Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-04-30

Wy
II do. with your grace's leave" an
swered.
"Or without my grace's leave! That
is what you mean." h retorted pet
tishly, a red spot on each cheek. When
people will not do what I ask. 1t Is all
ways grace. grace! grace! But l know
them now"
dared not smile. and I would not
look up. lest my heart should fail me
and I would give her her way.
You foolish boy!" she again said
and shifted. Then with a toss of her
head she went away. her husband fol-
lowing her obediently.
feared hat she was grievously Of
Tended. and 1 got up restlessly and
which Mistress Anne was leaning.
meaning to say something which would
gain for me her sympathy, perhaps her
advice. But the words died on my lips.
for as I approached she turned her
face abruptly toward me. and 1T was
SO white, so haggard. so drawn. that
uttered a cry of alarm. You are ILL"
l exclaimed. Let me call the Ouch
eSs!"
She gripped my sleeve almost fiercely.
"Hush!" she muttered. do nothing of
the kind. I am not we'll. 1t is the
water. But 1t will pass off. if YOU do
not notice 1t. 1 hate to be noticed" she
added. with an angry shrug.
I was full of pity for her and re-
brute 1 have been!" I said. You have
watched by me night after night and
nursed me day after day. n 1 have
scarcely thanked you And now you
are i'll yourself. 1t is my fault"
She looked at me. q wan smile on her
lace. "A little, perhaps" she am
swered family. But 1t is chiefly the
water. y shall be better presently.
About that letter. Did you not come
to speak to me about it?"
Never mind 1t now" I said anxious
ly. will you not lie down ON the
rugs awhile? Let me give you my
place." I pleaded.
mo. no." she cried impatiently. and
seeing I vexed her by my Importantly
I desisted. The letter." she went on.
You will open 1t by and by?"
NO" I said slowly. considering, to
tell the truth. the strength of my reso-
luton. II think 1 shall not"
You will. you will" she repeated.
with a kind of corn. 1.-THE duchess
will ask you again. and you will give it
to her. OF course you Will"
Her ton was strangely querui-
Gus: and her yes continually
me. But 1 thought only that
h was i'll and excited. and I fancied 1t
was best to humOr her. well, perhaps
I shall" I said soothingly. Possibly.
1t Is hard to refuse her anything, and
yet l hope I may not. The girl-it may
be a girls secret"
'Well?!' she asked. interrupting me
abruptly. her voice harsh and unmusi-
cal. What Of her." She laid her hand
on her bosom as though to still some
secret pain. I looked at her, anxious
and wondering, but she had again
averted her face. What OF herr" she
repeated.
"only that would no willingly
hurt herr" / blurted out.
She did not answer. She stood mo-
ment; then. to my surprise, she turned
away without a word. and merely COM
manding me by q gesture Of the hand
not to ollo walked slowly away. 1
watched her cross the deck and pass
through the doorway into the deck
house. She did not once turn her face,
and my only fear was that she wa ill,
more seriously Ill, perhaps, than she
had acknowledged.
CHAPTER VIII.
AS the day went on. therefore, 1
looked eagerly for Mistress Anne's re-
turn. but she appeared nc more, though
I maintained a close watch on the cab
In door. All the afternoon, too, the
uches kept away from me. and I
feared that I had seriously offended
her. SO that 1t was with no very pleas
ant anticipations that, going into that
part OF the deckh0use which served US
for a common room, to see II the even
ing meal was set, I found only the
duchess and Master BERTHE prepared to
sit down to It. ! suppose that some-
thing OF my feelings was expressed in
my face. for while I was yet half a
between door and table my lady gave
way to a peal OF merriment.
Come. sit down and do not be
afraid" h cried pleasantly. her gray
eyes still full OF laughter. II vow the
lad thinks I shall eat him. Nay. when
all Is said and done. I like you the bet
ter Sir Knight Errant. for your
scruples. I see that you are determined
minds ms." h added III a more seri-
ious vein. I'VE have been frank with
you. You must be equally frank with
US. What are we to call you. pray?
I looked down at my plate and felt
my. face row scarlet. The wound
which the discovery of my fathers
treachery had dealt me had begun ia
heal. In the action. the movement, the
adventure OF the last fortnight. / had
we'll night lost sight Of the blot on my
escutcheon, OF the shame which Ind
driven me from home. Blu the ques-
ton. What r we to call o re-
vived the smart. and revived it with an
added pang. It had been very well. ia
theory. to proudly discard my old
name. It was painful in practice to be
unable to answer the duchess: Il am
q Cludde Of Cotton, nephew Of Sir An
thony. formerly esquire OF the body ia
King Henry. / am no unworthy follow
or and associate wen for you,v and ia
have instead g reply: II have nc
name. am nobody. I have ali ia
make and win" Yet this wa. my IL
t0rtnne.
Her w0man's eye saw my trouble az
hesitated. confused and doubling
what I should reply. Come. 5 said
ROOD naturally. trying to reassure me
You arc OF Iantlo birth. Qf AMI ~