Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-09-15
FRUSTRATED VENGEANCE.

Robbed me, has shep We will see
who laughs last in this game of hearts.
This may be your day, Martha Con-
verse; moro will be NINE
The only person who heard these
words was a young girl of eighteen,
one of the occupants of a lady's bou-
doir in a certain mansion which but a
few years ago was the pride Of the IA
nous bluegrass region Of Kentucky.
Estcllc Hammond and Margic Storms
were friends, ana Margic was the young
girl mentioned above.
Estellc carried of the palm as the
beauty of the neighborhood.
She was beautiful, and TO her youth
full companion and coniidant she had
never appeared SO dazzling as now.
when she stood in front of the sweep
inc mirror of her boudoir, with hands
clenched and eyes flashing ire as her
mad words dropped from her lips.
Colonel Hammond was everywhere
known and famed for his riches. hos
p"iialitv. and-his beautiful but spoiled
child, Estclle.
don't forget it. Marcic," Estelle
went on. ''To-morrow viii be my day.
Martha Converse. without n trace OF
beauty TO make him love you. ! wish |
held Your hopes IN the hollow Of my
hand. I'd like to crush them!'
you will not strike openly, Es-
teller ventured the ~confidante.
why not? | Am mad enough 10 do
it. You know, Margie, that | love at
last. have played with hearts long
enough. worship Carylon Morgan.
| would give my hopes of eternal bliss
TO stand beside him at the altar. When
YOU love as ! do, Margic, you will
know what passion is. But the woman
who has stepped between me and the
altar-this Converse girl-she has rob
bed me of Carylon Morgan; but she
shall not keep the prize. | could take
my riding-whip, 90 10 her house across
the fields, and cut her face TO shreds!'
Margie Storms cssayed a smile.
Didn't he submit TO the robbery?n
Eyes; and that's what makes me
hate him!' flashed Estelle. WAT till
| see him. If there be no hope for me
I'll create Il sensation in the bluegrass
country"
Estelle Hammond's words passed
from Margie's mind ere the night wore
away, and she did not recall them when
she saw the queenly woman in the CEN
tire Of an admiring throng of men and
women, who filled the splendid Ham
mond mansion on the anniversary o!
the Colonel's birthday.
The wealth, beauty, and ~gallantry of
the bluegrass region were there, and
the delighted guests were already
prophcsving that the occasion had new
or been surpassed by anything OF he
kind in the country.
The woman SO cordially hated Dy Es-
telle. however, was not there.
Not one of the elegant satin invita-
tons had penetrated Martha Converse's
home .'across the fields"
Rufus Converse, her father. occupied
n few acres of the Hammond estate.
and she had not reached, in Estelle's
estimation. that round Of the social
ladder which entitled her TO become
one of the favored guests.
Estelie did not know that on his way
TO her house that very night Carylon
Morgan had stopped ut the Converse
home 10 chat a few moments with Mar
tina, and TO depart with q laugh and a
promise TO give her IN his way back a
full account of the ''doings' AZ the
Hammond mansion.
Martha Converse, gentle, though not
beautiful, had won the young mans
heart, which Estelle, with al the arts
of a dazzling beauty, had assaulted in
vain.
This discovery-accidental. ont the
more startling for that matter-had
maddcned the woman who had loved
and worshiped in vain, and, ready to
commit any rash deed that would break
Martha's triumph, she watched Cary
Ion Morgan, as he moved hitier and
thither among her fathers guests.
AT last he approached her when She
was alone.
There was n smile on his face.
Il am here for your congratulations,
Estelle," he said. Il have been caught
at last, rs you women say"
Estelle gave him a look which told
that his words were an arrow that had
gone home.
She could not speak, but stood be-
fore him in the soft moonlight with
clcnched hands, whose white nails
bruised her creamy palms.
She knew what was coming; he vas
going TO Martha Conversc's
victory.
And to her Estelle!
Yes. caught ut last" he continued,
taking 30 note Of the volcano which
was rending her heart. Need | tell
yo1 who hoe onn.nra} n,np1
'No"' almost Kissed Estelle. Il
know. Il is Miss Converse, my fathers
tenant. Carylon. | DO congratulate
YOU" she forced the words from her
heart. I'VE bellies viii envy Miss Con-