Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-09-04
cHAPTER '.

5oiued to her extreme astonlshmeHt, Dy
Irene Duchess Of Staffa.
II have had no opportunity of telling
YOU before how charming you looked at
Buckingham palace" began the duchess
rniably. your dress was perfect"
It seemed to Beryl that between 3
o'clock on Saturday and on Sunday
there must have been many opportuni
Ties for paying this graceful compliment.
B,,t perhaps the duchess forgot that she
bs8 been twenty four hours at Damorey
Il am so glad you liked my frock,"
she responded politely.
Il 1erybodr ADMIRED it immensely.
Even tEs dear Queen told me she had
never seen young lady more charming
" and suitably attired.p
Beryl smiled pleasantly and remained
silent. She was a little weary OF re-
spending to compliments.
DO you think OF remaining long at
Damorey court 2" pursued the duchess
sarelessly.
AS long as my guardian thinks
proper replied Beryl.
Your g'ardiany"
MY guardian, Mr. Franklin Cover"
'Oh, is Mr.. Cover your guardian? How
funny!"
Funny - echoed BeryI
well, he is rather young for
guardian. Don't you think SOL"
The proud eyes now glanced keenly in
Beryfs face. The girl laughed merrily,
dnrestrainedly.
"Mr Cover young?' she said. ooh,
no, you mistake! He is very, very nice
and kind, but he is not young. He was
my fathers greatest friend
II see And now he has transpired his
affection to that great friends daugh
teri
Beryl's eyes twinkled.
I'VE quarrel and fight continually"
she said
Does Mr. Cover do much of the fight
ing"
sN-no. / don't think he o. | fancy
it must be who provok, al our dis
agreements"
"Ah, he has something more serious to
do in looking after your affairs!"
THAT would not take him long" said
Beryl, with smile. MY large prop
erty consists of sugar plantation in
the West Indies
Really exclaimed the duchess as
that all?''
That is all. ! am not great heir
ess. l have enough to live upon. No
more"
"You are fortunate to have that" said
the duchess. "a friend of mine, who has
similar property, has received nothing
whatever from her sugar plantations for
some years"
The duchess rose languidly as though
to depart She smiled at Beryl as she
moved away. She knew all she had
come to learn, and she had planted a
thorn that she might safely leave to
rankle in that innocent mind so ignorant
of the world and its cruel ways.
And the thorn, unnoticed at first
probed its way deeper and deeper until
it set up wound that refused to be
ignored To Beryrs impulsiye nature
this ranking sore became unbearabie.
She determined that the surgeons knife
would be preferable to the ever gnawing
pain.
Seeing one day, through the long
French windows, that Cover was alone
in the library, she rushed tempestously
IN upon his solitude, and told him that
she had come to talk TO him.
II have some important letters to
write, Beryl," he protested somewhat
feebly. As well might he exclude the
light of the blessed sun as drive away
this willful child on the rare and happy
occasions when she Intentionally sought
his companionship.
what j have to say is more imp0r
tant-much more" she asserted impera-
lively.
He laid down his pen and placed a
chair for her near his own.
Is it not very, very wrong for a
srI,-
an breathless haste.
Franklin looked puzzled
In an abstract way, suppose, all
deceit is wrong" he replied 'grhere
have been cases, / believe. in which it
has been found to be allowable, even
judiciousa'
Then why did YOU, when it is neither
allowable nor judicious, deceive meY"
she asked @.
Il am afraid l do not quite under
stand" he began.
''0h, yes, you-do You told me that |
had enough money from that wretched
sugar plantation TO live upon, and now
have heard casually-yes casually
the horrible fact was not broken gently
and tenderly to me, as 1T should have
been, by yen--that no money has been
coming from these miserable plantations
for ever so long. Was it kind, was it
allowable or judicions Of you to let me
live ON in a fools paradise that was
sure, sooner or later, to vanish complete
gly away?"
Cover had grown very grave.
WHO told You thisY" be inquired in
tones in which anger and regret strug
gled for the mastery.
Irene, Duchess of Stafia. under the
transparent fiction of the painful case of
a dear friend. But that is no matter.
II it is the truth it is best that it should
be known. see by your face that it is
only too true"
He made no attempt at denial 1t
was too late His foolish question as
TO her authority had given him hope
lessly away.
And is my offense,' he asked, "a very
heinous one in your eyes? ?"
She looked at him mute, horror
- rfr