Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-24
SUSY'S SWEETHEART.

oaiu ul4ptft AITlilage slowly. II nave
scarcely seen you fora week and between
rides, picnics, dressing and parties I
might as well not be engaged to you.
Then Morse birmingham is always hang
ing around"
You don't mean to say you are jeal-
pouted Susie Miner. I'm getting
tired Of being scolded just because Z
choose to look at a young man. I'm
tired of this engagement"
de bit his lips at the carelessly uttered
words
do you mean to say you want to be
released. Susy?"
Il really do" A little frightened and
yet half pleased she had dared to tell
him.
Then you are free"
He turned abruptly on his heel and left
her.
Let him GO" she cried aloud, with u
merry fiirt of the sandal wood fan that
she held. There are plenty of others,
and l am pretty enough to win % new
swain every day in the year If / choose.
Morse birmingham is not SO handsome or
intelligent as Gilbert, but he is rich, and
| always thought l should like to be a rich
mans wife. So goodby, sweetheart.
g~oodby."
Ana Susy gayly waved her handker-
chief toward the door through which Ter
swain had disappeared, and went into the
house chanting a merry little aria.
You are in spirits, Susanna" saiG
Aunt Margaretta, who was dressing for
dinner.
80 l am" said Susy, combining the
masses Of hair that fell in a shower OF
cleaning, rippled gold down her back.
I've Just dismissed a lover"
Gilbert Armitage?'
Yes"
Il am glad to hear it," said Aunt Mar
garetta. Young Armitage was very
well, but he's not as rich as some of the
young men here, and you are pretty
enough, Susy, to do as you please"
"Of course, ! shall do as | please" said
Susy.
The sur was just dipping, like ball of
molten gold, in the ocean that evening as
Susy Miller came out in a superb riding
aablt of blue cloth and a tiny plumed hat.
while in her hand she held q coral handled
whip.
Two horses were led around TO the door
by a groom at the same monochrome
white, with gray name and tail and tails
other a glittering bay, with an arched
neck and slender limbs.
Gilbert Armitage, who was pacing up
and down the esplanade with a cigar in
his mouth, stopped.
you are not going to ride Brown
Susy?'
Yes, l am. Mr.. birmingham says
as safe as a kitten"
Safe! She's wicked and skittish both,
to my certain knowledge"
Let me persuade you to alter your
he cried out in the intensity
Of his earnes;ncss.
Susy Miner drew back slightly.
you have no longera any right to speak
thus TO me, Mr.. Armitage."
II speak TO you simply as would
speak to my sister, my mother or any
other lady whom ] beheld rushing head
long into danger"
At that moment Morse birmingham
out, all apologies for having kept
Miss Miner waiting even a second. Gil
bert Armitage drew back, but a panied
look came over his face as he saw Susy
spring lightly to the saddle On Brown
Diana's back.
Aunt Margaretta was standing at her
window, which overlooked the esplanade
and the ocean, Just at dusk, when there
w Us - ilttiS ~" NV IiSt'tApil pS'oV
Something has happened" said Aunt
to herself. Il wonder what
Oh, my God! They are bringing a limp,
figure up from the beach-and il
Is our Susyr'
"Our Susy!' it was. Brown Diana,
las safe as a kitten by Mr..
birmingham, had taken iri-.. at a load
OF barrels in the twilight ami thrown her
Susy Miner had Deen picked up
.lifeless and bruised, on a pile Of rocks
that skirted the road, and now lay be-
tween life and death, a broad cash across
forehead, nearly all her front teeth
knocked out and an arm broken!
Poor Susy! If only she had followed
Gilbert Armitage's advice that last timel
do let me have the looking glass,
Aunt Margarettal ! will have it, / say2
Please, Aunt Margarettar'
And the old dswager, not without
many misgiyings, gave the little hand
mirror 10 her niece, as she cat up among
the pillows.
False hair, false teeth, a zigzag C
across her forehead, and the palOr of n
long, burning fever replacing the bloom
of former days. Susy Miner shuddered.
OH she sobbed, IS the mirror
dropped from her hands. II hate my
elf"
"Susy! Susy! don't talk sor' broke
out the quivering voice of Gilbert Armit-
age, who was being admitted for the first
time by Mrs. Miner. "Only give me
the right to comfort and cherish you.
Only say, Susy, that you will be mine"
ooh, Gilbert you really cannot love "a
disfigured creature such as ] am"
He stood reverently by her bedside,
looking down on her pale, hollow eyed
face.
Il used to think l loved you in old
times, Susy," he said, "but / know now
that l never loved you half so much as Z
do at this instant. Darling, you are my
Susy still!'
She was, in very truth. his Susy. The
beautiful Queen Of Hearts was dead anG
buried in the sunset Of that August day
but the loving, tender sOulod woman
lived still. And IN her wifely troth Gil
bert Armitage was content.
- -
His Last Joke.
The Daily Reporter at Petoskey, edited
by a person named Hampton, closed the
season this morning Hampton had not