Oh, dearest!" she said, II am almost
too happy. What can / do to show my
gratitudeT
Love me, Antonia," said Hubert; my
dear, dear wife, love me, and help me to
walk through life as you have walked
yourself. /, too, feel that my heart is
overcharged; but that is natural, dear,
for we have passed through such dark,
chill shadows that we are almost afraid
to greet the sunshine now that it has
come"
The carriage drove along briskly, 1t
turned in at the gates of Mill Cross
Court, for, following an old custom, HUI
bert had carried his wife away direct
from the church to his own home, and
there stood Antonia's father and his sister
Bertha, with brr little children, ready
to welcome them, to say tender words,
and to assure them that life was indeed
blessed with happiness.
Later on in the day Sir Hubert and
Lady Tenby left the North to travel
abroad for a time. When they were gone
Ben had a sense of desolation pressing
upon him that he could not put into
words, and all at once, yielding to a sud-
den impulse, he turned and went to the
village. There in little cottage dwelt q
stately, beautiful woman, who was known
to be great singer, and whom none Of
the old villagers recognized by her new
name. Ben came to her as she sat by the
FIRE in the cleaning.
Lass" he said, II cannot live here
any longer; am going back to the life
lived for so many years. have come
to say good-by, Liz"
The woman stood a moment with her
cry she flung herself upon his breast.
"Go il you will, Ben," she said, wildly |;
'but take me with you"
When Christmas came again, clear,
bright, sparkling Christmas, and An
tomas cup of happiness was complete
for she held her frst-born in her arms
sudden thought came to her. She sent
for Ben, and as she watched him holding
that small atom of humanity in his great,
strong hands she put her thought into
words.
II want you to 90 to London for me,
Ben" she said; '.go to Sarah, tell her
that little life here has need of her. /
think she will come with YOU" And
Ben's face lighted up.
Il think she will" he answered.
And two or three days later he came
back from that journey to London, and
Sarah travelled with him, and as she held
the infant in her arms she broke into
tears, and Antonia knew that, old as she
was. this new gift of duty had lifted de-
spair from the woman's heart
Ard Sarah reisned at Mill Cross Court,
sovereign in her way. She was sup
posed to rule the children, but in reality
they ruled her. and then, IL they could not