Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-09-09


even that Margaret Strangways was
in England, had been utterly per-
turbed by receiving the telegram that
the Squire's daughter was even then
on her way to Lendal The. news had
come like bolt from the blue, an
unexpected menace to his plans and
those of the dead man in that deep
laid, dangerous game which he had
already been congratulating himself
had succeeded beyond expectation.
What was to be done? At once his
brain had begun to scheme how to deal
with this unexpected chance that
threatened the success of his plans.
The telegram had been dispatched
from London; it was reasonable to
suppose that Margaret Strangways
had dispatched it before leaving town ;
in that case it must be hours before
she could reach Lendal-a respite Of
time in which he could lay his plans
to deceive her no less than the world
in general. After all, it should not
be difficult to hoodwink an inexpe-
rienced girl.
And as that thought was in his
mind, DR.. Brewer had come face to
face with Margaret Strangways her
self, driving in at the gates of the
Grange.
The girl could not fail to observe
his startled look; he was utterly TAX
en- aback at the sight of her.
''But you got my telegram" she
said, as if in answer to that look of
amazed surprise. She had stopped
the car and jumped out.
"Only a few moments ago. l did
not expect you for hours" the doctor
said, slowly.
Too late now to hide the truth from
her! Margaret Strangways must be
told; how was he to break the news
to her-the news that must be so ter
rible a shock? And that her father
was dead was not the worst that he
would have to tell her.
"Then there must have been a de-
lay in dispatching it," in tones of sur
prise. Il left London in a hurry, so
I asked Lady Residences maid to tele-
graph for me. But my father how is
he?" she demanded, eagerly.
Across from the cricket field came
the sound of little outburst of clap
ping hands; and the girl listened with
faint smile, remembering how a
few weeks ago, when she had left
home against her own inclinations to
humor her fathers wishes, the fore
boding had oppressed her that her re-
turn would be to house of mourning,
that she was saying goodbye to him
for the last time. How different this
from those forebodings of weeks ago:
A few days ago good-natured Lady
Risdene had arranged to come back
to England at once, that Margaret
might return home, as pleasant sur
prise to her father, on the very day
of the race. Throughout those wait
ing days she had lived in suspense
lest a message should come from Len
dial with bad news. But the message
had not come; and now she was home
again, and her father living, and the
horse on which he had staked every
thing had wont She had heard Of
Pride O. Lies victory as she stepped
out on the platform at Lendal; had
heard Of the ovation her father had
received Small wonder that Marga-
ret Strangways had come back to her
home radiant and joyful; small Won
der, too, that DR.. Brewer, knowing
what he knew and what could not be
kept from her, turned his face away
as she asked after her father.
The girl saw the shadow in his face,
and, little creeping fear suddenly
stole in upon her happiness. She
caught his wrist with a swift, nerv-
Gus gesture.
my father-is he worse? Perhaps
the excitement-" Her voice fall
tered, she could not finish the SEN
tence: her eyes, suddenly clouded with
terrible anxiety, searched his face.
why don't you speak?" she broke
out vehemently.
And then he told her at last-part
of the truth, wishing with all his heart
there was no more to tell
For moment he thought she was
going to faint, so cruel was the shock.
robbing her cheeks of every vestige
of color. But Margaret Strangways
was her fathers daughter; she pulled
herself together from the momentary
faintneSs.
Then my father died suddenly soon
after the result of the race came?
Was it the excitement? was told at
the station how, after the news came>
he was cheered on the lawn, and that
he appeared at the window and bowed.
And at the station they had not heard
of his tragically sudden end. Oh, if
I had only got here earlier I might
have seen him alive!" There were
tears in the broken voice-tears and
a passion OF regret, making it pitiful;
Margaret had been devoted to her