Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1939-01-05
CHAPTER XII-Continued
The Duchess continued:

remembers Usage-which was your
home. His sister was your moth
er's maid, and when your mother
died she stayed on till the house was
sold. 1t should not have been sold,
of course: but your father was killed
in action, and, as you know, things
went wrong. Very well. Now l,
too, bear a good name. My family
name. is Saying: and, though you
and I know better, the Almanach de
Gotha will tell you that it is royal.
And if you will change your name
it's easy enough, by deed-poll-and
will call yourself Saying-Exon from
this time on, think you may very
well marry the Countess of Brief.
Apart from anything else, it is, as
the three of us know, most right
and proper that she should bear
my name: and in view of all that
has happened, it is most right and
proper that she should take it from
you But the principal thing is this
that I am very fond of you, Rich
ard, and should derive infinite pleas
ure from the thought that you and
your sons were to bear my name,
for I know you will do it honor and
I find it hard to believe that, with
such a mother to bear them, your
sons will prove unworthy to hand it
down."
She hesitated there and put hand
to her eyes. Then she went slowly
on.
"The workings of Fate are very
wonderful. Saying is my own name.
When I was married, l took my
husbands title, but not his name.
And because the name is royal, his
sons by me would have borne it
But, you see, have had no
children And when come to
die, the name will die, too I'M
less you-you care to humor a
sentimental old fool :"
What I said l cannot remember,
because my heart was too full: but
I know I was down on my knees
and her hands were in mine, as I
tried my best to thank her for do
ing to me what only king can do.
Then she kissed me on either
cheek and told me to ring for wine,
''for we must have drink" she
said, ito celebrate this occasion.
You seem to like the idea, and,
as good John Herrick would say, it
suits me down to the socks. The
thought of that name going out has
given me sleepless nights. But now
>. all's very well, for if you and
Elizabeth Virgil aren't fit to fly my
flag, then my eye is dim and my
natural force abated. And that /
refuse to believe, for never wore
glasses yet and, though I take it
easy, Pm still as strong as horse"
When the wine was brought, she
pledged me and wished me luck,
and I tried again to thank her and
drank her health. Then she picked
up sheet of paper and put it into
my hand.
"Your cake" she said simply.
"You can have it now-and can eat
it, as soon as you've changed your
name"
marriage has been arranged and
will shortly take place between Richard
Saying-Exon, late of Usage in Wiltshire
and now of Tracery in Austria, and Eliz.
abeth Virgil. Countess of Brief.
l lifted my head, to stare at the
Duchess of Whelp.
Now of Tracery,' MADAME"
That's what it says" said Old
Harry. "You can cut it out, if you
like. But understand you're short
of residence, and it would give me
great pleasure, if you were to make
this your home"
After lunch l left for Raven,
where was to stay for three nights,
after which I was to return-with
the Countess of Brief and Herrick,
to settle future arrangements and,
generally, "chew the cud." But, be-
fore / went, Old Harry made me
promise that I would drive straight
to Raven and would not visit Brief
until the following day.
"You owe John Herrick some
thing. He's been good friend to
you, and he mustn't feel left"
In view of all that had happened,
l could not protest: but l could not
help thinking that Herrick could
hardly "feel left" if paid my lady
visit before returning to Raven to
spend the evening with him. Still,
if Old Harry was willful, l owed
her caprice so much that if she had
seen fit to direct that the Countess
and / should not meet for another
ten days, must have honored her
precept without word
So l took my leave and entered
the Rolls once more and, driving
leisurely came to Raven at six.
AS we stole between the two chest
nuts and on to the apron beyond,
l saw that Brenda was standing at
the foot of the steps. She must
have seen the car coming, along
The road of approach.
l brought the Rolls to her side
and put out my hand.
"Well, Brenda" said, chow are
you? You see, I've come back
She took my hand in both hers.
II am so glad to see you," she
said. "Your room is all ready, of
course. Mr.. Herrick is not back