The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-10-22

- Va
out upon the palms.
Il have seen her-I have seer her!
I have seen the woman to whom my
husband was betrothed by the wicked
pOlity! I have seen the fiend who
has nourished in her viper's heart
this black hate for many years! I
have seen the woman 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, half
fainting. upon a settee.
Daisy rushed up to her, and, though
she was terribly frightened at the
paroxysm she had witnessed, 1t was
with q 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-, l can quite under
stand all you must be feeling now
I 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 sane and wise at this
moment. Duchess, you said just now
that you 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 q table Uttered with fem
inine belongings. She snatched a
v~inaigrette from It. and held the long,
green bottle up to her friend.
The pungent ron 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 q
slight, sad smile trembling round her
lovely lips.
Daisy" she said, you have saved
me once more. / cannot thank you
enough. but you can imagine-you
would more easily imagine II you
knew all-what l felt when I saw that
woman riding up in state to the
castlel"
Il can imagine everything" Daisy
replied; but just because l can do
that, I don't mean to imagine any
thing. I Am simply waiting"
Al she spoke there was = knock at
the great carved door.
The Duchess sat up erect imme.
diately. Her face assumed its ordinary
expression. Her long social training,
her pride Of blood re-asserted them
selves. and the woman who headed
the p~eeresses Of England became as
grave. calm. and statuesQue a. she
was ever seen In the society or court
Of the nrst 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 than ID
usual In the Teuton.
"Gnadige Frau" he cried in his
broken English. you saw 1t all
through the window. Was 1t not 80!
Her Royal Highness touched the cup
the Prinzessinnen Of Wohlau-Lands
krona have always done that for
hundreds Of years when they passed
this house. This il the cup. ]
thought you would like perhaps to see
It, for I understand, In your great
country OF America, to such relics %
these II great honour and interest
given"
The Duchess smiled and took the
cup. looking ut 1t curiously. turning
It round In her slender fingers.
why" she said. suddenly, there
II q great crack in the metal! What
has happened to your cup, Herr
Schwartz"
The little man almost snatched II
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 faltered a. he answered
II understand not" he said; II mus,
It have knocked against the staircase
pillar. This to me q great loss and
trouble win be-"
The door OF the huge room had
been left ajar. and ~ the little hotel
proprietor q speaking voices were
heard ascending the stairs-one tina,
Of = waiter. speaking hurriedly in
German-Swiss patois: the other q
deep, ringing voice. In an accent sc
strongly American that 1t positivel,
exhaled the aroma Of Nantucke,
Beach.
:" guess Miss q Adams will be
right glad to see me, and l don't care
whether she's engaged with her Herr
Proprietor or not. Just show me right
W. Probably that Is the door! Yes
an. right % It. Now you al &c
way down to your i~nterestin' occupa
t1on IN the v~estibule!"
The Duchess and Daisy glanced .
each other swiftly. and then looked
away.