The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-10-21

out upon the palms.
II have seen her-I have seen her!
| have seen the woman to whom my
husband was betrothed by the wicked
polity! / have seen the fiend who
has nourished In her viper's heart
this black hate for many years! ]
have seen the oma In whose harpy
claws my little boy lies-to his own
destruction. perhaps to his DEATH"
The Kissing, moaning voice ceased
The Duchess tottered and sank, hall
fainting, upon a settee.
Daisy rushed up to her. and, though
she was terribly frightened at the
paroxysm she had witnessed, 1t was
with a sense OF relief that the girl
saw her friend once more human and
ordinary-the terrible, accusing figure
had passed away.
Hush! hush! hush!" she said, ear.
nestly. You must not let this master
you! My dear, you must not do It!
oh, believe me, | al quite under
stand all you must be feeling now
| can understand 1t thoroughly! My
whole heart goes out to you! But,
remember what has to be done! Re-
member that! Everything depends
upon our being a and wise at this
moment. Duchess, you said just now
that o trusted entirely In your two
friends-don't be overcome now!
Pull your self together. /" She
ran to the side of the room, where
there was a table Uttered with fem
mime belongings. She snatched a
v~inaigrette from 1t, and held the long,
green bottle up to her friend.
The pungent aroma of the salts
brought the colour back into the pale
cheeks. and in two or three minutes
the Duchess of London sat up on the
couch, very pale and wan, but with a
slight, sad smile trembling round her
lovely lips.
Daisy" she said, you have saved
me n C more. / cannot thank you
enough, but you a imagine-you
would more easily imagine II you
knew all-what Z Felt when | saw that
woman riding up in state to the
castle!"
II can imagine everything" Daisy
replied; "but just because | can do
that, l don't mean to imagine any
thing. l am simply waiting"
AS she spoke there was a knock at
the great carved door.
The Duchess sat up erect imme-
diately. Her face assumed it's ordinary
expression. Her long social training,
her pride OF blood re-asserted them
selves, and the woman who headed
the peeresses of England became as
grave, calm, and statuesque as she
was ever seen in the society or court
of the first metropolis Of the world.
The door opened, but 1t was only
little Herr Schwartz who came pranc-
ing, his face alight With eagerness
and pleasure. In one hand he held
the historic cup Of the Prinzessinhof,
which had just been touched by Her
Royal Highness. The other hand ges-
ticulated with more abandon thar Is
usual in the Teuton.
"Gnadige Frau" he cried in his
broken English, you saw 1t all
through the window. Was 1t not so?
Her Royal Highness touched the cup
the Prinzessinnen Of Wohlau-Lands-
krone have always done hat for
hundreds of years when they passed
this house. TITS Is the cup. l
thought you would like perhaps to see
1t, for l understand, in your great
country of America, to such relics as
these Is great honour and interest
given"
The Duchess smiled and took the
cup. looking at 1t ~curiously. turning
1t round In her slender fingers.
why" she said. suddenly. there
is a great crack In the metal! What
has happened to your cup, Herr
Schwartz?"
The little man almost snatched IL
from his quest.
He turned 1t round In his hands
with anguished eyes. and then q
strangely puzzled expression came
over his face.
His voice faitered as he answered
II understand not" he said; II must
1t have knocked against the staircase
pillar. This to me a great loss and
trouble will be-"
The door or the huge room had
been left ajar, and as the little hoteI
proprietor was speaking voices were
heard ascending the stairs-one thai
of a waiter. speaking hurriedly ir
German-Swiss patois; the other
deep. ringing voice. in an accent sc
strongly American that it positively
exhaled the aroma of Nantucket
Beach.
Il guess Miss Won Adams will bt
right glad to see me, and I don't care
whether she's engaged with her Herr
Proprietor or not. Just show me RICH
up. Probably that is the door? Yes
am right on 1t. Now you a u
way down to your interestin' occupa
ton In the v~estibule!"
The Duchess and Daisy glanced a
each other swiftly. and then looked
away.
Despite the American accent. thu
voice that pealed into the room wa
one they knew. Their hearts wer,
thrilled, for news was coming. ant
tho long suspense was nearly over.