Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-12-22

sneen Of the sill very moonlight. lover.
like. he imagined her rare eyes bcaming
! upon him.
When Christmas time drew nigh. il
was with "A heart filed with reasonable
timidity. yet eager TO drink The sweets
OF the anticipated greeting. that Bruno
prepared TO return TO his home III the
sunny South to meet her-his promised
bride.
Now, all the sweetness OF his usually
happy disposition turns to bitterest gall;
all the gentler impulses of his ardent ma
ture vanish, leaving him a man grown
old IN an instant-a hot tempestuous be-
ing.
Clara had written him abou. the fair.
haired stranger from the North. who
was teaching school in the adjacent
town. Bruno had given him no further
thought-untH nog. Now when he be-
holds the one fair woman of the world
EMBODIED in the caressing embrace Of tho
stranger. the scales fall from his eyes.
and he understands all. He curses the
day he was ever born; he curses man,
woman. himself, and in his blind. i'm
GoNNhh q VI NV hhECl, liz 1sSI ups
curses upon his Maker.
Back through the cherries woodland
path he travels toward his home. How
like ghosts OF dead departed hopes. the
grim shadows falling athwart his way
seem. The weird creaking OF the trees
in the dismal forest sound like anthems
sung by goblin lips, joyous over the
downfall of one mans sky of sweetest
Joy. Drear, cold and monotonous the
landscape lying beyond the trees appear.
As he passes on with rapid steps, his
mind revolves a purpose black as black
est hell--a purpose which threatens to
Undue his hands with the life blood OF
q fellow man, and brand deep into the
innermost part of his soul the crimson
stain Of the murderous Cain.
Away all whispering Of conscience!
To the winds oil We holier emotions Of
mercy! Depart good angel. and cover
your Borrowing face with n mantel OF
shame. Leave this "A Bruno Arnot,
once the very soul and honor of Vir-
ginia's courageousness-a murderer at
heart.
Back through the shadows q 1end in
human form glides. Scurrying past
ghost.like trees this man, pursued by the
ihdHlOll vi DIpOu, ldhtS ulS NIllIoIN why.
On. on, and yet on. he hurries. And
then, standing there in the shadows Of
a wide-spreading evergreen he again
gazes upon the hateful vision which
sends the iron Of venom deeper into his
heart.
Fools yet in arms together! Well,
let them draw the last solacc OF sweet
ness. 1t stat be their last; | swear i'll
NJ L., .0,,, ~, 49, l,.rn. ,,.@., H..
| deemed mine alone. lie clasps her
closer. His hand toys with her fair
~trcsses. and-God! again he kisses her
upturned lips. Cease. cease, poor fools!
| can no longer stand this torture. Cease
or strike you both, one heart through
the other. All! the farewell kiss, the
last good night, and-an eternal fare
well between you both
The very passion Of Infatuated rage
held this man in its iron grasp. His
teeth cleaned from under his black
moustachc like the ivory fangs OF the
tiger; his hands were outstretched, the
fingers curved like the claws OF feline
creatures; his attitude. crouching. bent
forward was leopard-like.
One parting caress, one last kiss, and
the fair-haired lover babe his lady-love
goodnight. He turns upon his heel,
runs down the steps lightly, and plunges
into the woodland path.
His heart, SO full Of divine bliss, dulls
his sense Of hearing; for, he is not aware
of the cat like tread which draws nearer.
To him, this fair-haired favored one.
there is nothing Of despair, sorrow and
dJeariness associated with the fitting
shadows. His love charms all things
about him to his vision. The signing
of the wind among the tree-tops are not
dirges of lost hopes,-no; they are peans
Of sweetest Joy. On, on he goes. and
the avenger Of outraged love draws
nearer and nearer. The moon sails be-
hind a thick. black cloud. and all is
dark. Then, through the gloom is
launched a panther-l like form. Down,