The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-08-28

| ~ WueIS5
I'm the spinney."
"What does he there at this hour7"
"Nothing."
II don't understand"
"Sir Godfrey began racktng
my brains what to say next and how
to convey the awful tidings.
She made sudden step or two In
my direction, then turned toward the
coppice, her suspicious fully aroused.
But now ventured upon a famil-
iarity-that is, | turned and caught
her arm.
II will see him myself" she began
resolutely. .... F..
Madam" said swiftly. you can
not" .ru III
Master Hampton" she said, "some-
thing dreadful has happened"
nodded.
This was breaking it gently with a
vengeance, but what could l do? She
always did twist me around her little
finger, and was always more or less
helpless before her. I admit that.
am still, for that matter, although she
will not have 1t so.
What is it? Is my father-what Is
he doing in the spinney? He never
| rises at this hour?'
mistress Wilberforce," | said. you
come Of brave stock, and the time
for your courage is now"
"ls my father dead?" she asked. aft
~, n cud1op nyfnl Stiffness
| nodded while she stared at me like
one possessed.
"Killed in duel?" she whispered
l shook my head.
Mistress, said |, "he died by his
own hand" --'~--"-~A-~
ooh. my Cod" she cried, clapping
her hands to her face and Keeling
back.
caught her about the waist. She
had no knowledge that she was held
or supported or course, all her inter-
est and attention were elsewhere. She
did not weep or give way otherwise.
She was a marvellous woman, and her
self mastery and control amazed me,
for knew how she had loved her ia
Their.
when? Why?" she gasped out:
Il was early awake" answered.
and did not tell her it was my habit
to see her gallop off for that morning
ride-"and heard shot in the spin
ney. hurried there and found Sir
GeOffrey"-
Let us go to him"
NO." said l. And marveled to find
myself assuming the direction as If l
had been on the deck of my own ship.
that you cannot 1t is no sight for
your eyes, was coming to the castle
to tell you and to send the servants to
fetch him. Meanwhile you 60 into the
hall and summon your women and
Il will do what you say. Master
Hampton" she whispered very small.
very forlorn. very despairing. My ia
Their! My dear, good father!
She turned. and l. still supporting
her, we mounted the steps of the ter
race. Suddenly she stopped. freed her,
self and faced me.
Lord Luftdon and the Duke Of Ar
cester," she explained. they are stay.
ing at the castle. They must be noti-
fed"
Madam" said l, they already
know it."
And why. then. have they left the
duty of telling me to you? Where are
they? Summon them at once!'
They are gone" | clustered out, my |
rage at the duke reviving.
Gomez
Having won everything from Sir
Godfrey. they have left him alone in
his death!' retorted bitterly.
"Impossible!'
Il ordered them of the place." said
bluntly.
''You?" she flashed out imperiously.
land who gave you the power to dis
fathers friends?"
II heard what they said, being hid
den myself"
And what did they say?"
1T concerned You, mistress"
''The Duke of Arcester," she prompt
~ began. lis my betrothed husband.
will hear no calumny against him." |
Madam" l said. your engagement
is broken"
"BrOken!' she cried in amaze. .. !
THE duke declared himself too poor
to marry the penniless child of dis
graced man his words, not mine. be- i
Iieve me-"
She turned SO white and reeled SO
that caught her again. even shook
her while cried roughly:
You must not give way"
ut is lie. a dastardly lie" she pant
ed out at last.
1T is Coos TRUTH said l. He re-
pudiates YOU
mo man could be so BASE" she per.
sisted. HE swore that he loved me-"
X would 1t were otherwise, madam,
but he Is gone, leaving that message
for you"
And he made you his messenger
IL volunteered"
why? Why"
Because he is low coward
And you stood by and let him in
orr ts,0, v,