Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-04-15
CHAPTER II.
At 1ooa, PiccadiIly.

The town house Of the dukes Of
london was towards the eastern end
Of Piccadilly, facing the Green park.
Every Londoner knew the large plain
front, with it's innumerable windows
and absence Of anything remarkable
In decoration. Standing between two
fashionable clubs, both rather ornate
and decorative in style, it's very sim
plicity added to it's size and marked
1T as one Of the great houses of the
Metropolis. The interior Of this IA
nous mansion was, it was generally
known. at the entire variance with
its plain exterior. Within, there were
rooms which were historic, art treas.
lures for which the museums and
millionaire collectors Of the world
sighed in vain, a pomp and stateli-
ness which made it one Of the great
show houses OF town.
A few minutes before eight on the
same afternoon when he had received
the note from the duchess in the
Cocoa Tree club, Michael Grants cab
drove UP to No. 100a, Piccadilly. It
was hardly yet dark, though the lamps
down the long vista Of the street were
already twinkling below western
sky in which still fingered the last
flush Of one OF. those marvellous Lon
don sunsets which, some painters
have said are unequaled.
Grant entered the hall. 1t was a
magnificent marble place, surrounded
by double columns Of pure Carrara on
a high, continuous basement. The
root was painted with armorial de-
vices and floral wreaths In blue, Grim
son, green and gold. while there was
frieze round 1t of green and Grim
son. with a FURNISHED metal chain
work hanging over all. Four great
lamps Of shining metal hung from the
roof, shedding down soft rays of light
upon the huge purple carpet. the
cleaning statuary, the palms and the
broad staircase which went up to the
high gallery above.
Two footmen hurried up as the but
Ter gently closed the door, and re-
lieved Grant Of his light coat and OBJ
era hat,
Her Grace Is In the small blue
room. said the butler, and motioned
to a footman. "Ah." he continued,
. here is her Grace
AS the man spoke the duchess came
into the hall through marble arch
way on the left. She was dressed en-
tirely in black, q narrow ribbon of
black velvet ran round the tall col
umn of her throat, and single orna-
naent OF diamonds hung from 1t.
She came up to the young man, a
radiant vision with white arms and
neck, vision of tall suppleness, a
vision with a perfect face. crowned
with its glorious coronal of Furnished
hair in which single wax-white
cameloa nestled.
All, here you are, Michael she
said was so afraid you would not
get my note. Fitzroy and I have been
to the party at Marlborough house
this afternoon, and the poor little fell
low has been 80 excited ever since
we returned that nobody could get
him to go to sleep until half an hour
ago. We are going to dine in the
small dining room, as there will only
be three Of us. Come and say How
d'you dor to Aunt Augusta
They walked together to the other
eide Of the hall, no inconsiderable dis
tance; and as they did so the second
footman looked at the first footman,
and the first footman. privileged per
son, looked at the butler. The same
I thought was In the minds Of all three
men. the same thought and the same
I wondier-sIs this the man her Grace
has chosen, or is 1T not?''
Another tall fellow. with his white
silk stoc kings and powdered hair, was
standing by the door of the blue
drawing room. He opened 1t, and the
duchess and the young man went in
together couple 30 straight and
tai. $50 gracious and SO fine, that the
& pomp and splendor around them
4 seemed but q. At and proper environ.
ment for two people such as they.
Miss Decies was q sister OF Sir Mon.
tague Decies, the father Of the duch.
4 ess. She had spent much Of her life
abroad, but upon the death Of the
late duke had come to live with her
I niece and to perform the treble func.
tons q relative. companion, and cha.
{ peron