The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-10

"why. Bet. you have led me to think -"
 -No. no. she interrupted. You must not think that. I am sorry. Dick. You must forgive me. I have done wrong. but it was for your sake, for your mothers sake.
 He looked at her for a moment in amazement, and then he laughed.
 -Oh, see," he said quickly. You have been having a game with me-
 Nc" she exclaimed. No Dick. But wished to help you. and will help you. but you mustn't think
 He stepped forward and elapsed her in his arms. and covered her face with passionate kisses. Then he suddenly corner of rock which hid the path from view. It was Williams. the agent. red faced, breathless, and with the sweat pouring from his face.
 "Sir Richard--Lady Betty" he gasp ed, you must come home at once. The carriage is on the road at the bottom of the hill. They told me you had come up here. He paused. pressing his hand to his side.
 What's the natter? sair Sir Richard angrily, too annoyed at the interrup- tion to think of anything else. Her ladyship is iii--she has asked for you. The doctor has been sent for. Please come at once" Sir Richard turned. and. graxpine Lady Betty by the arm. hurried her down the steep. rocky path. He knew we'll enough what had happened.
 VIII
 The House Desolafe.
 When they reached Gaunt Royal. Henry, white-faced and solemn, met them in the hall
 Well. Henryf" asked Lady Betty anxiously.
 You are too late" he replied grave
 Sir Richard walked past him without word and for the moment there was an ugly look on his face.
 Then he and Lady Betty made their way upstairs into the presence of the dead.
 "A sudden seizure" said the doctor. Her heart has been fin bad way for some time. It was all over half an hour after I arrived
 With these few simple words he withdrew from the room and left the two mourners alone. Lady Betty came forward to the bed side and kissed the cold white face Then she knelt softly. down and covered her face with her hands and prayed Sir Richard stood apart. There were ho tcdto III HIS Hyess ana ne WHS not the sort of a man to give away to vio- lent outburst of grief. But in his own selfish way he had loved his mother and his sorrow was genuine enough. It was made doubly bitter by the thought that he himself was in some way to blame for her death. He scarcely dared to approach the bed. but stood a few feet away fgom 1t. and stared hxedly at the kneeling figure of Lady Betty.
 Then he turned and withdrew, soft iy closing the door behind him. He realized that he was not 1t to be in the same room with either the living or the dead.
 During the next few days Sir Rieh- ard Gaunt lived his Life apart from the others. He declined to even speak to his brother. and the few conversations he had with Lady Betty were brief. chiefly connected with the funeral ar- arrangements. He took all his meals alone in the library, and made it clear that he did not wish for the society of any one.
 At the funeral itself the two broth CTS and Lady Betty were the chief turned out to do reverence to the fam fly which owned 6 large but unproduc- tive slice of the county. The demeanor of the three principal figures in the ceremony was correct, and not calcu- lated to call for remark. No one knew that the two brothers were not on speaking terms. and that Lady Betty.s sorrow was mingled with fierce rage against the two men who could bring their quarreis even to the side of their mothers grave.
 During the time which elapsed be- tween the death and the funeral, Richard Gaunt had effaced himself, but directly the ceremony was over, and the relations had departed. he lost no time in giving vent to the words he had withheld from respect to the dead.
 Ills interview with Henry was cer- tainly not one which should have pass ed between any two brothers who had just been united in a common grief.
 They were alone in the library on the morning after the funeral Sir Richard had asked for a few words with his younger brother, and 1t was quite clear from the outset that they were not to be pleasant ones
 T should like to have a little chat with you, Henry" he said coldly, as he lit a cigarette. 'sWe may not meet again for some years, and suppose you are leaving by the midday train"
 Henry had not thought of leaving by the midday train but he took the hint
 "Yes, believe that Is the only good train" he replied.
 T shall instruct my solicitor to pay of that mortgage as soon as possible"
 (Contfnued Tomorrow.)