The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-04-23
CHAPTER u.-ContInueu.

consciously raised her left hand a lit
tle-not as though to ward him on,
but as il to compel him to attention.
Michael" she said, you make me
answer you; you force me. did not
wish to answer you. You must never
ask me any question like this again,
If / answer you now Promise!"
His whole tall body shook like a
poplar tree in a wind; little beads
Of ~perspiration sprang out upon the
lean, brown face; the great blue eyes
blazed with pain, and yet triumph
also.
"Ah-h-h!' he said.
ut will be unhappier for us both.
since you have made me say it," she
answered. Life will be sadder for
both of us. But you have asked me.
What can l say but what you know?
My answer to you is. Yes! l could
give you nothing. I have a high duty
TO perform-God has laid 1t upon me,
the world imposes me. and l will do
1t till I die"
He bowed his head. II know" he
replied, in a low, deep voice. Il know
now what I but half believed, yet
longed to know. And now, my love
and my lady, my duchess, the guar
dian Of a duke, it is at an end; it is
at an end! Until you bid me come to
you, you will never hear n word Of
love from me. Yet, though the whole
hope Of my life seems finished and
done with, the service Of my life is
but beginning. Here and now l
pledge myself to your service and to
; NE service of dear little Fitz, the son
you love. l do it in the old way,
duchess; l kneel, I pledge myself"
She walked up to him. stood over
aim and looked down for a moment
upon his bowed head. There was a
tense silence in the room.
Neither of them spoke. 1t was not
a moment for words. At length he
rose. His face was very white, as
hers vas also. They faced each 9th
err In the manner of two people who
had passed through an hour that was
dark and terrible-they had passed
through it. 1t was over. Once more
both wore their masks.
so that's all right, dear Michael"
she said. with a sweet ripple of
laughter. 1--WE understand each 9TH
err. Michael, don't we? Yes, yes, it's
all right. and 1 accept your fealty.
In the old days a famous knight was
content to enlist under the banner
of a duke, and /, a sort of poor dow
ager duchess, accept what you offer.
Very well, then, Sir Michael Grant,
you and l are pledged together to
serve the duke of London"
pledged together he said, ITO
serve the duke Of London!"
well, then" she answered, lixht-
ly, II think we had better 20 and see
the duke before Aunt Augusta finds
us again."
"oh, Aunt Augusta he answered,
catching her mood.
Eyes" she replied. "'Oh, Aunt Au.
gusta!' Now, Michael, let us go and
see the dear little chap. He will be
fast asleep, but we can look at him.
Come along"
They went out into the hall. No
body was there now, in the great
cleaning place with it's soft lights
and shot colors, but one sleepy foot
man, who was sitting by the side of
the swing doors which opened in
from the outer lobby.
Come along the duchess said
again, with a high silvery tinkle of
laughter; and, gathering up her train
In her left hand, she sped up the
broad stairway followed by the u
man, who mounted as airily and
gracefully as she.
Laughing and talking together, they
went halfway round the gallery, push.
ed open a door and entered a long
corridor. At the end Of the corridor
We're swing doors Of green baize,
which opened into that part of the
house reserved for the little duke.
They went throueh them, the u
mother with a light upon her face,
and opened a door upon the left.
They came into . great room fur
nished as q nursery. Upon the walls
was a pattern Of paper depicting hunt
ing scenes in vivid colors; a fox rem
orally getting the better Of both
hounds and huntsmen, and, repeated
half q hundred times in different
| squares, c%rouching upon the roof Of q
matched cottage and smiling derision
1t tho stupid dogs and mortals who
fought for him below. It was a king
dom Of toys-toys waiting for their
little patron, toys set against the wall
till morning should come and they be
in use again.
The electric lights shone softly.
There was nobody in the nursery.
"Oh, I've told Alexander" the duch-
ess said, with a little impatient move
ment of her hand-"I've told Alexan-
der SO often that when Fitzroy is
asleep somebody should be in this
room-one Of the other two girls.
The little chap might wake up, you
know. Michael, and get frightened and
call for some one. Now, 1t seems,
there is nobody here at ALL"