The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-07-15
CHAPTER X.
Lightning Love and an Extraordinary
Decision.

DECISION.
How tall, how fresh, how fragrant,
how beautiful Daisy looked In her
white frock, with the coiled masses Of
dark hair surrounding the small Greek
head!
Basil and she went up together and
shook hands in the manner of old and
intimate friends.
They sat down together in the
sweet, fragrant, old-fashioned drawing
room. He looked earnestly at her.
Miss Hobson," he said, you have,
no doubt, heard the news? What you
told Mr.. Grant and myself was abso-
iutely justified. l told you at the time
that | believed implicitly in what you
said. Mr.. Grant, | am sorry to say,
did not see with me in the matter
but then, OF course, 1t was far more
strange and sudden to him than 1t was
to me. knew nothing of Miss Decies.
He knew her as one of the most i'm
portant members of the household In
Piccadilly, and the aunt of the Ouch
ess."
yes, Capt. Marriott" she replied,
81 saw the papers this morning and
learned the terrible news. l knew
indeed, / was certain-that Miss
Decies was at the bottom of this ter
rible happening. But you must re-
member my position in the household
of the duchess. l was simply second
nurse to his little grace. You know
why I accepted such a position, which,
as 1 have told YOU, was exceedingly
we'll paid. 1t was simply and solely
to help my father to educate my young
brothers and sisters. What did 1t
matter to me? 1t did not make me any
the less well-born, that l had sunk all
questions of that sort for the time,
and took what, | suppose, one might
call a mental position. The money
was the great thing. so far as | was
concerned.
TN that position / naturally had no
opportunity OF remarking to any n
on certain stages things which l wit
messed. l should have jeopardized my
place, nor should I have been believed.
"This morning the Daily Wire was
brought out by the postman, as usual.
IL opened 1t, and among the columns
of nonsense and misstatements in con-
nection with the disappearance Of the
little duke / read the news OF Miss
Decies' suicide. BY putting two and
two together, l realized that she must
have come to MI. Grants fiat very
shortly after | left 1t. The newspaper
account supplied the missing details
and | understood quite well how you
and Mr.. Grant had left the fat to visit
the duchess. and that, In your alb
sence the terrible affair occurred; but
( was not Surprised was not sur
prised at all"
Her voice dropped and trembled a
little, while the large dark eyes SEEM
ed to grow larger still in their appeal.
Basil thought that they were like
deep forest pools Of clear water
pools Of clear, dark water, into which
the sun threw a golden beam through
the tracery of the leaves above.
miss Hobson," he said, Il must take
O entirely into my confidence"
Anything you say to me, Capt. Mar
riott," she answered, "is absolutely
sacred"
II know It," he replied. II would
tell you anything"
There was something In the warmth
Of his response that came to her with
more than an ordinary meaning. She
flushed a little. though she did not
seem d~ispleased.
what I have to explain Is this"
pasil went on. michael Grant and
myself are in the absolute confidence
A. he duchess. We have both
both pledged ourselves that we shall
- this natter out to the very END