The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-05-09
CHAPTER V.
IIST AN ORNIn.

V.
JUST AN OBVIOUS DUTY.
But 1t was she who gave him an
opening.
Luke" she said, its all very well.
but the matter does concern YOU in n
way; far more so, in fact, than il
does Lord Radcliffe. Nothing can make
any difference to Lord Radcliffe, but if
what this young man asserts is all
true, then 1t will make a world of diff
ference to YOU"
"I know that. That's just the
trouble" ~
You were thinking of YOURSELF"
NO. l was thinking of you"
"Of me?"
Yes" he said, now very abruptly.
quite roughly n crudely, not choos-
ing ms words lest they helped to betray
what ne felt, and all that he felt. "If
what this man says is true, then | am
a penniless n~onentity whom you are
not going to marry"
you are talking nonsense, Luke.
and you know it," was all she said,
And she said it very quietly, very de-
cisively. He was talking nonsense. of
course, for, whatever ~happened or
didn't happen, there was one thing I'm
TIE world that was absolutely, unde-
niably impossible, and that was that
she should not marry Luke.
whist she, Louisa Harris, plain, I'M
interesting, commonplace Louisa Har-
RS. was or this world, her marriage
with Luke must be. People, in this
present day., matter-of-fact world.
didn't have their hearts wrenched out
or them; they were not made to suffer
impossible and uncomfortable tortures:
then why should she, Louisa Harris,
be threatened with such a cata-
clysm?
II am not he was saving rather
tonelessly, talking nonsense, Lou. I
have thought all that over. It's over
eight lays since that letter came:
eight times "a hours since l seemed in
a way to see all my future trough
a thick, black cloud and I've had time
exquisite, beautiful, like a jewel that
should forever remain in a perfect set
ting. l."
He broke of abruptly, and, mechani-
caliy mis- hand went up to his fore
e n eyes. Where was he? He
gave a sudden, quaint laugh.
What a dwelling fool you must
think me. Lou"
She looked straight at him, pure of
soul, simple of heart, with a passion
Oh tenderness n self a~bnegation as
yet dor1aant beneath the outer crust
OF a conventional education and of
commonplace surroundings, but with
PSsSANA NhiSAS ltNCIlIltltSS. AnO IL
was expressed In the sudden, strange
luminosity of her eyes-I would not
nave you think that they were tears
AS they met and held his own.
ne didn't say anything more just
then. People of their type and class
IN bngland do not say much, you know.
under such circumstances. They have
been drilled not to; drilled and drilled
from childhood upward, from the time
when, after a fall and a cut lin or
oroken tooth, the tears have to be held
PACK. lest the words "snivel' or 'cry
9aoy' be mentioned. But quietude
does not necessarily mean freedom
from pain. A cut lip hurts worse when
1t is not wetted with tears.
1t was only the shadow that was how
erlng over these two as vet: nothing
really tangible. And the shadow was
not TIVE them. She would not let
II come between them. If it covered
nm IT should wrap her too. The COM
monplace m had no fear of it's
descent, only as far as it affected him.
Nothing,' she said after awhile,
could make a difference to u mar
mage, Luke. Except Of course, if you
ceased to care"
Or you, Lou he suggested meekly.
ID you think" she retorted. that
l should? Just because you had no
mouey?"
Not he owner, because of that.
But l should be such a n%onentity. |
nave no real profession; and there are
me others. Jim in the Blues costs a
iearrul lot a year, and Frank in the
diplomatic service must have his prom
ised allowance. ] have read for the
par, but beyond that what am II"
your upcle's right hand" she re-
torted hrmly, Ibis agent, his secretary,
MS factotum, all rolled into one. You
manage his estates. his charities, his
correspondence. You write his speeches
and control his household. Lord Rad
c~lyffe-every one says it in London
would not be himself at all without
Luke de Mountford behind him"
That's not what 1 mean, Lou" |
WHAT do you mean?"
II mean that"
He paused a moment, then added
with seeming i~rrelevance:
w all now that Uncle Rad is a
curious kind Of a If this story turns
out to be true, he would still say
nothing, but he would fret and worry
himself into his grave"
The story" she argued o~bstinately, |
,nwlil not turn out to be true. It's not
ike you, Luke, to jump at conclusions
or to be afraid of a nightmare" l
am not afraid" he rejoined sim
ply. But / must look at possibilities.
Yes, DEAR" he continued moro forcibly. |
1T Is possible that this story is true.
w soou saying mat IL 1S impossible. |
improbable If you like, but not impos- |
sible. Look at 1t how you like. you
must admit that 1t is not impossible. |
Uncle Arthur may have married i'm
M~artinique; he was out there in 1881; |
lie may have had a son his telling no
one about his marriage is not to be
wondered at: he was always reticent
ana queer about his own affairs. This
rhilip may possibly be Uncle RAIDS
sole and rightful heir, and / may pos
slbly be a beggar."
she uttered an exclamation of incre-
uullty. Luke, q beggar! Luke the one
nan In all the world, different from
every other man! Luke ousted by thar
stranger upstart.
GOD hath too much sense of humor
70 allow so ridiculous a fate to work
her silly caprice.
And" she said with scorn. because
VI all these absurd possibilities you talk
VI breaking off your engagement to
Luke?"
he did not reply, but continued to
walk beside her, just a yard or 80