The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-02-22

.Ah, Of course, I was forgetting the
object OF my visit in the pleasure Of
seeing YOU" The smile died from his
lips, as he added. seriously. ut is my
pleasant duty to inform you that my
late client, the arl of Porthawn, died
intestate, and such being the case, you,
as his lordship's only surviving relative,
Inherit alike his estates in the duchy Of
Cornwall and his fortune" He paused;
then added: The title Of course,
lapses, though it could doubtless be re-
vived, always %supposing that you con-
tracted a suitable marriage"
Vesdris laid q hand on the little
mans arm.
That. MI. Brent, you know that I
should always do" she said, smiling
into his eyes.
Il am far from being certain on
that point" said the solicitor, a slight
note of testiness apparent in his voice.
Il remember the time when you told
me in all seriousness that you wanted
to marry the gardeners boy"
But that was when I used to invite
you UP to the schoolroom to tea with
my dolls, Mr.. Brent"
Those We're happy days, Vesdris,
when l used to come and drink thin
blefuls Of tea with you and listen to
the respective history Of your dollies!
Eth? l little thought then that you
would ever have been thrown alone
on the hard world as Miss Peggy Smith.
Two years hard hunting 1t has taken
me to find YOU"
II knew that o would want me to
come to you, ii I let you know of my
whereabouts" Vesdris said softly, II
did not want to be a burden on you,
for I thought hat I could earn my own
living! Rather than do that I woul
have accepted the hundred a year In
Gle Walter offered me, when he stepped
into everything at the death Of my
poor father" Her lips trembled omin-
ously for a moment, then steadying, she
continued. IT have been very happy,
here. Everybody has been so kind to
me, and Bert has looked after me as
carefully as If I were his own sister"
Perhaps more so than If you were"
the solicitor dryly. adding briskly
as the young man colored awkwardly,
I must be off now. I am due at
at 2, and"-
But you will stay and have some
lunch" said Wilmot, speaking for the
first time. Il know Peggy-er-Lady
Vesdris would"-
Thank you. but I am afraid I a
not. l have Just ten minutes in which
to get to the station" The solicitor
spoke briskly. Good bye! OF course,
you must leave here, little girl, at once,
n come up to town. You have a lot
OF documents to sign before you can
enter.possession OF your own. Let me
SS~t ~ 4hoAAAdy|L Slldl SEDSCI1
you at my office not later that Tuesday
week. Good bye! Good bye! Renem.
what / said about the title and
making a suitable marriage. AS you
are one of the biggest. ifnot the biggest.
nelresses IN England, you have money!
the busy little solicitor walked to the |
door and out Of the house.
Bert was standing by the window.
MS nands thrust down into his Jacket
pockets, gazing absent-mindedly out
INTO space. So occupied, indeed. was
IN MS w thoughts that he was
unaware of Vesdris's presence till he
felt her hand lightly placed on his
shoulder.
BERT she said, wistfulIy you told
me this morning that you had some
thing to speak to me about"
He turned to gaze at the girl beside
him In mute gon
Wont you tell me now what It was
you wanted to say to me, dear?"
No. l am afraid that I cannot, he
said hoarsely, as once again to turned
to Tool out Of the window. Tito
ten you the truth. IL forget what l
was going to say"
Don't tell q hb. Bert" she said oui-
city, as putting her arm through his,
she laid her head upon his shonlder
know really quite we'll what vs,
were going to say. Won't you tell me
MAJ AZ, III realy want to hear?"
"You-that Isl can never tell YOU
What y was going to say. now"
Why wont you tell me now. when
half an hour ago you were willing to ~
.Why?" He placed his hands on her
and locked straight into the
violet eyes raised half shyly to his. "a
great deal has happened in those thirty
ninutes-and l wonder IL you womb
be angry with me, fl said-that Won
nave hardly been quite fair with me-"
Why do you think that 1 have been
7 don't know why / should have
aid IT, he said, unless it is. that the
world has suddenly seemed to grow
Old AID bitter TO me- he said abruptly,
ms voice becoming oddly strained
you came to US as Peggy Smith.
Yearly two years ago. and as Peggy
1 loved yssi. p
cannot 0 see your way to love-
sesdfis Pendual as much-as o loved
Deggy Smith 2" TIL. faint flush man
mig her cheeks deepened into a furi- :
,us blush.
IT would not be honorable on my
1art to tell her so. ave If / did, and6-
But Q have" she said. a ring OIL
Triumph in her voice. "Ana now viii
'ou explain to me why 1t would not