The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-04-09
CHAPTER I.-(contInued.)

ssS ~
1--WE a good memory, my dear Ba-
sill" he answered, land I've lived with
these people for twenty years now.
I suppose l do know as much about
society as most people. Well, I was
telling you-suddenly, In the middle
Of London's goings on, the papers all
began to hint at a curious rumor.
The Duke had left London for the lit
tie German Court of Wohlau-Lands-
krona. and everybody said that a mar
riage was being arranged between
him and the Princess Sophia Marie
Eleanora. the daughter of the reign
ing duke. In a week or two it was
definitely announced, in a more or less
guarded way, that London was hunt
ing in the forests of Wohlau and pay
ing his court to the princess. The
0fivial announcement of their be-
trothal was said to be imminent.
There vas great gnashing and
wailing OF teeth in London; all the
~dowagers said 1t was shocking, and so
forth. But 1t was an understood thing,
at any rate, and everybody waited for
the definite announcement. What
happened at this juncture I have
eve gathered from ordinary talk.
Nobody knew exactly any Of the de-
tails, but bit by bit the story got itself
pieced together. and it amounted to
this:
Very late n night the steward
and resident servants Of the great
closed house Of Otter were startled
by the sudden arrival of the Duke of
London, alone and in a fly from the
local station. The Duke, who seemed
to be In an excited condition, spent
m hour by himself In the library,
sending the servants away. Nothing
more was seen of him until noon on
h following day, when he was found
In q covert, ven mics away from
Otter and on the extreme outskirts Of
his W woods. He was conscious,
but he was badly hurt by . gun shot
wound in the leg.
He was taken by the keepers who
found him to the nearest house, which
happened to be the rectory Of MINIS
Godscroft, the house OF the Rev. Sir
Montague Decies. the old clergyman
barOnet of whom l told you. The
duke recovered slowly at the rectory,
no more reference to the German mar
rage appeared in the press, and six
months afterward 1t was announced
that he had been quietly married to
Miss Beatrice Decies early n morn
ing in the cathedral at Canterbury.
/ From that time the duke tool up
his position in a proper and reputable
way. He seconded the address In the
house OF lords, entered into all the
duties Of his place. and. with his
young and beautiful wife. became q
leader in society. A son was born
the little boy you saw in the carriage
today-and he was then, OF course,
the marques Of Bow. Otter became
the principal house Of the family. and
everything went on smoothly enough.
At the same time 1t was generally
supposed that, while the duke and
duchess appeared greatly attached to
each other. for some reason or other,
the marriage was not quite happy.
Both the husband and wife seemed
TO be somewhat graver and sadder
than there was any apparent reason
for. Well. three years after the birth
Of the marques the duke died quite
suddenly-it was announced Of heart
disease"
what . strange story. father!"
Basil Marriott said. quite out Of
the common. And l suppose nobody
has ever known any more about it
than thatfs
$50 far q I am aware" the admiral
answered. mot Z soul"
why did you say was announced
- have died Of heart disease"
well" the old gentleman answered.
perhaps I ought not to have put it
81 that way: but there we're whispers
that there ri something mysterious
about the death. Whether they were
true or not / cant say. But still. there
Nj ! little talk ct the time"
We'll. Il = I romantic story" the
young man concluded, with . sigh.
onc moro calling up Z picture Of the
beautiful woman In the carriage, and
perhaps regretting that such beauty
and distinction must forever be
beyond the reach Of . young naval
o11cer. however brilliant or distin-
guished. r suppose she will marry
ooon!'
The admiral settled himself In his
chair again. Evidently no had some
thing more 20 communicate.
IT y : very moot point, my dear
boy, and / : tell ron II Is what a
whole lot of people n London are
wondering. Or course. ~ she does
marry she1l loss the greater part Of
the enormous fortune LETT hsr BY the
duke. though she would still have
enough remaining. . I understand. to
make her quite : wealthy woman"
on. shs = surs 70 marry" Basil
answered.
Don't y01 - too sure, my boy. /
know the duchess rather well. and /
believe her u ~ sntirely devoted to
hor little hoy. don,t soy that. per-