Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-04-14

fF' 'f ~ 'f,F
do we find wide circles of friends linked
together IL this way. | thought that
MISS LIacelles was greatly pleased with
the discovery OF the distant relationship
existing between IFS; we seemed less re-
mote from each other.
During or absence Mis- iascelles had
devoted herself entirely to IAN tioeck:
her sympathy had a remarkable effect
llpoa this strange man. When | took
him up 10 his oom to dress for dinner.
hc asked ne 10 open the windows. and
place him whore lac m'ght feel the air.
he sat lciore the open window: the set
ting sun was rejected upon his slghtless
eyes ! believe hc became unconscious
of my presence. and | stood there watch
ing the play Of his features. liisnostriis
dilated. his brows creased together, his
lips parted. showing lis teeth closely
set. the whoic expression Of bis face in
dicatlng extreme drcai:thcn the muscles
relaxed. for a moment hi, Caaaverous
checks were tingc1 with color. the eyes
closed, and the lips .remlled rs il in &C.
stacy. Again his hos rose, and the look
of dread returned to his face. He&hrInk
back in III, chair, and hlinkci his eyes as
though STRUGGLING to give them light:
then suddenly he flung out his arms
wildly, ANA with n Smothcrei cry of inn
potent rage. buried his face IN his hands.
his long. thin fingers pressing the throb-
hiug veins which stood out knottcd and
hard upon his temples.
What is the matter. old man. ] ask
cd, putting my hand on his shoulder.
He started, and answered impatientlv.
"Nothing. nothing-a drea,n!" And
then he asked savarely--''Who watches
YOU in the night
This is not the night | replied. fan
ewing he was yet but half awake.
Isn't it, he asked, turning his eyes
from one side to the other; then stretch
ing out his hands, as if to heaven, he
~cried-"Then what is the night
Poor wretch, all was indeed night to
him. tried to engage him in conversa-
ton, but he waved his hand impatientiy.
and. getting up, felt his way TO the wash
stand.
"Go down." Ne said; Miss Lascelles is
more pleasing to the eve than | am; she
must be beautiful, for her voice i, music.
her touch is like the petal of a rose.
Where do you keep the diamonds it
safer"
told him that now kept it in a belt
buckled to my waist.
Elldp IL W your WIisl dEtlU. ~ II
safer" he said: and then. bending his
head aside, he listened attentivcly for a
moment and continued. in "A lower voice:
They are talking together down there.
Creep down and listen. | tell YOU we
are not safe herc-I see that through my
blindness. ] have faculties in place OF
that | have lost. Do you hear them?
Come closer, Thorne; there is n conspir-
ncu IL, fhiS hnl1cn--o nlnt fN rn1, !, pf ..ir
treasure, and TURF us beggars again upon
the street. If | could trust You, I'd tell
you more. But everyone il a thief who
has the power to steal
1t was not the first time | had heard
him talk in this vein. At Natal. on the
slip. he had been III constant dread of
being robbed. | was glad to get away
from him. AS | passed the head of the
stairs in going 10 my room, ! distinguish
cd the sound-too distant before to tell
upon my dull ear-of Sir Edmunds voice
and She Judges: they were in the library
below. After dressing. l joined them.
and found Sir Edmund greatly interested
IN Braces description of cold-min,ng III
California-a subject upon which he
could be eloquent by the hour together.
On the 18th. sir Edmund, Miss Las
cellcs and ! rode over to Southampton.
Miss LasCelles was III her gaycst, happi-
est mood. and in her riding-habit looked
more charming than ever.
In returning we met a friend of Sir
Edmunds; hc accepted the invitation to
take lunch at the abbey, and rode beside
the baronct, ahead Of us. We two took
the hill 50 slowly that, coming 10 the
crossroads, we could no. SEQ Sir Edmund
and his friend. There were two ways TO
the abbey. After a little Gciit~ration.
Miss Lascclies laughinQiy consented To
take the longer one.
The morning was superb: the woods
were glorious. The rich. warm iints OF
the ~rcddening foliage We're reflected on
my beautiful companions cheek: her
eyes seemed 10 catch the glitter Of the
dew that still hunG on the gossamers. !
forgot what we talked about. hut she
was full Of mirth, and now and then the
still WOODS rang with the musical CO
dence of her laugh. But suddenly the
smile died from her face, and she said;
I'VE forgot poor little Lola"
And then. as ii the words had Injured
mp her presence, the girl appeared, swift
~ speeding between the rod Loles Of the
tir-trees. We stopped, and / caiied:
Lola, dear. come and speak 10 me-
She stood still. and looked as if irrcsO-
lutte whether or not to respond to my ap-
peal.
Il will stay here. Go to her. SAID
Miss LaScelles. softly.
But, q, if She had OWNED my intcY-
ton, Lola shook her head m~Ournfuliy. as
She had done before. and going her way
was presently hid by the tail brake. As
we crossed Che opening whore we had
previously seen her. | looked back, and
perceived her standing III the same place
gazing after us. 1t was easy to conceive
her misery, and the bitter feelings of her
heart. She was unaltcrel, bat | was no
longer tho rough t0ilcr grateful FOR IL tir
Of watc" fetched from the stream. All
that wa passed. VAS no longer her
companion. ! should never, never more
share her hard fare, and look to her to
lessen the hardships Of existence.
On the 18th. we went again into tho
woods, but on foot, Miss La5celles and l..
straying thithcr without purpose from
the garden, where we met. We came to
a stream bridged by o single plank sup
ported in tine middle. There had been a
hand-rail. but il had fallen away in de-
cay. ] gave her my hand, the fear OF
falling made her clasp my fingers tight
~. She seemed to enjoy the little dan
GER: it animated her face and eyes with
the prcttiest, most b~ewitchinG expression
Imaginable. Her hand seemed to COM
municate the quickened pulsation of her