Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-04-08

CHAPTER I.-(contlnued.)

I've q good memory, my dear Ba-
sill" he answered, "and I've lived with
these people for twenty years now.
4 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 curious rumor.
The Duke had left Lendon 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 week Or two it was
definitely announced, in more or less
guarded way, that London was hunt
ing In the forests of Wohlau and pay
ing his court to the princess. The
offivial announcement OF their be-
trothal was said to be imminent.
There was great gnashing and
wailing Of teeth in London; all the
doWagers said 1t was shocking, and SO
forth. But 1t was an understood thing,
atsany rate, and everybody waited for
the definite announcement, What
happened at this juncture / have
never gathered from ordinary talk.
Nobody knew exactly any Of the de-
tails, but bit by bit the story got itself
pieced together, and 1t amounted to
this:
Very late one night the steward
and resident servants Of the great
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 q covert, seven mics away from
Otter and on the extreme outskirts of
his own woods. He was conscious.
but he was badly hurt by gun shot
wound in. the leg.
de was 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 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 strange story, father..
Basil Marriott said. quite out Of
the common, And suppose nobody
has ever known any more about it
than that n
So far as I am aware" the admiral
answered. mot SOUL
Why did you say was announced
to have died OF heart disease?"
I Well" the old gentleman answered.
perhaps ought not to have nut It
IN that way; but there were whispers
that there was something mysterious
about the death. Whether they were
true q not can't say. But still, there
was q little talk at the time. .s s
Well, 1T is romantic story, the
young man concluded, with sigh.
once more calling up picture Of the
beautiful woman In the carriage and
perhaps regretting that such beauty
and distinction must forever be
beyond the reach Of young naval
ofhcer, however brilliant or distin.
guished. Il suppose she viii marry
soon ~. ss3' s
The admiral settled himself In his
chair again. Evidently he had some
thing more to communicate.
Is q very moot point, my dear
boy. and 4 can tell you 1t is what a
whole lot Of people IN London are!
wondering. OF 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 = wealthy woman.
oh. she y sure to marry. Basil
Enswered. ri .
Don't you be too sure, my boy. 81
know the duchess rather Wen, and I
Sbelieve her 10 be entirely devoted toi
her little boy don't say that, per.
hsts IKE any other woman sc her