The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-01
CHAPTER vIII.-(Continued.)


ly she got her fathers permission to re-
turn to her aunt, and try to cheer the
poor woman up. Roderick was back at
her home, and proved courteous and
kind friend to his brothers wife. He be-
sought her not to speak to her father
about tie marriage, urging all sorts OF
reasons for the delay. Roderick also ad-
lvised her not to confde in his mother;
and, bearing in mind Franks wishes, she
did all the young man advised.
So the days went by. Four months
were spent; the time was drawing near
for her fathers annual winter visit to
tho Riviera, and Constance felt she ought
60 accompany him, when suddenly the
current OF her life was changed by two
events, the first of which brought the
color to her cheeks and the thrill to her
heart, the second Of which plunged the
girls soul into the deepest, darkest mis-
cry woman can ever know.
Just as the letter In which she had
written. in timid, gentle words, the ma
ternal hopes she might assure herself of,
a blow fell upon her which all but
crushed out her life, as it successfully
broke her heart. One day a woman pre-
sented herself at Lady Anstruther's house
and asked to see Miss Gascoigne. Mar
shall, who guarded and shielded her
young mistress by every means in her
power, would have refused this woman
admittance, but Constance took the mat
ter into her own hands, and O meeting
followed.
When Marshall went IN to look after
the girl, thinking she had given the
stranger enough of her time, she found
Constance standing before the fire, her
face ashen white, her eyes staring and
expressionless, like the Dyes of the dead.
Marshall" she said, with tones that
we're husky with emotion, Marshall, /
have been deceived. / am Eot Frank
wifep
mot Mr.. Franks wife! Oh, come,
Miss Constance, you are altogether
wrong! Why, didn't I see you a-stand-
IN before the altar with my own eyes,
and didn't / hear you swear to belong
20 each other"
Constance put out an icy-cold hand.
Dear, trnc friend" she whispered,
between her pallid lips, and then she
tok up pisss OF paper and gave 1t to
Marshall.
"Read that and you will see I am not
wrong" she said, with wintry smie
"The wedding you assisted at was only
farce Here Is the certificate of Frank
Anstruther's first marriage, ay, first and
only one. for that woman who has just
left ME Is hIs lawful, legal wife,"
IT will not believe it! l will not be-
lieve IT." So cried Marshall over and
over again. while the poor girl crouched
down by the fire and rocked herself to
and fro, asking herself in wild, mad
way. what was to become of her.
"Mr. lsSarick will put this straight"
was Mars n-ll's verdict. and for brief
tine a flame OF hope sprung up in the
twretched creatures breast; but alas 1t
soon died down and was crushed out for.
ever.
Roderick took the matter up immedi-
atcly, lie sought out every clew, follow.
ed the truth up to the bitter end, and.
lastly and sorrowfully, had to own his
brother u liar and villain.
Constance seemed turned to stone. She
shed no tears, she made no moan; she
bore herself with pride that was some
thing marvellous.
What was to become Of her? What
of her child?" The question haunted her
day and night.
Fortunately, her aunt's health became
90 bad, she was permitted to stay buried
IN the country house without further mo-
lcstation from her father, who went of to
Monte Carlo and enjoyed himself, doubly
free from his daughters presence. Letters
arrived f.om Frank by every mail, but
they were tossed into the fire unread.
"I leave you to communicate with
your brother" the girl had said In her
one and only interview with Roderck,
and the hot blood of triumph had surged
into his veins.
How we'll his evil, jealous plan had
worked! Better than he could have
hoped or dreamed. Frank was miles
AWAY; he could NO, stand forth and re.
flute the horrible lies. Constance, bound
up In pride and misery, refused TO do
as she should has done, write to him di-
rect, and so learn the real truth His
two puppets worked at his will and hast
ened his revenge.
Revenge on the brother he had always
hated; revenge on the woman he had
loved in wild, unreasoning. passionate
way, and vic had shrunk from his very
friendship in n manner that had chilled
him 20 the heart. 1t was cruel, wicked,
unmanly act--the act rather OF a demon
than that of man.
As day after day went by, the time
approached for the birth OF Constance's
,nameless child. She had madc no plans,
,nrrauqad nothing Rnderick ,f;d ayor,,
thing. He it was who guarded the girl
In her mothers house, where with no one
about her but Marshall, not evcn..a whis-
per OF her condition caught the wind;
he surrounded her with every comfort,
every care, but he never saw her, and
she sent him no thanks.
The day her child was borr, Marshall
came to him: she had 10 liking for Rod.
Ierick--in fact, SD great was her anger
ana hatred toward poor Frank she could