Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-04-26

der. "This--this will make a differ
ence to you. dearest?'
Yes" he said, simply Two days
ago there seemed little chance Of my
being the Duke of Rothbury. Now
But hope and trust dear old Dolph
will live to be hundred"
"And I, and T." she responded, fer
vently. II would rather have you
as you are, Yorke; far, far rather"
II am afraid that this sad affair
will delay our marriage, Eleanor" he
said II as regretfully as he could.
yes" she whispered, her face still
hidden on his shoulder-"yes, 1t must
suppose; but"--he could almost feel
| her blush--'but not for long?' she
asked.
II don't know" he stammered. q
we shall see. must find Dolph He
was In Switzerland, but think 1t is
very likely that he has moved down
south with the cooler weather. He
Will be cut up. He liked poor Eustace
better than any OF us did. must
80 now, dear"
80 soon?'
eyes, am afraid SO. Is there any
thing you want me to do-anythIng
can tell Dolph?"
There Is only one thing | want"
she said In low voice, land that is
you Come back as soon-the first
moment you can. Yorke, and-and
don't forget mel"
When he had gone, Lady Eleanor
threw herself down on the sofa and
hid her face in her hands, and Lady
DENLY, when she came In an hour
later, found her thus.
DO 1t as luxurlously as you may, the
journey from England to the south OF
Italy is a tiresome and aggrayating
one, and Yorke reached Policastro-
the place at which the bodies were ly-
Ing worn out mentally and physi-
cally.
In the morning Yorke went and
Identified the bodies and arranged for
the funeral, and was returning to the
hotel, when he met Dolph.
why, Dolph," he said, with forced
cheerfulness, this is surprise! How
did you come here?"
I'VE have been travelling day and
night, as you have. no doubt" said the
duke.
And so you are going to be the
next duke, after all How you and |
have fretted- NO, | don't know that
you ever cared much, but | dld-and
| 1t has all come right at last The
Providence that shapes our ends,
rough-hew them as we will, has de-
creed that poor Eustace and his boys
should go down there in the sea, and
that you should reign In his place."
you must get back to England as
quickly as possible" said Yorke try
Ing to speak In an assured and per-
fectly confident voice There is
nothing like England In the winter af-
ter all Come back and let Eleanor
nurse you"
That's an inducement, certainly,
said the duke. Eleanor and were
always good friends"
There was silence for few mo,
ments then the duke, after glancing
once or twice at Yorke's grave face,
said, In low voice that faltered:
"There--there is no news of-of-"
"Of whom"
"Of Leslie"
mo no, | have seen nothing and
heard nothing of her since | left
Portmarls."
She must have gone out of Eng.
land, said the duke. knitting his
brows. Her father being an artist
as he thinks himself, poor fellow =
would be ready enough to come
abroad here on the continent. II Is
strange that | have not run across
them,
Yorlie said nothing, but the lrown
on his forehead deepened and dark.
ened
when | shuttle off this mortal coil
YOU viii find In my will that have
mentioned-Leslie," lie paused before
the name You won't mind, Yorke
She wouldn't take any money from
me alive, but she may not mind when
I'm gone, After all, It was cruel
trick we--no, played her, Yorle,"
1T was. But II was a test, and
she failed In It"
The duke sighed Silence again
for a moment or two; as IL he were
giving speech to thought that oc
Cured to him before this. he said
hesitatlngly;
DO yon think mind, | only ask
YOU the question for the sake of ask
ing Il: | have no reason for doing SC
but do you think that there was the
slightest chance for our having made
Il mistaken"
What do you mean?" demanded
Yorhe.
II mean---well, 1t is difhcult to say
exactly what | mean. But you know
Or perhaps you don't know--hov