The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1909-05-14

CHAPTER W.-Ccontinued.)

Just before he died" she said, in Z
faint voice, "and he whispered to m;
20 look after Fitzroy. They'll go fo1
the little chap now he said. They've
done for me, Old girl Then he said
God bless you and those were the
last words he ever spoke. He was
dead in an hour.
From that day to this, Michael
nothing has ever happened, except
once. | received a letter about a year
ego. From the postmark 1t had been
posted in the West Central district.
1t was a square sheet of paper on
which a few words were typewriter.
forget the exact words, though |
have the paper locked away. and
have never liked TO look at it since,
But the words were 4 the effect that
! might think myself very happy and
love my little son very much, but that
/ should pay in bitter sorrow for my
happiness. The words were quite
plain and brutal The man you got
to marry you and to whom you bore
q child they said, has gone from you
forever. But there is a fate stronger
than you can fight against which will
take your child from you also. Then
Il will be your turn. Husbandless,
you shall drag out a long and painful
life in an agony that you can only
guess at, but which Is as sure and
inevitable as the passing of time"
Michael started up, his hands
elenched, his eyes blazing with pity
and anger. The duchess raised her
beautiful white hands and her head
fell into them, while she shook with a
storm Of agonized tears inexpressibly
dreadful to see.
oh" she sobbed, I've never told
any one. but IT has been hanging over
me all these years. And now il has
come at last. They have taken my
boy. The blow has fallen. Michael,
I am the most unhappy woman in
England"
g He did not know what he could do
OF say in the presence Of a grief so
dreadful, a sorrow SO sinister and
strange. He knelt down beside her |
and gently took one trembling hand in
his.
There is only one thing that you
can do, Beatrice" he said, In q low,
steady voice. You can trust in me.
I am strong. I am not afraid. | swear
| viii penetrate this mystery.
ysnquish these dreadful terrors Of
yours. find Ftz for you, and bring
what seems to be a foul conspiracy to
the light"
She raised her head swiftly and
him straight in the face. The
were still yelling up in the love-
eyes. the perfect mouth was drawn
into sweet pfteousness, like a wound
ed rose. But there was q slight hope
upon her face as she answered him.
Il feel this" she said, gravely; "in
MI nay agony | feel this. II is a great
to have told you everything. We
shall know more about it all very
soon. when the people we have sent
lor come; and meanwhile"
And meanwhile" he broke in, 81
I'm going to devote my whole self to
rour service. or course, the hidden
igure behind 1t all is-
She nodded with a little frightened
lod 1T must be-" she whispered.
Tell me-" he said, If you can. Tell
ne quickly, before any one comes.
and what, II the Princess So
)hia nowf"
she has never married" she an
twered. with a shudder." Her brother,
be Grand Duke George. reigns In
Nohlau-Landskrona- The princes
ives alone with her ladies in the Cas-
is of Gmunden, on the Rhine. She
q aAtd 20 dnpntn boz ftse -
works among the peasantry OF the
lukedom. Nobody knows much about
Ter. She IL thought to be- eccentric.
But. Michael. Michael. her arm Is
Suddenly she rose and began to
exceedingly. The sense OF
her loss, the whole HORROR Of the situa-
lion. had come upon her In a swift
iood.
MY boy," she said. MY dear lit.
lie boy! Where are you? Where are
Touf
Her voice was rising into a high
aote. Michael was standing before
her In an agony of impotence when
the door Of the room was suddenly
open. and with the ponap and
Of the ducal household, which
sven at this moment OF distress and
excitement could not be entirely sup
pressed. the butler announced. "sir
Anthony HELLER A little. thick.set.
hlAck-beardeG man Ia evening dress,
followed BY q tall person in an over
who was not announced. came
hurriedly into the room.
Il was not three minutes after the
entrance Of Sir Anthony and Mr..
pownes from Scotland Yard when the
old duke or Perth himself hobbled "a.
leaning on the arm or his valet.
Miss pecies was sent for and Joined
the group.
The doors were shut and the dncl,-
scs, ~halfsfainting. prompted and helped
~ as~ unit ia fichae Grant. told
he astonishing story Of the night
The old duke mnmbled aud splut-
terrell In amusement, and N siusosf
nenile inrapaclty T. grasp the sitaa
xhs president Of the local eoverp.
sat board. che little dukes oshs.