The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-05-09
CHAPTER Xxx.


knowledge of human nature and the fact
that he started with good sum OF money,
CASTOR had not made his fortune. This
was due to the fact that he was indis-
posed to work when his banking account
was at all decent; so he had lived like
prince on his capital, and trusted to his
luck furnishing him with more when 1t
was done.
Kitty had Joined him in Melbourne an
arranged, and CASTOR had married her
and had established her in place in
Richmond. 1t was not regular boarding
house, but the lady who owned 1t, Mrs.
Pulchop by name, was in the habit of
letting apartments on reasonable terms.
Meanwhile he went everywhere, was
universally admired and petted, and no
one who saw him in society with his
bright smile and nonchalant manner
would have imagined what crafty schemes
thsre were in that handsome head.
Madame Midas was still up at Ballarat
and occupying the same cottage, although
she was now so wealthy she could have
inhabited palace, had she been so mind
ed. But prosperity had not spoiled Mrs.
Villiers. She still managed her own af-
fairs, and did a great deal Of good with
her money-expending large sums for
charitable purposes, because she really
wished to do good, and not, like so many
rich people, for the purpose of advertising
herself.
She had invested her money largely in
land, and thus being above the reach of
poverty for the rest of her life, she deter
mined to take up her abode in Melbourne
for a few months, prior to going to Eng
land on visit With this resolution,
she gave up her cottage to Archie, who
was to live in it, and still manage the
mine, and made preparations to come
down to Melbourne with Selma Sprotts.
my faith" said NJ. Vandeloup, smil-
ing to himself as he thought of the situa-
ton; "it's a capital comedy, certainly ;
but | must take care it doesn't end as a
tragedy"
The next day Vandeloup sent tele-
gram to Kitty saying he would be home to
dinner, and as he always required some
thing extra in the way of cooking, Kitty
went to interview Mrs. Pulchop on the
subject.
Poor thing, 1t was so rarely now that
he came home to dinner that a visit from
him was regarded by her in the light of a
treat. She dressed herself in a pretty
white dress and tied blue sash around
her waist, so that she might look the
same to him as when he first saw her.
But her face was now worn and white,
and as she looked at her pallor in the
glass she wished she had some rouge to
hripO a fnnah rf an1nr tn har nhaals Cha
tried to smile in her own merry way at
the wan reflection she beheld, but the eff
fort was a failure, and she burst into
tears.
At 6 o'clock everything was ready for
dinner, and having seen that all was in
good order, Kitty walked outside to watch
for CASTOR.
Suddenly she heard the rattle of wheels,
and rousing herself from her reverie, she
saw a hanson cab at the gate and NJ.
Vandeloup standing on the pavement pay
Ing the driver. She also heard him tell
the cabman to call for him at o'clock,
and her heart sank within her as she
thought that he would soon be gone again.
The cab drove off, and she stood cold and
silent on the veranda waiting for CASTOR,
who sauntered slowly up the walk. He
was in evening dress, and the night be-
ing warm he did not wear an overcoat,
so looked tail and slim in his dark clothes
as he came up the path swinging his cane
gayly to and fro.
"Why, Bebe, how charming you look
tonight" said Vandeloup, holding her at
arms length; quite like your old self"
And indeed she looked very pretty, for
the excitement of seeing him had bright
ened her eyes and flushed her cheeks, and
standing in the warm light of the lamp,
with her golden hair floating around her
head, she looked like lovely picture.
"You are not going away very soon?"
she whispered to CASTOR, coming close to
him, and putting her hand on his shoul-
der: II see so little of you now"
my dear child, / can't help it," he said,
carelessly removing her hand and walking
over to the dinner table II have an en-
gagement in town tonight"
"Ah, you no longer care for le," said
Kitty, with a stifed sob.
Vandeloup shrugged his shoulders.
Cant you stay to-night?" she said,
looking imploringly at him.
81 have an engagement, as told you
before" he said, lazily besides, evenings
at home are so dreary."
"I will be here" said Kitty, reproach-
fully.
"That will, Of course, make a differ
ence," answered CASTOR, with faint
sneer; 'but yoa know" Struggling his
shoulders, II do not cultivate the domes-
tic virtues"
How Nng is this going to last?" she
asked, in a hard voice.
It'll gel rich"
"That may be long timer"
"It may"
Perhaps never?
~Porhaps I"