The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-22
CHAPTER xIv.-(Continued.)

@tmRtber left him, and at once his gaDe
weat round the room in search of that
EaveIy Girlish face that had haunted his
dreams so delightfully."-.
Audrey he whispered, faistly, ard
ssme one came hurriedly out OF tn. dusk
snd knelt beside the bed.
They said no words, only his hand
ciasped itself round her two little ones,
and he lay gazing at her sweet eyes as
though they were heaven itself.
Now you have turned the corner, and
are going on well, / am going to lsek
after your wife, Lord john" DR.. Sen
tance said, cheerily.
my wife :" What a world of passion
ate tenderness, even though it was whi,-
pcred and not spoken, rang in those two
little words Audrey's heart thrilled.
"Sbe must rest; she is young, and
needs plenty of sleep, and she has beeA
fretting over you in most terrible fash
ton- Gene, Lady John, you can leave his
Ioxdship with light heart, for he could
NOT possibly be better. The best nurse,
absolutely the best nurse have ever had,
AIRS Fraser J" he declared, pleasantly.
Sheila Fraser did not return to Din
sherwood, nor did she vouchsafe TO CORE
spond with her stepmother. She reSain-
ed on in London, Q victim to the most
bitter disappointment and modification.
For nearly two minutes Sheila and
beverley were struck speechless as Lady
Dalcswater rushed in with her bad news.
The girl had turned ashan Waite, and
BeVerley's hands cl;nched themselves in
voluntarily. Lady Daleswater recovered
herself first.
-who is this gentleman?" she asked
SADLY, feeling annoyed that she had be-
trayed her family affairs before com
Eiete stranger.
Beverley answered her at once.
III am a man to whom this tstelli-
xence is more painful than you can pos
SSbly imagine, Lady Daleswater." an
severed Beverley.
'sMr. Beverley Rochfort means that
he is madly in love with this girl, who
has flung herself at your brother's head,
said SheiIa sullenly 1T win be better
CO explain everything to you, dear Lad.
Daleswater."
The countess listened attentively: she
was so deeply enraged with her mother,
brother and the poor. innocent little crea-
eure who had allied herself to the ducal
family, that every nerve thrilled 10 be
able to seize upon something, however
faint, that might be worked upon TO bring
about an annulment Of this odious mar
riage. She uttered sharp excldmat ton !;
IL almost sounded like Joy as she listened.
"All is not so bad" she cried "Sheila
don't you understand? Mr.. Rochfort
as this creatures guardian, cannot only
~. 70
GIle letter of the bond he holds, can in
asst on dIhe girl living where be wishes.
Mr.. Rochfort, that piece of paper must
he in my lawyers hands tonight; and
UNLESS / am very much mistaken. they
will ratify what l sly-that you will
have absolute and entire control over the
girl"
. ISheila's cheeks grew a shade roster
aas SHE heard Lady Daleswater's clear,
proud tones.
"The countess is right" she said TO
Beverley, as they were alone: you will
\ be able to break this absurd marriage.
= Won Inust. You must a......
There are other ways OF disposing OF
che marriage tie besides simple annul-
!asent,r he said to himself, cynically, and
d smiled into the flames. "lf that course
fails. as fail it mast, for we have not
"a leg TO stand upon, l don't think shall
be very dishearteaed. My wits have new
>sr failed me yet, and my day will corae "
It WIS quite nire o'clock and the earl
nd just rStuGn-d from Moaatbcrry. and
hr6 pou~rd m rr7o-rt of what lad oc-
Gull 49,, o, .-.---y--- -. -.r..-2'
Snfo his wife's ears. Lady D,lesw2ter
-uUas simply furious with resentment
saxninst her mother, but she did not dis
,rusS the matter further as Sheiia came in
The legal advisers of the earl ana
xrymntnss had answered her lIdyship':
hasty summons promptly. ard all they
waited for was Beverley Rochfort to ap
pear
Juxt when conversation on the vcSet
and important question was in full swing
n note was brought in and handed to thu
countess. She Iead it through, and grew
white to the lips with modification.
"Mr. Rochfort has deserted us and gon,
over to the enemy" she said, curtly. an'
reheA she handed the letter to her husband
.and BID him read il aloud.
beverley wro.e very clearly and brisAy
He had slrcaly coa<uiEca his lawyaG
who had told him promptly that an,
question os aaauliag tha marri2ge wa
as impossible as absurd; therefore he beg
xed Lady Daleswater to accept his dc
,c-ided refusal to join her in this matter.
al am sure when youiare less, and.
xuay say, justly, ineensi at this maj
riagc," he wrote, "you will ssc that RS
man of honor can do nothing but thi;
for were to enforce my guardianship
must rob Lady John Gendurwosd OF th
barge fortune which was bcqueathed he
by Mr.. Roderick Anstruth.r on his dsati
bcd. regret that l can offer your lad!
chip no avail in the matter" "a
sIt Is a good move" he Eah, alone
ola rooms. "Of course, If that confoan'
ID psper would have stood the light
..a,,li not have scr,1rlnh "a rSs