The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-05-24
The HEART OF A WOMAN
BY BARONESS ORGY.
Author Of @Ths Scarlet PimperneL" "Petticoat Rule" Etc.

uncle-almos, father-and nephew.
After that, GOODNESS n cynicism, the
same as the old man had melted out
to every one around h.m-save Luke
for years past. Now there was no
exception. Goodness and cynicism to
all; and to the intruder, the newcomer,
to Philip de Mcuntford, an u~nvarying
courtesy and constant Difference that
at times verged on impressive submits
sion.
And the change. I must own, did not
come gradually. Have I not said that
only a month had gone by, and Ar
thurs son from the land of volcanoes
and earthquakes, had already con
quered all that ne had come to seek?
He who a been labeled an imposter
n a blackmafler took-after that one
interview-his place in the old mans
mind, if not in his heart. Heaven
only knows-for no one else was pres
ent at that first interview-what argu-
me7ts he held, what appeals he made.
He came like a thief, bribing his way
into his uncle's presence, and stayed
like a dearly loved SON, a master in
the house.
And Luke was shut out once and
for all from Lord Radclyffe's mind n
heart. Can you conceive hat such
| ~selfiess affection as the older mar bore
to the younger al live for a quarter
Of a century Inc die in one hour? Yet
so 1t seemed. Luke was shut out from
that tnnermost recess in Uncle RAIDS
heart which he had occupied, undis-
puted, from childhood upward. Now
he only took his place amongst the
others; with Jim and Edie and Frank,
children of the younger brother, Of nc
consequence in the house Of the reign
ing peer.
Luke with characteristic pride
| oh ra ntnriStip in6n1pnpa rnavhan
where his own interests were at stake
would not fight for his rightful posi-
tion-his by right of ages, 20 years of
affection, of fidelity and comradeship.
The day following the first mo-
mentous interview, Lord Radcliffe
spent in lawyers company-Mr. Davies
in Finsbury court, then Mr.. Dobson in
Bedford row. The latter argued and
counseled. Though papers might be to
all appearances correct and quite i'll
order, there was no hurry to come to
a decision. But Lord Radclyffe
with that same dictatorial obstin-
acy with which he had originally
branded the claimant as an imposter
and a Decentralization chung to his
reversed opinion. Convinced-beyond
doubt, apparently - that Philip de
Mountford was his brother Arthur's
! son, he insisted on acknowledging him
openly as his heir, and on showering
on him all those ~luxuries n privileges
which Luke had enjoyed for so many
| years.
Indignant and mentally sore, Jim and
Edie protested with all the violence of
youth, violence which proved as useless
as. 1t was Ill considered. Luke said
nothing, for he foresaw that the end
was inevitable. He set about making
a home for his younger brothers and
sister to be ready for them as soon as
the cataclysm came, when Philip de
Mountford. usurping every right, would
turn his cousins out of the old home.
Frank. absent at Santiago young
attache out at his first POSTPAID been
told very little as yet. Luke had tried
to break the news to him in a guarded
letter. which received but the follow
ing brief and optimistic answer:
Why. old man! what's the matter
with you? worrying owe such rubbish :?
Take my advice and go to Carlsbad.
Your liver must be out of order"
But the catastrophe came, neverthe-
less; soone wen than was expected.
Edie's language grew very unguarded
in Philips presence, and Jim-'in the
blues"-did not watch over his w
manners when the new cousin was in
the house.
One evening when Luke was absent
was very often the case ow-and
the family gathering consisted of Lord
Radclyffe-sullen and morose; Philip.
pleasantly understanding; and Jim and
Eide, snubbed and wrathful, a differ
ence in political opinion between the
young people set a spark to the
smouldering ashes.
Ph1lip-still pleasantly condescend-
ing-did not say much that evening.
though he had been called a cad and
an upstart, and told to go back to his
niger relations; but the next morning
Jim and Eide received a curt admoni-
ton from Lord Radcliffe, during which
they were told hat If such a disgrace
full exhibition of impertinance occurred
again, they would have to go and pitch
their tent elsewhere.
They brought their grievance to
Luke; told him all that they had
treasured up in their rebellious young
hearts against the usurper and much
that they had hitherto kept from the
elder brother, who already, God knows!
had a sufficient load of disappointment
to bear.
What could Luke do but promise that
Jim n Edie should. in future. have a
house of their own, wherein neither
usurper nor upstairs would have access
and where they could nurse their wrath
in peace and unsnubbed?
For the first time since MANY davs
Luke was alone with his uncle in the
library. Philip vas out, and Lord Rad
LYME was taken unawareS.
What Luke wouldnev have dreamed
OF doing for himself he did for his
brothers and sister; he made an appeal
to his uncle's sense Of right, of Justice
and of mercy.
Uncle Rad" he said. you have told
US all so often that this should be a
home for us all. 1t doesn't matter about
me, but the others-Jim and Eide
they haven't offended you, have hey?.
Lord Radcliffe was iretful and irrit-
able. When Luke first came in. 1t had
almost seemed as IL he would order
him TO 60 Such an old. man he looked
sour and morose-his clothes hung
more loosely than before on an OBJ
viously attenuated frame. He seemed
careworn and worried, and Luke,s
heart, which could not tear itself away
from the memories OF past kindnesses.
ached to see the change.
would YOU" he asked. insistentlv
would you rather we went away. Uncle
Rad?
The old man shifted about uneasily in
MS chair. He would not meet Luke,s
eyes m more than he would take his
Il hand 4,vcf AAc