Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-06-29

any place she desired to see. At first
she said Yes and went to the differ
ent places Of note. He accompanied
her. but she could not avoid thinking
that he was slightly bored by these
excursions. The G. time he sent
she declined: he made no remark and
she felt almost sure that he was re-
lievcd by her refusal. Whsn they
went to the opera they We're never
alOne-]c always secured some COM
panion. 1t seemed to IIildrcd that he
was quite as much Il stranger as on
the first day he entered the Uollies.
Shall | ever he part Of his llfof'
she thought. shall | grow to be heart
of bis heart, soul Of his soul? Shall
I ever know what he thinks. what he
likes. what he IovcsT'
one evening he was rather startled
by HiIdrcd. There was Il favorite
| singer at the opera and they went to
hear her. She was very fair and the
gentlemen were busiIy engaged in dis
| cussipg her. With Lord and Lady
Caraven was 4 Frenchman, the COmte
de Qunsne, Il great admircr of fair
women The conversation, kept up
chiefly between the two gentlemen,
was about the charming actress.
"She 10 of the real English type
said the comte, land the English la
dies are SO fair-they are adorable.'
Il think myself" remarked the earl,
that a fair-halred English girl is GER
talnly the lovcliest object in creation"
.'You prefer the blondes to the bru-
nettes, Them
"Certainly," replied Lord Caraven.
Il do not see how Il woman can be
beautiful unless she be fair
He had entirely forgotten his young
Sirl-wife with the dark eyes and the
Spanish face. He would not have
wantonly panied her, but he had for
gotten her presence. She heard he
words. At the time she made no re-
mark although they burned into her
heart like fire. a.
The comte went home with them
and they were Joined by another
friend; but she found an opportunity
Of speaking to her husband when the
other gentlemen were busy with
ecarte, and Lord Caraven had with
drawn TO look ove some letters that
had Just arrived. She summoned up
courage and went up to him.
.Lord Caraven,'' she said. would
you mind telling me II thing?'
He looked up in wondcr-it was so
seldom that she voluntarily addressed
him. AS he looked he was slightly
- ,,,;t1, In,,& oy,,>nn,.o ,,,n. (. ina
tall, slender figure was draped in soft,
shining silk, the girlish face was
flushed with the effort of speaking to
him, the dark eyes We're bright and
starlike, filed with unutterable
thoughts. He could not help owning
to himself that there was some beauty
In the thick coils OF dark hair, in the
tall, slim, graceful figure, in the per-
feet grace and harmony. She was SIM
ply yet beautifully dressed; a pome-
J,ranate blossom lay in the coils Of her
hair.
81 want you to tell me one thing"
she repeated. IF you admire fair
girls with golden hair, why did you
marry me, with hair and eyes so
dark ,"
She asked the question in such per-
feet good faith, in such earnest tones,
with such sad, sweet eyes, that he vas
touched, not deeply, but as he would
have been had some child come to him
with trembling lips to tell a pitiful
tale.
"You know why I married you," he
replied, gravely; "why ask me the
question:"
He saw a vivid color spread over
her face, a bright light shine in her
eyes. The simple girl thought and De-
lieved he meant that she knew he had
married her because he loved her.
Her heart CAV a great, glad bound.
He loved her, She would understand
better in time, she would know why
he seemed reserved, %retieent, cold and
Indifferent.
"Yca know why l married YOU" the
handsome earl had said; and the
words filed her heart with a strange,
sweet pain.
81 will try to remember" she said,
gently.
Dull as was his ear, lie heard new
music in her voice.
"Nou will remember what?' he
asked.
Il will remember why you have
married me-" she replied: and as she
went away he wondered greatly.
II should not think that she is like
ly to forget it," he said to himself.
Certainly women are puzzles. She
will try to remember why I married
her-and the words seemed like melt
ing music ON her Hips, a light that was
like sunshine on flowers spread yer
her face. Why, I married her be-
cause her father sold her for a title,
and SHE was willing to be sold!."
CHAPTER VIII.
Lady Caraven was willing to go to
misunderstanding to go anywhere
that the earl suggested. She had
| grown quiescent. A new. strange feel
ing was stirring in her breast; it was
love for her husband-love for the
handsome, debonair earl.
1t was a chilly evening at the end
of October when the Earl and Coun-
tess of Caraven reached Ravensmere.
No preparations had been made to re-
ceiye md welcome them. There was
| no gathering of tenantry. The earl'S