Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-09-01
Copyright. 1908. by .Dodd. Mead
CHAPTER X.
THE SLOUGH OF TRANou1IL1TY

49, cHauSe OF expression IN the
benign face of nature. Christmas day
was as hot as If it had come in mid
summer; the natives were rs naked,
the trees as fully clad. Thesix months
were passing away in spite Of them
selves. Ten weeks were left before
the worn but determined heirs could
cast OFF their bonds and rush away to
other climes. 1t mattered little whether
they went away rich or poor. They
were to go! Go! That was the rich
est thing the future held out to them.
True, they rode and played and swan
and romped without restraint, but be-
meath all of their abandon there lurkcd
the ever present pathos of the Jail, the
asylum. the detention ward
Not until the end of January was
there sign of revolt against the ever
growing insidious condition of melan-
choly. AS they turned into the last
third of their exile they found heart
to rejoice in the thought that release
was coming nearer and nearer. The
end Of March-eight weeks off! Soon
there would be but seven weeks, then
six!
And all this time the Islanders toiled
rs they had toiled for years. They
reckoned in years, while the strangers
cast up times account In weeks and
called them years. Each day the
brown men worked in the mines piling
gems into the vaults with resolute-
ness that never faltered.
From London came disqaicting news
for all sides to the controversy. The
struggle promised to he drawn out for
years, perhaps. The lonely legatees,
marooned in the fur south sea, began
to realize that even after they had
spent their six months of probation
they would still have months. even
years. of waiting before they could
touch the fortune they laid claim to.
The Islanders also We're vaguely awake
to the fact that everything might be
tied up for years despite the provi-
sions of the will. A restless. stubborn
feeling of alarm spread among them.
This feeling; gradually developed itself
into bitter resentment. Hntred for the
people who were causing this delay
was growing deeper and fiercer,
Their counselor, the compliment enc
my. held himself aloof from the men
and women that his charges were
fighting. lie met the two lawyers
often. but nothing passed between
them that could have been regarded rs
the slightest breach of trust. He
lived like a raJah in his shady bunga-
low. surrounded by the Injuries of one
to whom all things are brought indi-
visible. If he had any longing for the
society of women of his own race and
kind. he carefully concealed it. His
Indifference to the subtle though UNI
mistaknble appeals Of the two gentle
women in the chateau was Irritating
/. IN the extreme. When he deliberately,
though politely. declined their, invita-
tion to tea one afternoon their humilia-
ton knew no bounds.
Lady Dep2ingham and Mrs. Browne
should not be misunderstood by the
reader. They loved their husbands
am quite sure of that-but they were
tired of seeing no one else. tired of
talking to TO one else. Moreover, in
support of this one sided assertion,
they experienced from time to time
the most melancholy attacks Of jeal-
ousy. If Mrs. Browne in plain despair
went off for a days ride with Lord
Deppingham, that gentlemans wife
was sick with jealousy. If Lady Ag-
mes stroled in the moonlit gardens
with Mr.. Browne. the former Miss
Bate of Boston could scarcely control
her emotions. They shed many tears
of anguish over the faithlessness of
husbands. tears of hatred over the
yiciousness Of temptresses. Their quar-
rels were fierce, their upbraidings char
actertstic, but in the end they cried
and kissed and made up.'
They did not know, of course, that
the willy Britt, despite his own depres-
sion, was all the while accommodating
the most astounding lot Of evidence to
show thnt decided streak of insanity
existed in the two heirs.
If they could only be married in
some way" was BIRTHS private lament
to Saunders from time to time when
despair overcame confidence.
1--WE got q ripping idea," Saunders
said one day.
Lets have it. You've always got
Fem. Why not divide with me?
Cant do it just yet. I've been look
ing up little matter. I'll spring it
soon."
How long have you been working
on the idea?"
Nearly four months" said saun-
ders, yawning.
Cad, this climate is enervating"
was Britts caustic comment.
Saunders was heels over head in love
with Miss Pelham at this time, SO 1t
is not surprising that he had some
Sort of an idea about marriage, no
matter whom it concerned.
Night after night the Deppinghams
and Brownies gave dinners. balls, mu-
sicales. bridges" masks and theater
suppers at the chateau. First one
would invite the other to great ball,
then the other would respond by CIV
ing. a sumptuous dinner.
One morning during the first week
In February the steamer from Alden
brought stacks of mail-the customary
newspapers, magazines. novels. tele-
grams and letters. 1t was noticed that
her ladyship had several hundred let
ters. many bearing crests or coats of
arms
AT last she came to Il letter Of many
pages covered with Il scrawl that look
cd preposternnsly fashionable. Lady
Agnes gave II sudden shrek and. leap
In. TO l:er feet. performed dance that
sc: her husband and Bobby Browne to
eG...i.n:;
"!s;ho's ccnif:.::-,.% she cried ecstatical-
Il. is'aeali.t- h.'rself y dozen times.
"'.i.na 't.;.t,s'a2 .'ei.r?!" ronrrd her
hr"hsrd ~ 81, s!::tI, tlr.c
"!';.c .i:.-a-s;i, .s'::1:'y, In. going TO