The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-05-14
CHAPTER ,v.-(cont,nued.)

She paused. struggling with her
emotion.
He came back to consciousness
1ust before he died." she said, in a
faint voice, "and he whispered to me
to look after Fitzroy. They'll go for
the little chap now he said. They've
lone 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. 1 received a letter about a year
ago. From the postmark 1t had been
posted In the West Central district.
Il was q square sheet of paper on
which a few words were typewriter.
forget the exact words, though l
have the paper locked away, and |
have never liked to look at 1t since.
But the words were to the effect that
I 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
! child they said, has gone from you
forever. But there is q fate stronger
than you q fight against which will
lake your child from you also. Then
It will be your turn. Husbandless,
vou shall drag out . 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 i~nexpressibly
dreadful to see.
oh" she sobbed, i've never told
any one. but 1t has been hanging over
me oil these years. And now 1t has
come at last. They have taken my
boy. The blow has fallen. Michael,
am the most unhappy woman in
England"
He did not know what he could do
or say In the presence OF q grief 20
dreadful, . sorrow SO sinister and
strange. He knelt down beside her
and gently took n trembling hand in
his.
"Thers is only one thing that you
do. Beatrice" he said, in q low.
steady voice. "You can trust In me.
am strong. I am not afraid. l swear
that will penetrate this mystery,
vanQuish these dreadful terrors of
yours. and Fitx for you. and bring
what seems to be q foul conspiracy to
the light"
She raised her head swiftly and
hooked him straight In the face. The
tears we're still yelling up in the love-
y eyes, the perfect mouth wa drawn
Into sweet piteousness, like . wound
"a But there was q slight hope
upon her face - she answered him.
r feel this" she said. gravely: I'm
Ill ny agony l feel this. It Is q great
roller to have told you everything. We
shall know more about it all very
sesn, whom the people va have sent
Tor come; and meanwhile"
And meanwhile" he broke in. II
IN going to devote my whole self to
your service. OF course, the hidden
1gurs behind It all is"
She nodded with q little frightened
nod. 1T must be-" she whispered.
Tell me-" hs said. III you can. Tell
ne quickly. before any N comes.
Where. and what. II the Princess So
phia now?"
"She has never married." she an
swered, with 4 shudder." Her brother,
The Grand Duke George. reigns in
Wohlau-Landskrona- The princes
lives alone with her ladies' In the Cas-
Ue Of 0munden, on the Rhine. She
y said to devote her life to good
works among the peasantry Of the
6ukedom. Nobody knows much about
her. She ID thought to b eccentric.
But. Michael. Michael. her arm II
iong!"
Suddenly she rose and began to
tremble exceedingly. The sense Of
her loss. the whole horror Of the situa-
tion. had come upon her in q swift
food.
my boyl" she said. my dear lit.
10 boy! Where are you? Where are
yoaf"
Her voice was rising into 4 high
note. Michael was standing before
her 81 N agony OF impotence when
the door Of the room Wa suddenly
thrown open. and with the pomp and
paSa16 Of the ducal household. which
even at this moment Of distress and
sxsitement could not be entirely sun
proesed, tho butler announced. "sir
Antheay Heller" A little, thick-set,
blackrbearded man IN evening dress,
es1lowe6 ~ : tall person In An over
ooAt Who was not announced, came
hurrlodlv lnto the room.
Il Nog not three minutes after the
enfrance g Dir Anthony and Mr.
Dovnee nom Scotland Yard when thu
n duke Of porth himself hobbled in
leaning o. the arm Of his valet.
Miss Decies,was sent Tor and joines
NJ gEoup.
The doors wefe shut, ana the duch
- halffaintin&. promptsd and hslpst
~ ~ aant md Michael Grant, toll
- A1es0ls1ing story of the night.