The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-10-04

aloud, that Ant0nla Is not well enough
to see you. i was just leaving her, and
she begged me to convey this message to
you"
She was quick to note that a kind of
relief fitted across his face as he heard
her voice. She had managed to convey
so much in her tone, and to carry out
this effect to a more successful issue, she
was passing him to go to her carriage
without another word but Gerald stopped
her.
Pray forgive me, Lady Betty" he said.
Il have great weight on my conscience,
and a thousand apologies to make to you.
Would it be possible for us to speak to-
gether for little while?'
He glanced at her carriage as he spoke,
but though she was elated beyond meas
ure at her success, Lady Betty played now
the part of prudence to perfection. She
ignored his suggestion that she should ask
him to drive with her.
II am going to the park in about half
an hours time she said, coldly; "per
haps we might find an opportunity of
speaking for a few minutes there" and,
bending her head, she went forward, and
sat in her victoria.
He found his way to the park, and
soon located Lady Betty.
let us go to those two chairs" he
said. indicating two placed under the
grateful shade of the trees some little dis
tance away from the crowd.
Gerald helped her to alight, and they
strolled over the grass together. She felt
that he was playing part, and She Won
dered what truth he was trying to hide.
While he was endeavoring to make fowery
little speeches to her, she broke in upon
them abruptly.
Il don't want any more excuses she
said. You cannot put aside the fact that
you treated me very rudely. l don't think
there are many women who would have
done what | did the other day, to go by
myself to your rooms simply for the pur-
pose of warning you
The smile had frozen on Gerald Ten
by's lips. His face was now quiet and
set He had himself we'll in hand. and
yet somehow Lady Betty's eyes dscon-
certed him.
ITO warn ~ he said. in accents of
profound surprise. Dear Lady Betty,
this is most mysterious l don't under
stand"
''Of course you don't understand. How
could you, if you do not know what has
happened? / tried to explain in my let
ters that 1 wanted to see you, not for a
personal matter, but 1 got no answer
Il have told you," Gerald said, hur-
riedly, shat l only received all your let
ters at once"
Il don't know why. or how, you did
not receive my letters" she said, with a
touch of peevishness, II should not have
troubled about you at all but l thought
you were my friend; but, of course, you
must have known that l called at your
chambers. That odious man you have en-
gagged as your secretary must have told
you that he met me at your door,"
Sir Gerald shook his head.
stanton told me something about meet
ing lady on the stairs, but he gave me
to understand that it was stranger to
him. How could have possibly imag-
ined that you would have comer Ger
aid tried to put tone of affection into
his voice. Wont you tell me now," he
said, pleadingly, why you troubled your
self about me so much?"
Perhaps my information is stale
news" she said.
Let me hear it," Gerald answered but
before Lady Betty could speak a bland
voice broke in on their conversation, and
George Stanton emerged from behind their
chairs.
He was faultlessly dressed and looked
what he really was-a handsome and a
well bred man-yet had he been reptile
Lady Betty could not have shrunk from
him more completely.
Pray forgive me, Lady Betty" Stan
ton said, raising his hat "but l caught
sight Of Sir Gerald IN the distance. and as
have some important papers for him l
was obliged to take this opportunity of
giving them"
Lady Betty rose to her feet with a
forfnce.
will you take me back to my car
riage?" she said to Sir Gerald.
When he had put Lady Betty into her
carriage, and had stood and watched it
roll away, he turned and retraced his
steps. His face was very pale. and in
his eyes there blazed a fierce expression,
which was comprehensive enough to Stan
ton As the two men stood for a mo-
ment side by side, Gerald said:
'Let us be clear with each other. Stan
ton. 1 refuse to be dogged and spied
upon in this way"
Stanton shrugged his shoulders and
laughed.
"You are not the master to give Or
ders," he said. 1T is as much to my in
terest as to your own that should know
what you are doing. You are bit of
fool. you know, Tenby, if the truth is
told. Look at yourself this moment. Why,
you cannot control yourself. Here we are
with the world looking at you, and you
are ready to fly at my throat and make
a scene. Take pull at yourself, man,
and bear in mind one thing; that, wheth-
CT ycG Ike 1t or whether you don't,