The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-12-20

swell, / am glad you're in it. Good
day"
| Mr.. Baumgarten paid his frst visit to
Avon House on the following day. Lady
Grace was alone in the room when he
entered. Her countenance flushed Grim
son, and then grew deadly pale.
Mr.. Baumgarten took her hand, almost
in compassion; he thought she must be
i'll. What has been the matterT' he in
quired.
The matter! Nothing" and she grew
crimson again. is your visit to mamma?
| Do you wish to see her?'
II am here by appointment with Lady
| Avon"
The countess came into the room, and
Grace found that his visits were to be
| frequent.
From that day they saw great deal
Of each other. Lady Grace strove to arm
herself against him: she called up pride,
anger and many other adjuncts false as
they were vain, for the heart is ever true
to itself, and will be heard. 1t ended in
her struggling no longer; in her giving
herself up, once more, to the bliss of lov-
| ing him unchecked
| htu nc give HlHstiI up 10 lHe same, Dy
way of reciprocity? Not of loving her
no, it had not come to it; but he did
| yield to the charm of liking her, of find
ing pleasure in her society, of wishing to
be more frequently at Avon House.
The Hon. and Rev. Wifred Elliotsen,
claiming dead earl for father and a
live earl for brother, was not, of course,
| a light whose beams could be hid under
bushel, more particularly as the live
earl was in the cabinet. 1t therefore sur
prised no one that when the excellent old
Bishop Of Barkaway was gathered to his
fathers and lucky canon. who held one
of the best livings in the kingdom. was
promoted to his miter, Mr.. Elliotsen
| should step into the canon's shoes, rich
living and all. This left Great Whitton
vacant. AS luck, or the opposite, chanc-
ed to have it, Lord Avon was on a few
days visit to his mother when Mr.. FL
liotsen received his appointment.
Don't put sach another as Elliotsen
into Great Whitton, Henry" observed the
countess to her son, "or we shall have
he parish in rebellion"
He has not succeeded in pleasing his
hock yet, then?' remarked his lordship.
Give it to Mr.. Baumgartea. He is
deserving man, Henry; he will restore
peace TO the parish, and as a preacher
| few excel him."
Lord Avon laughed little as he sat
down to face the sofa.
why, mother, Baumgarten is the very
man | had in my own mind. | thought
by your preamble you must have fixed on
some one else. | would rather he had If
than any other person in the world.
can tell you that the smart the last con-
tretemps brought me fingers yet Let il
DC Baumgarten; we owe him recon-
pense."
And that very day the earl afraid. DOS
sibly, of fresh interference, personally Of
fered Great Whitton to Mr.. Baumgar-
ten. and shook hands on its acceptance.
That same evening Mr.. Baumgarten
presented himself at Avon House. Grace
Carmel was standing amid the rose trees:
she liked to linger in the open air at the
dusk hour, to watch the stars come out.
and TO think of him. But that she wore
| white dress, he might not have distin-
guished her in the fading twilight. He
left the open path to join her.
1T is late visit, Lady Grace, which
| must apologize for; was called out to
sick friend as / was starting, and de-
tanned an hour" he said; 'but I could
not resist coming to say a word of graft
tude to Lord Avon"
Your visit will not accomplish its OBJ
ject, Mr.. Baumgarten, for my brother is
gone. He left before doinner upon some
matter Of urgent business in town. Nam
ma sajis she is very glad that you will be
nearer to u.s."
Perhaps / have to thank you for this,
as much as Lord Avon" he said
mo; no, indeed; it was mamma who
spoke to Henry; or he to her; they ar
| ranged it between them. Il"
WHAT" he whispered.
II did not speak to him." she contin-
| ued, filling up the pause Of hesitation.
THAT is all / was going to say"
But Mr.. Baumgarten did not fail to de-
tect how agitated she was. Her trembling
hands were busy with the rose trees,
though she could scarcely distinguish
buds from leaves. Mr.. Baumgarten took
one hand, and placing it within his own
arm, bent down his face until it was on
level with hers. Grace" he whispered,
have we misunderstood each other?"
She could not speak, bat her lips turn
ed white with her emotion. 1t was the
hour of bliss she had so long dreamed of.
Grace" he continued, in tone of i'm
passioned tenderness, have we loved each
other through the past, and did mistake
my feelings? Oh, Grace, my best-beloved,
forgive me! Forgive my folly and my
blindness"
With a plaintive cry Of satisfied yearn-
ing, such as may escape from one who
suddenly finds a long -sought-for resting
place, Grace Carmel turned to his en-
brace. He held her to him; he covered
her face with impassioned kisses, as he
had once covered Edith Danes; he whis-
pered all that man can whisper Of poetry