The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-11-21

knew only too we'll despised him even
as he adored her.
Antonio did not leave her uncle's sich
room. There came TO her n kind of peace
that was almost comfort as she sat BY
the bedside of Edward Marchmont and
remembered all his manifold goodness.
From the first moment that she had
looked upon him Antonio had not deceiv-
ed herself. She knew that before many
more hours had passed this noble heart
would be ailenced forever. In the early
part of the afternoon Lady Betty came
in again, with a great rustic OF silken
skirts.
Go and rest for awhile, Antonia,' she
said. II will stay with Edward"
1t was on the girls lips to refuse. She
had no desire to rest, no desire to leave
this darkensd room; yet it was not posi-
BILE for her to refuse, and then the thought
came TO her quickly that perhaps the sick
man might find a geam OF joy in the
knowledge that his wife was sitting be-
side him. So she rose.
Il do NOT need rest" she said, but L
will go into the drawing room, and If you
want me, please call me-"
you are SO good. dear Antonia," MUIR
INJURED Lady Betty; hut you look so
tired, so worn"
Antonio walked softly alsng the pas
sage, and as she did so Betty MarchmOnt
passed quickly out of her husbands room.
She turned az if 10 go into her own apart
ments, and then she saw Antonio.
Il want some eaudeC Cologne" she said.
hurriedly. Edward seems to be fainter
She spoke hurriedly, so hurriedly as TO
run her words into one another, and An
tonia looked at her for an instant. Then
without word she pushed on and entered
her unCle'S room.
The first thing of which she was coz
scious was that the atmosphere was cbarg-
ed With a heavy odOr-a siokly scent,
something that Antonio had never expert
enced before.
Her brows contracted, and unconscious
Iy her hands stole together. She advanced
to the bed and looked down upon the man
lying on the pillows.
There was very little difference in his
attitude, and yet Antonio knew that a
great change had taken place. He lay
closed his head little fallen on his
breast.
She bent over and whispered his name
and as she did so that strong scent seemed
to come more powerfully TO her senses.
As she raised herself, while a cold, hor-
rible feeling crept into her heart, Betty
Marchmont stole into the room again.
She carried a large flask of eau-de
Cologne.
This will revive him." she said; but
as she advanced to the bed Antonio turned
and gripped her by the wrist.
leave him. she said, in a harsh,
strained voice. You have done enough !"
Lady Betty looked at her in furtive
sort of way. She wrenched her hand free.
What do you mean?" she asked. why
do you speak to me so Strangely"
For answer Antonio threw her hands
up to her face, sank down into a chair,
and bent forward, covering, as it were,
beneath some heavy blow; and Lady Bet
ty stood and looked at her with venom in
her eyes, and yet with fear.
Quickly she reviewed the position, and
she saw herself at the mercy of Antopia,
unless she took means to silence the girl.
81 think you must be out of your
mind" she said, speaking distinctly. "All
this trouble has turned your brain. Be
cause your uncle is-asleep-"
..My uncle is Dead" said Antonio land
you know it! You may be able to throw
dust into the eyes of other people, but you
| cannot deceive me. l understand now all
that must have been in your tnind-that
must be in your heart"
She moved to the bed, stopped and kiss
ed the cold brow, then mechanically she
turned and walked from the room. But
Betty Marchmont did not intend to let her
go like this; she followed her.
''You are very wicked to me, Antonia,"
she said, and her lips trembled. II don't
in the least understand what you mean.
If Edward is dead, then he must have
died in his sleep. | just sat beside him
as you were sitting, and l watched him
as you watched him, and then all at once
it seemed to me that he was very quiet,
and / bent over him and asked him to
speak to me, and when he did not answer
thought l would try and revive him, but
there was no eau-de-Cologne. so | went
to fetch some that l had. Don't-don' {
you believe me?"
mo, do not believe you! know that
you are not speaking the truth; but do
not be afraid. What / say to you is said !;
for the rest / am silent. My uncle loved
you," said Antonio, her voice trembling !;
"only an hour ago / saw that love in his
eyes. You have trodden this treasure un-
der foot for years, you have turned him
into ridicule, you have spurned him and
| Knocked him, and lately he has been a bar
rier; 500 you have set yourself free
To all the world the death will be a nat
| ural one SO let it be, but you will always
know that there is one person who could
set the world right. / am going away
from this house now, and hope may
| never have cause to speak with you
again"