The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-05-30

or at any rate. OF them. 1 cannot tell
you everything clearly. but there are a
great many links in a long chain OF
evidence n so far as Mr.. Dobson and
his clerk have not come across a brOk-+
en- n That the Mrs. de Mountford
who died at Marie Galante was Uncle
Arthur's wife, and that Philip is his
son, j am afraid no n a question.
He has quite a number of letters in his
possession which Uncle Arthur wrote
after he had practically abandoned wife
II child. / think 1t was the letters
that convinced Uncle Rad"
Lord Radcliffe" h remarked dryly,
has taken everything far too much for
granted"
He is convinced, Lou--and that's all
| about IT,"
He u.s." she retorted more hotly than
was her wont, acting in q cruel and
heartless manner. Even if this Philir
Is your uncle Arthur's son, even IL he
Is heir to the peeraget and the future
head of the family, there was no rea.
son for installing him in your home
Luke, and turning you and the others
out Of It."
Il suppose" rejoined Like, phil
osophically, the house was never really
our home. What Uncle Rae gave free
! ", he has taken away again from US.
l don't suppose that we have the right
to complain"
But what will become Of you aIl?" %
we must scrape along. Frank must
have his promised allowance or, he'll
never get along in the service. and 500
pounds a year Is q big slice outaof 1000.
Jim, too, spends q great deal. Uncle
a never stinted him with money for
II was he who wanted Jim to be in the
Blues. Now he may have to exchange
into a less expensive regiment. l him
Edie will marry soOn-Reggie Duggan
1 has hnpn In lOVa with hpF for fha 1nut
two years-she may make up her mind
now"
But you, Luke"
He did not know II he ought to tell
her of his plans. The ostrich farm out
in Atrica-the partnership offered to
him by q cousin OF his mothers who
was doing remarkably well. but who
was getting old and wanted the COM
partnership Of n Of his kind. 1t was
O living anyway-but a giving up Of
everything that had constituted life in
the past-and the giving up OF his ex-
quisite Lou. How could he ask her to
Eshare that life with him-the primitive
conditions, the total absence OF lux
uries, the rough, everyday existence?
And Lou, so perfectly dressed, so abb
S0lutely modern and dainty, waited on
hand and foot
But she insisted, seeing that he was
hesltating n was trying to keep
something from her.
What about you. Luke"
He had not time to reply, for from the
hall below a shrill voice called to them
both by name.
Mr.. lie Mountford, Miss Harris, the
young people want TO dance. You'll
join In. won't yOu""
Already he was on his feet, every
trace OF emotion swept away from his
face. together with every crease from
his immaculate dress clothes, and every
stray wisp Of hair from his well
groomed head Not a man, torn with
passion, fighting the battle of life
against overwhelming odds. casting
away from him the hand
which he would have given
his last drop OF blood to posses-only
the man Of the world. smiling while
his very soul was being w~rung-only
the puppet dancing to the conventional
worlds tune.
"Dancing?" he said lightly. Rather
Lady Ducies may / have this first
waltz? No?-Oh! 1 say. that's too bad.
The first Lancers. then. Good! Lou,
may | have this dance"
And the world went on just the
same.