The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-06-25
The duchess was standing ~ a. the |

The duchess was standing - - the
two newcomers entered.
II do not understand" she said: Il
do not quite know-Sir Anthony.
duke! What does this mean? What
more has happened? don't think
I can bear any more"
The old duke, feeble and tottering,
but still with that wonderful pres
ence and manner, which was the re-
suit and heritage Of his many years
of leadership in English social life,
nodded and bowed to his hostess.
Beatrice" he said, my dear Be.
atrice, you must prepare yourself for
something singularly strange and sim
gularly sinister"
'Duchess!" Sir Anthony HELLER
broke in. Duchess, the duke is
quite right. You are in very deep
waters indeed
The duchess threw up her hands
with q terrible gesture, which COM
bined all her misery, all her fears,
and was the acme of her despair.
''Is there to be no end of this?" she
said. "Will you not speak?"
Duchess" Sir Anthony replied,
have you ever heard he said, in a
calm and almost business-like voice,
"of Fritz Won Ravenstein?"
What has that got to do with my
boy?" the duchess answered. Tell
me about my boy.'
Sir Anthony continued.
Duchess he said, it is with the
very greatest regret and the very
greatest sorrow that have to say to
you what am saying now. 1t seems
that Miss Decies, your aunt, cannot
be found in the house, and am sorry
to say she cannot be found for a very
good and particular reason, as far as
we know, and as far as we can guess
II do not understand you," said the
Duchess helplessly. you mean Aunt
Augusta has gone out. You cannot
find Aunt Augusta!"
81 think it very probable" said Sir
Anthony Heller, that you will never
see your fathers sister again. I
think that, possibly, there are deep
waters in this affair, and Miss Decies
is cognizant Of much that is hidden
to us ALL"
Marriott turned to Michael Grant
He remembered the powerful voice
of the girl in the Victoria street fiat.
He wanted to see how his companion
would take this news from these
great celebrated people.
He saw nothing at all. Michael
Grant was a figure of acute atten-
ton, but no single emotion fitted
across his face, nor animated his
pose.
Beatrice" said Sir Anthony, "pre-
pare yourself for a great shock! OF
course, today all Europe is excited
by the terrible news of what happen
ed last night. During the morning
the German Ambassador, Baron Eu-
lenburger, had occasion to call upon
me at my Office. He had heard the
news very early in the morning-ear.
lier, indeed, than thought it was
possible for anybody to have heard it.
But, for a certain reason l need only
hint at, he was acquainted with all
that had occurred, through channels
l only dare insinuate at present. The
Baron told me this"
Sir Anthony hesitated for a mo-
ment, and then assumed his narrative.
The aron told me the most ex.
traordinary fact that Miss Augusta
Decies, your aunt, is not miss at all,
but that she is the baroness Won
Revenstein. The Baron Won Raven
stein was many years ago, degraded
and exiled from the Court of Wohlau-
Landskrona. Your fathers sister,
duchess. was. many years ago, gov.
erness to the Princess Sophia Marie
Won Wohlau-L u-Landskrona."
As Sir Anthony said these words
the duchess threw up her hands
with q despairing gesture.
"Oh," she said, now it is all clear.
It is terrible, but it grows clear! The
princess! Oh. my little boy! My
little boy!'
Michael Grant, Captain Marriott,
and Sir Anthony HELLER looked at
each other in alarm and surprise, but
the Old Duke of Perth nodded to him.
self with senile comprehension.
ITO aa Continued.l