Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-07-17
CHAPTER IL.--lcontInued.l

amused. Your Uncle Lucicn's sister
an only sister-was by a clause in her
fathers woill entitled on her marriage to
take possession of the family jewels. I
have heard it said that they were unique
that their price was fabulous; but at
all events there Is no doubt about it,
chat they were some Of the best stones in
Europe. OF course the old man always
thought that with her beauty and posi-
ton she would marry brilliantly, and so
left her the jewels. She, however, elect
ed to marry the miller, O'Connell."
"She ought to have been ashamed of
herself" yawns Mrs. Clarence.
But what an extraordinary arrange
menti About the will, | mean !" says
Grey.
"The absurdcst on record. There was,
however, n proviso. She was to have
the jewels for her life, or until she had q
son. There was no mention of a daugh-
ter, or else our unknown cousin would
be the richest heiress in England to-day.
Failing the son, they were to revert
to the family again. To Sir Lucien,
in fact. He did all he could to make his
father change this will, but even after
the disastrous marriage the old man
would not. She was to have the jewels
for her life, or for her son"
Eyes, that was it," says Mrs. Clar-
ence. II remember it all now quite
clearly. And no son was born. Only
"A girl. Therefore the diamonds-very
valuable-ha1f a kings ransom, as they
say-should have come to Sir Lucien.
But, how was 1t, Eustace?' to Everard.
ION her death the jewels we're not 10 be
had. They were lost gone. And never
a single sign of them since. isn't that
it,"
"a very graphic description. On Mrs.
O'Connell's death, demand was made for
the jewels, but from that day to this no
tidings of them has ever been heard.
Her husband?'
"O'Connell, they all said, made away
with them"
From all / have heard OF her." puts
In Mrs. Clarence indolcntly, II should
say Lillian Adare-Mrs. O'Connell-had
more to do with the disposing of them
than anyone else. Aunt Maria, who knew
her very intimately, says she was n vain,
intolerably selfish creature, with a ca
pacity for spending money, that
Even you could not rival" says
Everard in u little low teasing whisper
that reaches her ear alone.
still a woman, however extravaganza
IL inclined, could hardly sell q quantity
OF valuable stones without q chance of
their being traced says Gilbert Grey.
What madness to make a will like
that!' says Everard. TO give stones
of almost untold value into the hands
of a girl who was unable to manage even
her own life. | don't exactly banker af-
ter Sir Lucicn, but I'm sorry he failed
in getting his father to change his will.
But it seems the old man would not hear
of it. He stood firm. The fact is he was
not in love with Sir Lucien, and he ador-
ed his neutrality-suspicious. because she was
his ortty ONE
"Oh, no! Because she was domineer-
ing-hard, unloying, but very beautiful
says Mrs. Clarence with a cynical shrug
Of her shoulders.
There might have been another rea-
son for the old mans obstinacy," says
Gilbert Grey. "Isverard has limited at it.
We all know he hated his eldest son-
Sir Lucien. Have You forgotten it?"
Hardly forgotten I" Mr.. McGrath. who
has been so taken up with knotting his
moose as 20 be unable to bear the noble
part he usually does in every conversa-
ton, whether it concerns him or other
wise, now breaks in solemnly-''We mere
" felt it was unnecessary to mention it
Our dear relative, Sir Lucien, has made
known to us by this time his many en-
gazing qualities. You say he went for
! ong walk to-day with Hilary, in the di-
r..tion of the old mill?'
YES" May mods her head, shat is
wsere his sister, Mrs. O'Connell, used to
lile."
sWhere our aunt used to live" cor
rests her brother, lifting his brows, and
smiling a little.
sShe only married him to the disgust
Of all her family" says Mrs. Clarence.
"Her father-your grandfather, May
lived here then, and as she was the light
Of his eyes he forgave her, though her
brother, Sir Luclen, never did. But her
fathers forgiveness did her little good,
a. be died three days after her wedding.
Yosr poor father, you know, died two
years before that"
sYes, I know" says May slowly. She
hardly remembers either her father or
hee mother. Her father had been Sir |
Lucien's younger brother.
1T was quite a tragedy" murmurs
Mrs. Clarence, IN a tone that would have
suited quite as admirabl, If she had said,
"It was quite a comedy"
How she must have felt that" says
May, in a low tone. Her father dying
20 soon after her terrible defiance Of all
ris wishes, his desires-"
.Sir Lucien must be a genius I" re-
marked Mr.. McGrath.
..You are wrong there. He feels some
thing" says Gilbert Grey. who always
contradict Owen If possible. "He feels
the loss of those stones"
~ think he has come here this time
because of Them says Everard. You
know that fellow Deane is in the coun-
try. He was a nephew of O'Connell's,
and after O'Connellis death Sir Lucien
took it Into his head that Deane knew
something of the jewels. He feels GER
tain that they are still intact, hidden
somewhere. ana that probably IJeane, us
the sole relative of O'Connell, may know
something Of them"
why not the girl, rather?"
swell, he is divided between suspicion
If her and Deane. That's why he hates
herr
What fun it would be to make him
receive her and acknowledge her whilst
We are here" says Mrs. Clarence, her
Eyes Frightening.
"Oh, mol" May grows a little uncer-
tain. II daresay. / am sure she is dread
full. Quite a common girl, an impossi-
BILE person.
EE ..... So .tfE lt1HEEL S14G = -.