The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-10-15

ern cold when winter should m
One of the ladies-she had been
speaking in an American accent
suddenly threw up her arms and
pointed to a great shield surmounted
with a crown, and supported by sculp-
tured storks.
"Daisy!" she said, "'look!"
The other girl glanced upwards.
Eyes. Duchess!" she said.
Cannot you see what I mean?"
the first speaker replied. Look at
that shield and crown. It is that
which has brought misery and dread
full woe into my life ever since l left
my quiet country home and married"
Il don't think you ought to be SO
imaginative" said the younger wo-
a What l mean is that it is
sorts of impressions and ponder over
them, and dwell upon them in times
of quiet happiness; but. al we are sit
uated now, Duchess, l think you ought
to forget such things; you ought to
tune yourself up-to gather together
all your nerve force to meet the ac-
tual moment"
Il suppose o are quite right,
Daisy" said the Duchess, but, oh!
if you only knew how my heart and
brain are racked and torn with a
thousand conflicting hopes, impress
sions and black fears! That blazonry
is no greater or finer in the history
OF Europe than my own. When 1
married Alberto and became the Ouch
ess of London l added to our own
coat-of-arms one far greater than my
fathers, and far more illustrious than
even this Royal shield you see there.
And yet l am here and in disguise,
lurking unknown in this old town,
and feeling every moment the dread
pressure of another woman's hand. l
am afraid to move, my life is bound
and circumscribed by mysterious con
ventions, and I, the Duchess Of Lon
don, am creeping and crawling while
my little boy, my darling little boy
heir to a principality a thousand times
more potent and more great than this
is a captive in the hands of a wo-
man."
Daisy Hobson rose from her seat
and went hurriedly to the Duchess.
She put n slim arm round her neck
and kissed her upon the cheek. mo,
no! she said; don't let your nerves
get the better of you. Oh, my dear,
please control yourself, for everything
depends upon that"
The Duchess looked at her wildly
for a moment, and then suffered that
kind and controlling arm to lead her
to her chair once more. But it's
three days now, Daisy" she said, in
a faint voice, "since We have heard
anything from Michael or Captain
Marriott"
Never mind!" the. younger girl re-
piled. II should not think about that
at all. Duchess, II l were you. Could
you possibly have two more able
champions in this strange and dread
full business than Mr.. Grant-and-
and my dear boy? So far we have
done everything that they have told
US. They insisted that We should fol-
low out their directions most scrupu-
lousy. They told us before we left
Cologne that. II we did not do exactly
as they said. or IL we made one false
step, ruin to all their plans would Ell
sue. So far we have done exactly
what we have been told. and l am Ger
tain that everything will come right,
IL only We trust In them"
The young girl was standing W
her patroness. speaking In q deep and
earnest voice.
The Duchess looked up; her lovely
face-worn now, but still q face for
which many men might die gladly
became calmer. while q happier light
entered the eyes and stopped the
piteous quivering Of the sweet mouth.
Daisy" she said. your trust Ia won
derful, and you put me to shame"
But. my dear, surely you are trust
full, too! You have . most gallant
knight In Michael Grant, and also.
Duchess. surely you can trust my own
dear Basil. who is 10 quick and
clever. who can supplement SO well
and brilliantly the work Of Michael
Grant himself"
II know! 1 know" the Duchess
answered. Il am an migrate. l have
no faith. Yet. Daisy. though l believe
utterly in the power of dear Michael,
and also in the Quickness and the
readiness 0f the man who loves you,
nevertheless, a great wave of depres-
sion sweeps over me at times. and I
ear the worst and most dreadful
thing Of all"
"Oh, dear. you should control those
feelings!"
'.Daisy. could you control them II 1t
was your little boy-your little hearts
love-that you were trying to rescue
from some mysterious and dreadful
fate? You see, Daisy, you are not
married. When you and Captain Mar
riott are married. and perhaps God
has given you both q little boy, then
perhaps you will appreciate what l