The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-01-22
eThe Shadow Between"
IT Y-
SILAS K. HOOKING.
SILAS K. HOOKING.

the employment of. If the cas- is al
lowed to go by default there are a
good many things that may never see
the light"
Il do not know why that should
concern me- Lord Richard answered,
uneasily.
"As brother of the late Lord Edward
l thought, perhaps, you would be curl
GUS to have the matter cleared up"
"Oh, no: | am not at all curious.
The marques might like his solicitor
to go through the papers with you.
By his opinion | am quite willing to
abide"
Thank you. Then I will e the
marques at once" and without more
words he rose and left the DON
Mr.. Bice's stern face relaxed into a
smile when he got into the street.
ITS easy to see where he is he
reflected. "He knows that the game is
up, and the less said the better. That
he'll raise no opposition is now a dead
certainty. Well, well, it's an i'll wind
that doesn't blow good t osomebody,"
and he smiled again.
On the following day he waited on
the marques by appointment and had
a very different reception. The mar
guess was greatly interested, and
seemed bubbling over with curiosity
to see the young lady who claimed to
be his niece.
He was a tall, fair man, with a bald
head and a dropping m~oustache, but
his manners were delightful and his
smile quite captivating.
For myself" he said, 81 have nev-
er doubted the existence of this niece.
And, indeed, every now and then,
through a Mr.. Mayhem of Exeter, we
have been reminded Of her progress
through life. But the thing hat has
puzzled me is why she has never
been allowed to come in England till
now"
Perhaps, if you will instruct your
solicitor to go through the papers
with me, he will be able to supply you
with an answer to that question:" Mr..
Bice answered, blandlv.
A good idea-a very good idea. I
will telephone to Smith, Smith, and
Robinson at once.'
TWO days later Mr.. Bice returned
to st. Chloe feeling very we'll satisfied
with himself. From a mere profess
sional point of view there mieht be
much to be desired. If there was nc
litigation, how were lawyers to live?
But the mere professional side of
the question did not trouble him. He
was not keen on making money. He
was alone in the world. Wife and
child were both dead. He had no one
of this sweet-eyed maiden was the
greatest joy he had known for years.
He called at Mawgan Chase on his
way from the station to st. Chloe and
found Marion in the drawing room
alone.
Il thought l would call on my way
back" he said, a little alphabetically;
Il have just returned from London"
"Oh, do sit down. she replied,
eagerly, "and tell me all the news"
and she pushed up an easy chair for
him nea the fire.
"~Everything is going on as smooth
ly as can be-" he said, rubbing his
thin hands in the grateful warmth,
and smiling.
my rights are not going to be con-
tested?' she questioned.
Il think not. Oh, no; 1t is going to
be all plain sailing on this side the
water, at any rate. What it may be
on the other side remains to be seen"
DO you expect dif1culties?"
Il don't expect anything. Sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof. I'm
not going to anticipate trouble"
Marion laughed brightly and mu-
sically. And have you interviewed
a lot of people in London?" she ques-
toned.
mot a lot Of people. l saw your
uncle, Lord Richard Grovely, first.
Afterwards the marques of Fowey."
and were they agreeable, and all
that? You sec I an dying of curl
osity. Think of being related to lords
and m%arquesses! It's like a chapter
out of a fairy tale"
when you get the true inwardness
Of life," he said, gravely, titles don't
count. A man is only a man, what
ever name he bears. l am not sure
that l am not a littl esorry for you"
! "Yes?"
ut seems to me you grew up in an
atmosphere of great freedom, and l
find you today as natural as a village
child. Excuse an old mar speaking so
plainly"
you are not old at ALL" she pro-
tested, quickly.
He smiled y little wistfully, and
went on:
I'm the society in which you will
soon be called upon to move l fear
you will find the conventions rather
trying and the atmosphere not at all
bracing."
IT it inks me I shall get out of it,"
she said, laughing. II don't intend
to make a martyr of myself for any
body"
'The conventions are very strong"