Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-10-30
The fatal Three
MISS M. z. BRADDON
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CHAPTER vI.-(continuca. !,

"Music OF a high order is not al un-
common gift among women of sensitive
temperament, said CasScalani Etsingly,
II take It to be only another name foi
sympathy. Want of musical feeling is
want Of sympathy. Shakespeare knew that
when he declared the non-muSical man
to be by nature a villain. | could no
moro imagine you without the gift OF
music than / could imuginc the stars
without the quality of light. Mr.. Ores
wold's first wife was n good musician,
no doubt You know"
"You heard her ~play--and sing?" fal-
tered Mildred, avoiding a direct reply.
eyes, ! heard her several times ut par
ties at Nice. She was much admired for
her musical talents. She was not a
grand singer, but she had been well
taught, and she had exquisite taste. and
knew exactly the kind of music that suit
ed her best. She was one OF the attrac-
tons at the Paiais Montana, where one
heard only the best music"
II think you said the other day that
you did not meet her often" said Mil
dred. my husband could hardly have
forgotten you had you met frequently
II can scarcely say that we met fire.
" 3 nv ''i 49,
Mr.. Grcswoid would not be very likely to
remember. | am not u remarkable man
now, and ! was n very insignificant per-
son fifteen years ago. | was only asked
to peoples houses because | could sing a
little, and because my father had a rapu-
tntion in the South as Il composer. |
was mover introduced to your husband,
but / was presented to his wife-as a
nrncNr;p,,o yN,,fh with conn nTatpTlGi1nS to
q tenor voice-and / found her very
charming--after her own particular
style"
WAS she a beautiful woman?" asked
Mildred. "I-I-haye never talked about
her to my husband, she died so young,
and"
Eyes, yes, / understand" interrupted
CAstellani, as she hesitated. "Of course
you would not speak Of her. There are
things that cannot be spoken about. There
Is always a skeleton in every l~ife--not
more in Mr.. Greswold's past than in that
Of other people, perhaps, could we know
all histories. I was wrong to speak of
her. Her name escaped me unnwares."
"Pray don't apologize" said Mildred,
indignant at something in his tone, which
limited at wrongdoing on her husbands
part. 'There can be no reason why you
should keep silence-to me though any
mention of an old sorrow might wound
him. I know my husband too well not to
know that he must have behaved honora-
bly, in every relation OF ~life-before l
married him as well as afterward. l only
asked a very simple question: was my
predecessor as beautiful as she was gift
ed?"
mo. She was charming, piquant, ele-
CANT, spirituelle, but she was not hand
some. / think she was conscious of that
a Of beauty, and that it made her sem
sitive and even bitter. / have heard her
say hard things Of women who were hand
somer than herself. She had a scathing
tongue and a capricious temper, and she
was not n favoritek with her own sex,
though she was very much admired by
clever men. I know that as a lad l
thought her one of the brightest women
! had ever met"
1T was sad that she should die so
Joung.'' said Mildred.
She would not for worlds that this
man should know the extent of her ignor-
anc about the woman who had borne
her husbands name. She spoke vaguely,
hoping chat he would take it for granted
che knew all.
Eyes" assoDted Castellani with a sigh,
her death was infinitely sad"
He spoke az Of an event of more than
common sndness-a calamity that had
been In somewisc more ~tragical than un-
timely death must need be.
Mildred kept silence, though her heart
ached with shapeless forebodings, and
though 1t would have been an unspeak-
able relief to know the worst rather than
to feel the oppression of this mystery.
Castellani rose to take leave. He was
pAler than he had been before the con-
versation began, and he had a troubled
air. Pamela looked it him with sympa-
thetic distress. II am afraid you are
dreadfully tired" she said, as they shook
hands.
answered and Pamela appropriated the
compliment by her vivid blush.
CHAPTER VII.
/ Pamela's prattle relieved the gloom
which had fallen upon husband and wife.
George Greswold saw that there were
signs Of a new trouble in his wife's face.
He sat for nearly an hour alone with the
uutouCueu ueSstHteTS beIore MIN. ana WITH
Kassandra's head upon his knee. The
dog always knew when his thoughts were
darkest. and would not be repulsed at
such times. She was not obtrusive she
only wanted to bear him Company.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock when he left
the dining room. He looked in at the
drawing room door, and saw his wife and
his niece sitting at work, silent both.
am going tc. the library TO write
some letters, Mildred he said don't
nit mp for me-.
She rose quickly and went over to him.
Let me have half an hours talk with
0 first, George" she said, in an earnest
voice. II SO much to speak TO you"
My dearest, | am always at your SER
vice., he answered quietly and they went
across the hall together. to that fine old
room which was essentially the domain
sf the master of the house.
well, Mildred, what is the matter??,
asked Greswold, when his wife had seated
herself beside him in front of the massive
oak desk nj which ali thc business OF his
estate had been transacted since he came
to Enderby. There is nothing amiss,
love, / hope, to make you SO earnest?s
There is something very much amiss.
George" she answered. Forgive me II
I pain you BY what | have to sas-hy the
questions I am going to ask. | annot
help giving you pain. truly and dearly rs
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