The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1906-08-17
CHAPTER ".

bad temper. The coming of her bus
bands niece had been s. signal for an en-
tire change in her existence. For the
| FIRST time in her life she found herself
compelled to play q secondary role. Ii
was most mortifying and equally incom-
prehensibie that the world-her world
should suddenly have determined to regard
| Antonio as beauty.
The girl seemed TO find great pleasure
in being with her uncle. in looking after
thai mueh-ncglected man. and in trying
by every little thoughtful act 10 show
him affection and attention. She went
out very rarely with Lady Betty: but
she had been out quite enough to attract
attention.
Another thing that annoyed Lady Betty
| was the apparent indifference with which
Antonio regarded her social success. An
tonia took all that came in the caimesr
with any of the smart people with whom
she was brought in contact. She was not
| in the least an ordinary girl.
Her clothes were simplicity itself: yet
even Lady Betty was obliged TO confess
that the style In which the girl dressed
herself was one that enhanced her charms
threefold.
1t was such contrast. too, to her own
costly and fashionable raiment, and yet
everything that Antonio wore came from
the hands of one of the most celebrated
dressmakers In London. That was what
surprised Lady Betty 50 much, that this
girl, who came, rs she phrased 1t, from
the wiIds OF nowhere" should have bad
not only a marked individuality but s.
certain knowledge of the world.
The gowns that Antonio wore made
her open he eyes. for, despite their sim
piicity, they were cut and shaped by the
hand Of a genius.
| Ii was the same thing with the big
picturesque hats and the small, Quaker
| like bonnets which Antonio wore alter
nately. All this was gall to Lady Betty.
| .If she had been one of the cleverest
women In the weird. she could not have
hit upon more splendid idea" the little
| lady said TO herself more than once as
| Antonia's beauty was revealed. perhaps,
In some new light what the world likes
| Is change. All we other women seem cut
out in the same pattern. She stands
alone. What will Gerald think Of her.
woudergt'
4 EWF UEEah 10 t9 4AASI N1SS< hNA 1h
| tonia and NJ. Tenby 10 meet. She spoke
OF Sim frequently. 1t was soon evident
10 the girl that this particular man oc-
cnpied much of Lady Betty's thoughts.
His photograph was given the place Of
honor In every room which Lady Betty
occupied. and Antonio was quite familiar
with the fact that great things were ex-
pccted Of Gerald Tenby.
/ Antonio listened to all this quite calm
| ly, but as the days went By and Tenby
never made bis appearances. the girl had
a sense OF bitter satisfaction.
Coward" she would say to herself
/ between her teeth. -He can face the
whole world, but he dare not face me.
! Well, can wait-wait NIL my life. IL
needs be and though I may never know
happiness. though l may never see HUI
bert again, I win not 20 TO my grave till
have punished this enemy"
i This thought was in her mind more
prominently than ever one night as she
sat In Lady Betty's box at the opera.
listening with duh ears to the voice OF
a celebrated singer.
People came and went In Lady Betty's
box---but Antonio never moved until the
door opened 20 admit another arrival, and
the sound OF Gerald Tenby's voice fell
on Der ear. Then a food OF color spread
oyes her face, her little hands elinched
themselves round the fan she held. /,
seemed as II. when she drew her breath
she acre going to take some plunge. The
next moment she had Looked around with
radiant smile and was holding out bel
hand.
.You did not expect to see me In Lon
ion." she said. AZ she noted that Gerald
Tcnby drew back and hardly knew how
TO approach her.
Lady Betty looked from one to the 9th
er half impatiently.
@You never told me that you knew Ger
aid" she said.
Antonio smiled again.
ii II never realized that your Gerald ant
mine were one and the same,
Tenby fixed bis eyes upon her eagerly
Those casual words Of hers seat a kinC
of fame TO bis heart. Her beauty gtruci
/, him ~ being greater than ever.
He looked AT her eyes. They met BIZ
| fear.csxly, and yet half shyiy. as II thel
, confessed that she desired forZetfnlnes
! | fer that last time they had BEEN together
! pardon for all those bitter words she ha'
! hurled against him.
ii Gerald Tenhy's heart beat wildly. |
! seemed to hfn Ike some wonderful dream
/ 10 sit there aud look st Antonio In be
|. soft white gown and to bear her yoic
j speaking 10 him gently. The rest Of III
evening passed like magic.
II When Lady Betty ross 70 faiteF ava
10 half dozen balls. Gerald escorted he
/ and her conpanlon to their carrsags
/. fresh wonderment and dels%if Oiled b
. heart As Antonia put her slender hand ]
: his and smiled again into his eyes.
!. II had needed bat this 10 complete n
y triumph. liz had never rallied till thi
l moment boa much be bad loved her.
e Tlss night Was warm. and be determine
] to waik frUm the opera hpuse. A. B
. passed along his eye was suddenly canga
4 b. the plaeagd 81 an evening newspsp~
= and be came 10 ssandstill.
}. For an instant his bFaIn resled. II
could hardly deeipher the big words eieal
. II, thea tbs mist rolled away, and
4 sseoi facing the fact that his Ususnp
a. t. a. .afn 81 Sos -