The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-05-23
THE HEART OF A WOMAN
BY BARONESS ORGY.
Author of "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "Petticoat Rule" Etc.
BY ORGY.

uncle-almost father-and nephew
; After that, GOODNESS and cynicism; the
-, same as the old man had meted out
, to every one around h:m-Save Luke
for years past. Now there was no
exception. Goodness and cynfcism to
all; and to the intruder, the newcomer,
, to Philip de MountfOrd, an ~unyarying
courtesy and constant Difference that
at times Herged on inpassive submis-
sion.
And the change. I must own, did not
come gradually. Have I not said that
only a month he'd gone by. n Ar
thurs son., from the land of volcanoes
and earthquakes, had already con-
quered all that he had come to SEEK
He who had been labeled an imposter
and a blackmailer 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 intervtew-what argu-
me8ts 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 LUX was shut out once and
for all from Lord Radclyffe's mind and
heart. Can you conceive that such
s~elfess affection as the older mar bore
to the younger can ike for a quarter
Of a century and die in n hour? Yet
so 1t seemed. Luke was shut out from
that innermost 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 no
consequence in the house OF the reign
ing peer.
Luke with characteristic pride
characteristic Incidence, mayhap,
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 Radclyffe
spent in lawyers company-Mr. Davies
in F~insbury court, then Mr.. Dobson in
Bedford row. The latter argued and
counseled. Though papers might be to
all appearances correct and quite in
a decision. But Lord Radclyffe
with tha same dictatorial obstin-
acy with which he had originally
branded the claimant as an imposter
and a blackmailer-now chung to his
reversed opinion. Convinced-beyond
Mountford was his brother Arthur's
son, he insisted on acknowledging him
openly as his heir, and on showering |
on him all those luxuries and privileges
which Luke had enjoyed for SO many
years.
Indignant and mentally sore, Jim and
Eide protested with all the violence of
youth, violence which proved as useless
as 1t was Ill considered. Luke said
nothing, for he foresaw tha the end
was inevitable. He set about making
a hom 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-a young
attache out at his first POSTPAID been
very little as yet. Luke had tried
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
Take my advice and go to Carlsbad.
liver must be out of order"
But the catastrophe came, neverthe-
,ess; sooner even than was expected.
Edie's language grew very unguarded
n Philips presence, INK Jim-'in the
not watch over his own
manner when the new cousin was in
he house.
One evening when Luke was absent
as was very often the case now-and
he family gathering consisted of Lord
Radclyffe-sullen and morose; Philip,
pleasantly condescending; INC Jim and
Edie, snubbed and wrathful. a differ
,nce in political opinion between the
people set a spark to the
~smouldering ashes.
Philip-still pleasantly condescend-
ng-did not say much hat evening.
:hough he had been called a cad and
IN upstart, r told to go back to his
1igger rela.lons; b u the next morning
linn and Edie received a curt admoni-
ion from Lord Radcliffe, during which
hey We're told that if such a disgrace-
.ul exhibition of i~mpertinance occurred
they would have to go and pitch
heir tent elsewhere.
They brought their grievance to
luke, told him all that thew had
up in their rebellious young
hearts against the usurper and much
hat they had hitherto kept from the
brother, who already God knowsi
lac a sufficient load Of disappointment
bear.
What could Luke do but promise that
n Edie should, in future, have q
1ouse OF their own wherein neither
lsurper nor upstairs would nave access
where they could nurse their wrath
n peace and unsnubbed?
For the first time since many DAYS
Luxe was alone with his uncle in the
library. Philip was out, and Lord Rad-
'lyffe was taken unawares.
What Luke would never hayed reamed
doing for himself he did for his
and sister: he made an appeal
20 his uncle's sense Of right, Of Justice
and of mercy. ~
Uncle Rad he said, you have told
is all so often that this should he y
for us all. 1t doesn't matter about
ne. but the others-Jim and Eddie
,ney haven,t offended you. have they? '
Lord Radcliffe was fretful and irrit-
able. When Luke first came in, it had
almost seemed as If he would order
nim to go. Such an old man he looked
and morose-his clothes hung
more loosely than before on an OBJ
at%tenuated frame. He seemed
:areworn and worried, and I,uke,s
aeart. which could not tear itself away
rom the memories Of past kindnesses.
ached to see the change.
Would you" he asked, insistently.
Rad? way on
The old man shifted about uneasilv IN
cnalr. He would not meet Luke,s
yes any more than he would take his
Jim and Edie," he said, curtly. are