Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-17
DOUBLE!
SIN fact there never was, since the
world was first peopled,-

nor ever will be one to equal this
paragon that YOU'VE discovered! Eth,
old fellow!--is that what you want to
convince me OPP
"Ah, cynic that you are! If you
could only see her
with your eyes you mean. But
then, YOU see, | can't, and the conse-
Quenoc is that am fancy-free-as far US
this particular she is concerned-while
you.p poor old fellow'-you, i very much
fear"
.What?"
.Must be-in love" And Mark Dyn-
son shook his head with mock gravity.
.'I'm afraid j am, Godfrey answer
cd with n boyish flush; ''but if she
hadn't been the dearest girl in the world
! should never have cared for her"
"Of course not. But did it ever strike
YOU that if you hadn't cared for her,
she wouldn't have been the dearest girl
in the worldp Get thee behind me
Godfrey! / wouldn't trust the sweetest
woman that ever drew n breath; in
fact" he concluded positively, ''she's
the last one | would trust"
you're a rabid old cynic, Mark!'
Godfrey said warmly. You never met
a woman like Beryl Fawcett. I'd stake
my life upon her worth"
Rash man! If your happiness were
not involved, Geoif, I'd take a grim
satisfaction in proving your fault"
Never mind me-" said Godfrey,
eagerly. II will abide by the result of
any test you can make. Beryl is a girl
in q thousand"
my dear Geoff," said Mark, appeal
ingly, ''spare me! If you are satisfied,
/ suppose il is all right. / am glad of
anything that makes you happy, but |
don't want the best friend / have to
wreck his life on the shoals of matrimo-
n.y."
Il won't" said Godfrey confidently.
And then he caught a glimpse of n
pretty petite figure, in creamy batiste,
across the Ftreet under the rosy shade
of a pink parasol.
Mark Dynson looked round and
found himself alone. Godfrey had
dashed over the way, and his blue-rib-
boncd hat had already disappeared
under the same pink canopy.
There they go!' said Mark, with fine
scorn.
He saw no more of Geoffrcy that day
or the next. The following morning he
went down on the beach and pitched
his tent, which consisted of Il gay bit
of canvas IN the shape of a canopy
mounted on a jointed pole.
This contrivance could be put up in n
few minutes, by means Of pegs and
cords, which Mark carried in his pocket,
and it could be folded up into very
small compass.
Under it he loved to lie on the soft
sand, with his pipe and a book, watch
ing the tide come in.
The morning was n perfect one.
Mark was lying with his head pillowed
on the sand, gazing dreamily out To sea,
when an object suddenly loomed up
against his horizon.
1t was q girl, IN n batiste gown,
frightened with cherry bows. Mark
knew it instantly.
Miss Fawcett," he mutterDd, with n
keen glance at the brunette face under
the red parasol. .'She is Younger
than | thought. Can it be possible that
Geoff is really in love with that little
chit?"
The little chit was walking along
with n languid step, her face flushed
with the heat.
She looked about her; her eyes rested
for "a moment, with longing. on the
canopy. and then she dropped down on
the sand q few feet away
A low, lluttering sigh escaped her,
and she unfmled Il large fan which she
swayed very slowly. What tiny feet
and hands she had! What n baby she
was anyhow, with that fluff of dense
black hair about her pretty brown face,
with its glorious angel eyes and car
mine coloring. Her cheeks were
round and dimpled, and her lips had
a childish droop that was quite capt.
waiting.
1T is awfully warm out here. isn't
itP' she said, turning to Mark, in the
most naive manner conceivable.
He jumped as though he'd been shot.
"lcs," he stammered, taking his pipe
out of his mouth; Its awiully hot!
Would you-would you like to sit under
the awning? You'll find it much cool
.er."
Thank YOU" she said, accepting at
once; Il hoped you'd ask me. | saw
this tent out here, and / thought it
would be awfully jolly under it, SO l
came"
Mark stared.
LET me make a sand pillow for YOU"
he said, when he rose to the occasion.
And straightway he went to pill. up
the sand.
"Oh, thank your she said, leaning
back with n radiant look; that's love-
ly. Do you come out here every day?'
Nearly every day." he assented.
And then he began to study the sweet
baby face, with its perfectly unconscious
air of sang troid. He had never seen
anything like it. Good heavens! Was
this the sort of girl his friend was going
TO marry? \ girl who would make up
with strange men and embark on tete-a-
tetes in such n lonely spot as that!
What are you reading?" she said,
touching the y~ellow-covered book he
held: "'Sdrtor ReSaytus.' Dear me.
How awfully stupid it must be! have
been reading the sweetest book you ever
saw. I'll lend it to you if you like.
1t is called Angelina de Berangcr.'
Angelina was engaged to three men ut
once, and she lived in n Queen Anne
house, and oh! she had such lovely
clothes! A pink satin, all embroidered
with pearls. and n lavender velvet
morning gown, and a w~hite-and-gold