The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-05-07
CHAPTER mI.-(continued).


he's president OF the local government
board, and he will probably be at the
house of commons now. And then the
old duke Of Perth. l know he's in
London because l saw him yesterday.
He is at Perth house in Cadogan
square. Send two men at once to
ring them"
Il will, at once, duchess" Grant an
swered. Keep up-do your best. |
know there must be some simple ex-
PLANTATION for all this. | think it would
be better, too, if we were to telephone
we a telephone, can't we, from
here?"
oh, yes" the duchess replied.
There are telephones in the house
somewhere"
Very we'll, then, we will telephone
at nee to Scotland Yard, where the
detectives and people whose business
it is to find out these things are, Ouch
ess. We will telephone and ask them
to send up some Of their best men in
stantly. l will go and give the or
ders."
He ran out into the hall, now crowd
ed with servants and buzzing like a
hive.
Remington hurried up to him, and
he gave the house steward the neces-
sary orders, returning to the blue
drawing room within a minute.
Have you arranged, Michael?" the
duchess asked.
Yes, it's all right" he answered.
I'm a very few minutes | expect they
will be here"
She gave up a sigh of relief, sitting
pale, but composed, upon an ottoman
covered in blue linen, against which
background her black dress, her white
arms and shoulders, her imperial hair
with its diamond star, her face, like
a dropping lily, showed as a concrete
manifestation of pain and beauty.
Miss Decies was standing by the
fire place, n long. lean, mittened
frm resting upon the low Jacobean
mantel.
Well" the old lady said. In a voice
which trembled, there is nothing
more to be done until Sir Anthony,
the duke of Perth, and the detectives
arrive"
Her voice was so tremu!ous and full
Of anxiety that Grant experienced a
sense of self-reproach.
So, then, he had misjudged this
lard old lady-thought her incapable
Of f cling. dried up, harsh. callous. II
en- ed that she was nothing of the
sort, and he was sorry he had so mis-
taken her IN the past.
Miss Decies,'' he said, you have
eeen splendid; you have been quite
splendid! How tired you must be!
Don't you think that If you were to
have a glass Of wine or something it
would neip you to bear up in this cri-
sis? And the duchess, oughtn't she
to have something's"
The duchess made a negative move
ment with her hand.
NO, no." she answered; 81 can
take nothing. But you, Aunt Augusta.
you must. Let me send for some
thing"
Miss Decies shook her head. my
dear" she answered, Il don't want
anything at all; one has a ervou
store to draw upon. But / think I
will go to my rooms for a few min
utes to compose myself. That will be
better for me. Directly anybody ar
riEes, Beatrice, please send a man I'D
to let me know and | will come down
at once A few minutes. though, by
myself would help me to gather my
self together, my poor child"
With that the old lady caught up
her train and alideA ~. ..
and. despite the alteration In her
voice and features. her back was as
straight as ever, and she walked like
a princess.
Grant held open the door for her,
and closed it quietly when she had
gone.
What a dear old lady she is, duch-
ess!' he said; "and | have been all
the time thinking unkind things of
heri Heaven forgive me-"
Oh. Aunt Augusta is all right at
heart the duchess answered, with.
out enthusiasm, it seemed to him.
And then, dismissing the subject. she
rose from the couch.
Horribly pale as she was, trem-
bling and utterly upset. she vet
walked into the center Of the beautiful
little room and raised one hand.
Michael" she said, and the words
came from her jerkily, one by me. as
II they were an effort to pronounce
@Michaea, IT has happened at last.
AT last" he said. What do you
mean?"
Never mind" she answered. Some.
thing terrible has happened. Not yery
much more than an hour ago, Michael,
You swore feaity to me, didn't your
His arms dropped to his side. he
stretched out his hands and threw
back his head.
oh. my dear" he said. Il swore IL,
and how gladly / swore it!s
Then" she replied, scscs;d. hurried
tones-"then, the tam. Has now come
come swiftly. without warning. n
which 9 shall prove the reality ol
! your OATH
Try me" he said @only trs
Have you ever thought.
that my boy has been very strlctl,
UxxRETNH