Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1909-07-29
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CHAPTER x-Continued.


until 1 tell you everything. Miss
Decies was the sister Of the Duchess's
father, who was, as you may have
heard, the Rev. Montague Decies. She
went to be the goyerness Of the young
Princess Sophia Marie Eleanora
There she married a good-for-nothing
and rascally officer in the little cere
monial army Of Wohlau-Landskrona
The marriage was kept secret, but
son was born. Then the marriage
had to be declared, and, Miss Decies
was compelled to return to England
In disgrace, especially as her husband
just about that time--committed an
unforgiyable crime and was impris-
oned in fortress, where he died
8 Now you see the connection between
all these strange events?"
see that things become clearer,
but do not see why Miss Decies
should have abducted the young Duke
IF she really did do so, and, IL SO,
why she should have committed sui
eide"
Basil rejoined and for half an hour
presented the vividly moving drama
before her, fitting in detail and detail,
explaining this or that, drawing on his
imagination for those pieces of the
puzzle which were yet wanting, and
building up a coherent whole.
lie warmed to the work. He spoke
rapidly and well. Even as he talked,
ne knew that he was making point
after point-that what he said was "a
worthy presentation of as strange a
drama; as any modern ear could hear.
II was about five o'clock in the after
noon when he concluded.
Daisy, In the excitement of the mar
rative. had risen from, her chair,
walked over to the mantelpiece, and
was now leaning upon it.. Her eyes
We're liked upon him. Her whole atti-
tude and pose was instinct with inter
est and Imagination.
AS his last words died into silence
she made simple, .impulsive gesture,
"Oh. she said. "but you have told it
all most wonderfully, most beautifully.
Captain Marriott, you should have
So
She had taken step towards him.
The two young people were looking
at each other in moment of curious
understanding. Perhaps in a moment
they might have been nearer still.
The door opened. and an elderly
clergy man, whose face was rather
flushed and on whose cheeks the per-
SEPARATION stood out in little beads,
entered the room.
How do you dor" he said. How
do you do, Captain Marriott? My
daughter told me that you were COM
ing to see her. You find me a little
dishev yelled, no doubt, but I have been
moving the croquet-lawn all the after
noon. Croquet, Captain Marriott, is
q game which, ten or fifteen years
ago, was regarded as nothing at all.
Tennis arose and entirely swamped it.
4 am thankful to say, however, that
Its really scientific character Is now
realized by everyone, and 1t is no
longer game for anBmic curates
and very old maids. We have re.
duced. the size OF the hoops and In
creased the size Of the balls. We
have abolished the cage and the bell
and our mallets are now properly
weighted and proportioned
Croquet Is game which I should
Imagine g sailor, long unaccustomeG
to- the pleasant happenings Of the
green, would find an excellent thing
when he was ON shore. 2
Basil looked at the Old gentleman
% he would have looked at some new
and strange addition to the Geological
Gardens In Regents Park. He hat
never known anyone quite SO oh
livious to fact and environment. H,
had never realized how croquet ca,
sap the brain and engross the sense
until q tranquil country life become
q tournament.
sss & And now, Captain Marriott, TIL,
old Clergyman said. 81 hope you will
have some tea expect there il
some tea somewhere. Daisy, my dear
10 not there some tea to be brough
an 's5
oh. yes. father 4 will look afte
II III that, ne girl said.
Captain Marriott t. z he replied, "yol
don't know what my girls are to me Ii
many. many ways.
He half turned, looked appealingl,
stat Daisy. and 1. with q muttered apollo
wv. left the room.
IN two minutes Basil and Dais,
heard the smart click Of the lockwood
balls as the enthu the law
moved and clear was practising
cannon.
What q dear old gentleman!'
Basil said. sSll
Dais smiled.
SisSsssA iys father Z. (. she replied. was
double first at Oxford many year
y ago, but an HIS life he has been handi
capped BY the tact of his utter i'm
ItiForldiiness He obtained the chap
alsincy VI Bad FNiirstenberg after b,
had been cisa lie Dis for tire,
years He was then appointed to thi,
! liyinG and "a this living he will die