Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-04-27
CHAPrEER xxIv.--fcontinued.,

one place. Africa, too! What's the
use Of spending your time among saw
ages We've got your friend, the IA
nous SIgnorina stella, in the house.
She'll be delighted to see you, | dare
say, and I'll set her on to ~dissuading
you from this absurd African idea; eh,
Audreyf"
sylvia viii be very sorry" she said,
almost inaudibly.
The two left alone were silent for
d moment or two, Audrcy's heart
beating too fast to allow Of her speak
ing at first, and Lorrimore wondering
how on earth he should break the news
Of NeviIle's proximity. At last he
said:
I'm afraid / have made nay visit at
an unconventionally late hour, Miss
Hope, but / meant starting to-Inor-
row. The fact is Then, like
he blurted it out, Audrey, l have
heard of Neville lynne."
She started, but did not look over-
come with joy. She was too much
engaged thinking of another man-the
Earl OF Lorrimore-to be very much
moved, even by the return of her old
friend.
"Neville.'
"Yes! He--well, the fact is, that
he is here
Here! Where! Oh" and she
looked round.
YES" said Lorrimore. II met him
tonight, by the most singular chance,
and l have only just left him."
LEFT him? Where? oh, why did
you not bring him with you?" said
Audrey.
'Well," replied Lorrimore, Il should
If Sylvia had not been here
~ '.sSyyllria! What has Sylvia to do
with him or he with her?' demanded
Audrey.
Lorrimore was a bad hand at tell
ing Il story, and he looked round help
lessly.
The long and the short of it is"
he said, "that they know each other,
that they are old friends"
And i as few words as possible he
told her the story. or as much as be
knew OF 1t, Audrey's eyes growing
larger and larger as she listened and
gazed Mt him.
And now the question Is. how am 1
going to bring him to her without
soaring her out OF her senses? She
thinks him dead, dead, don't you see 2"
81 see," said Audrey, slowly and
thoughtfully. Yes, / sect" And she
indeed saw more than Lorrimore had
put to her. She understood now why
Sylvia was not married, why she re-
ccived mems homage and admiration
with such GOODNESS and reserve. "Oh,
the poor grill" she muttered. and to
think It is Neville Lynne. Oh, / am so
glad! So glad!' and in her joy at her
prospects Of her friends happiness,
she turned to him with tears glisten-
ing In her eyes, and looking so lovely
that Lorrlmore's head wan.
Yes, I'm glad he's turned up and
and / wish I'd found him." and he
turned his head away.
Audrey's yes fell.
"But now we've got to break the
news to her" he said. aYou see what
a splendid hand 1 I'm at that kind of
thing, and I'm afraid you will have
to do It.
YES" said Audrey, softly. 81 will
do 1t. He must not come ySt, in case
she should come out suddenly and see
him, without being prepared-ah, here
she Isl" she broke OF, as Sylvia's voice
was heard singing as she came.
Here's Lord Lorrimore, SYLVIA said
Audrey, trembling a little.
.'Oh, I am so glad!o And her soft
little palm chung around his. "And
how unexpectedTisn't 1t, Audrey?'
Yes" said Audrey. Lord Lorri-
more has come on--on business, bust
ness of yours
"Of mine?" said Sylvia, smiling.
.Has anything gone wrong ut the
opera? What is it? Why do you
look so grave? You can't bring me
very bad news, Lord Lorrimore, for
for I have had all my bad news,
you see; and all those I love, Audrey,
and Mercy, and you-if I may say so
ARE here near me, and safe. What
is ftp
aIts-its good news stammered
Lorrimore, but Audrey motioned him
to keep silent.
~ Yes, DEAR. she said, stealing her
arm around her, 1T is good news.
Lord Lorrlmore has come tonight with
"a strange, wonderful story, so strange
md wonderful as to seem unreal and
impossible. Do you think you could
bear to hear It. Sylviag" Her voice
grew lower. tendcrer. Sometimes
great joy is as hard to endure as great
sorrow; sometimes to find that those
we have lost, lost forever, as we
thought. are still liv--y
she stopped, terrified by the look
that came into Sylvia's face; it was a
look as OF q who hopes, vet dares
not believe.
"What-what is it, she painted.
looking from one to the other. her face
growing whittier each moment.
""Such wonderful things happen
truth is stranger than felton, stam-
.mered Lorrimore, getting near to her
In case she should faint or fall. We've
read stories of people who'ye-wlo've
been supposed to be killed on-on
the field OF hattIe-you know. and.
and turned up again, safe and sound
after ALI,
Sylvia started, her eyes closed for
moment, and they thought she
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