Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-02-27

may no ACCOMPLISHED UCIOI0 VIC ADpo6I
in the world"
80, George, dear!" he laughed, his
white teeth glistening under the brown
muStache, 'you are not changed in
the very smallest particular in all
these years"
THAT is-right," she answered, a
faint shadow falling over her bright
face. sis Lena changed very much,
thenp"
He took her little face in his hands
caressingly, but he seemed to find no
words to answer.
"You knew me so soon," whispered
Lena, that 1 think my face must be
as unchanged as my heart. George"
Il am transgressing again." he
said, with a sudden change in his
voice. II really will carve properly
now, Georgia."
What a tea it was! How Georgie's
jokes died off in a loving earnestness
which she could not suppress! How
usy she pretended tc be when George
bnd Lena seemed to be forgetting her
How pretty Lena was. all bushes and
smiles. as she looked up into the manly
face beside her, while George, with
little words and deeds of care and ten
derness, made the meal SO bright and
long a one; and how, at last, they
drew round the cheerful fire, and be-
gan a long, long talk, so broken into
though, and interrupted, that even it
was hard to get at the plain facts of
Georges return. But when George,
with great seriousness, made him as
circumstartial as possible under the
circumstances, she got him AT last to
tell it thus, minus the eve%r-recarring
ordinations Of joy and happiness:
II was quite settled in the life out
there. was trying to feel it might be
made useful in it's loneliness. and try
ing not to think of what might have
been. my darling, when, one day, my
colonel came to me, and by some
means, which l never quite under
stood. being bewildered as soon as
ever the subject was mentioned. gave
me leave and commissions for Eng
land, persuading me to 90 at once |
never shall know how It came about.
but l know when once the idea was in
ray head. hope swept away all resolu-
tons and all barriers. We had a long
talk. for the colonel is very kind to
me-"
perhaps you worked there as you
used to work herep" interrupted Geor-
gle.
II did very little" he answered al
most sadly. 1--WE had a talk, l say,
which ended in my taking passage at
once, with n letter in my pocket for a
nephew of his, who met the vessel at
the pier. OF course, l did not know
him, but he seemed to recognize me
(from his uncle's description, l sup
pose), and he invited me TO join him. |
think he fancied | had no friends TO 90
to-guessed it from the lonely look of
me-and We went together. l had
given him the letter, of course, before.
Then we talked of his uncle and Of
Calcutta; but l am afraid l was rather
a dull companion, for little thought
what was awaiting me. Then, to
amuse me, evidently. he began talking
in . desultory way of his approaching
departure for India, and of how he
had been home, spending his last
month. Before that, he said, he had
been trying some of our Welsh water
Observation-Disclosures was crowded
and therefore Objectionable; Llandudno
which was full of invalids; and Nawr,
which he had enjoyed very much, and
where lie had met a few very pleasant
people; some. he particularly remem-
bered, he said-two sisters called Gul-
burn 60 my darling! how fast my
beart beat them, WHO were charming;
but rather down.hearted, he thought,
in mourning for their father. and with
no n to protect them. He had heard,
he said. that n was engaged; but he
did not believe it, because if it were so,
they would not, surely. be left to 60
about alone at least, they ought not
to be-two such pretty, unprotected
girls. Lena, a you fancy what I felt
thenp / looked to see what l might
tell him, and felt instinctively he was
to be trusted, in spite of his light, Jest
ing way. told him that 1 knew you.
and was coming to seek you, first of
all. ! felt l had no right to tell him
more until l had seen you, and l
am glad | told him, for he advised me
so kindly, so thoughtfully, and l came
out at once to find my happiness"
"What a strange thing. Georgie!"
said Lena. 'It must be Captain Give;
but how could he know so much about
US, and how could he tell it to a
strangerP"
"You would not question the wis.
dom of that nowp" said George in q
rather unnatural voice. as she looked
up from her sister to George.
"Oh! no. Am only thankful for
t." answered Lena, laying her hand
on Georges shoulder; ''but it is
strange, is it notp"
Darling, l shall always look upon
him as my truest friend" said George
with a LOVING smile down into the blue
eyes.
81 think" said George, very low.
''that we can scarcely know what 8
friend he is, and has been. He is not
one to tell these things for no cause"
you knew him we'll, then7"
"No." answered George, bending
10 stir the fire; "but we did know him
very we'll. He has gone now"
What a change four days of perfect
happiness had made in Lena Golburn!
Miss Purke rema. ked it. and even
reused herself to remark it to her
sister. Miss Matte remarked it. and
r%ejoioed q'iet!y in the fact. Dinsh