The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-04-08
CHAPTER I.--(contlnued.)

i've a good memory, my dear Ba
Sill" he answered, land I've lived with
these people for twenty years now
suppose | do know as much about
society as most people. Well, | was
telling you-suddenly, In the middle
OF London's goings on, the papers all
began to hint at a curious rumor
The Duke had left London for the lit,
tie German Court Of Wohlau-Lands.
krona. and everybody said that a mar.
riage was being arranged between
him and the Princess Sophia Marie
Eleanora, the daughter of the reign,
ing duke. In a week or two 1t was
definitely announced, in a more or less
guarded way, that London was hunt,
ing in the forests of Wohlau and pay
Ing his court to the princess. The
ofiivial announcement of their be-
trothal was said to be imminent.
There was great crashing and
wailing OF teeth in London; all the
dowagers said 1t was shocking, and so
forth. But 1t was an understood thing,
al any rate, and everybody waited for
the definite announcement. What
happened at this juncture | have
gathered from ordinary talk.
Nobody knew exactly any OF the de.
tails, but bit by bit the story got itself
pieced together. and it amounted to
this:
Very late one night the steward
and FnGi1nnt cnrUantc 90 Tho ,,oot
closed house of otter were startled
by the sudden arrival OF the Duke OF
London, alone and in a fly from the
local station. The Duke, who seemed
to be in an excited condition, spent
an hour by himself In the library,
sending the servants away. Nothing
more was seen of him until noon on
the following day, when he was found
In a covert, seven mics away from
Otter and on the extreme outskirts of
his W woods. He was conscious,
but he was badly hurt by a gun shot
wound In the leg.
He vas taken by the keepers who
found him to the nearest house, which
happened to be the rectory of MINIS
Godscroft, the house Of the Rev. Sir
Montague Decies, the old clergyman
baronet of whom | told you. The
duke recovered slowly at the rectory,
no more reference to the German mar.
riage appeared in the press, and six
months afterward It was announced
that he had been quietly married to
Miss Beatrice Decies early one morn
ing in the cathedral at Canterbury.
From that time the duke took up
his position in a proper and reputable
way, He seconded the address in the
house of lords, entered into all the
duties of his place, and, with his
young and beautiful wife, became a
leader in society, A son was born
the little boy you saw in the carriage
today-and he was then, Of course,
the marques Of Bow. otter became
the principal house OF the family, and
everything went on smoothly enough.
At the same time 1t was generally
supposed that, while the duke and
duchess appeared greatly attached to
each other. for some reason or other,
the marriage was not quite happy.
Both the husband and wife seemed
to be somewhat graver and sadder
than there was any apparent reason
for. Well. three years after the birth
Of the marques the duke died quite
~suddenly-it was announced of heart
disease"
What a strange story, father!"
Basil Marriott said. Quite out of
the common. And l suppose nobody
has ever known any more about It
than that?"
so far az I am aware" the admiral
answered, mot a soul"
why did you say was announced
to have died of heart disease?"
Well" the old gentleman answered,
perhaps I ought not to have put 1t
in that way: but there we're whispers
that there was something mysterious
about the death, Whether they were
true or not I can't say. But still. there
was a little talk at the time"
We'll, It is a romantic story" the
young nan concluded, with a sigh.
once more calling up a picture Of the
beautiful m In the carriage. and
perhaps regretting that such beauty
and distinction must forever be
beyond the reach Of a young naval
officer. however brilliant or distin-
guished. Il suppose she will marry
soon?"
The admiral settled himself in his
chair again. Evidently he had some
thing more to communicate.
TT is a very moot point, my dear
boy. and l can tell you 1t is what a
whole lot of people in London are
wondering. or course, II she does
marry she'll lose the greater part OF
the enormous fortune left her by the
duke. though she would still have
enough remaining. so I understand. to
make her quite q wealthy woman"
"Oh. she Ia sure to marry" Basil
answered.
Don't you be too sure. my boy.
know the duchess rather well. and
believe her to be entirely devoted tc
her little boy. l don't say that, per
haDs. like any other woman Of hel
age. she mightn't be attracted by 8
man and even want to marry him
But my opinion is that she will neve
do SO; she Is devoted TO the child