Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-02
CHAPTER xv.-EUsTAcE CoNsULTs A LAW.
YER.

Augusta was leaning against the marble
mantelpiece-indeed, one Of her arms was
resting upon il, for she wal a tall woman.
Perhaps she, too, felt that there was some
thing in the air: at any rae, she turned
away her head and began to play with o
bronze japanese lobster which adorned
the mantelpiece.
Now for it, said Eustace TO himself,
drawing a long breath, 10 try and steady
the violent pulsation Of his heart.
Il don't know what to say to you, Miss
Smithers," he began
Best say nothing more about it," she
put IN quickly. Il did ii, and / am glad
that / did il. What do a few marks mat.
ter If a great wrong is prevented thereby'
l am not ever likely TO have to go to court.
Besides, Mr.. Meeson, there is another
thing: II was through me that you lost
your inheritance; IL is only right that ]
should try 10 be the means of bringing il
back 20 you"
she dropped her head again, and once
more bsgAn to play with the bronze lob
ster, holding her arm in such a fashion
that Eustace could not see her face. But
IL he could not see her face she could see
his in the glass, and narrowly observed its
every change, which, IN the whole, though
natural, was rather mean Of her.
Poor Eustace grew pale and paler yet,
till his handsome countenance became
positively CHASTITY. 1t is wonderful how
frightened young men are the first time
thar they propose. II wears of afterward
with practice one gets accustomed to
anything.
Miss Smithers-Augusta," he gasped,
II want to say something to you." and he
stopped dead.
Eyes, Mr.. Meeson," she answered cheer
fully, what is ityn
II want to tell you" and again he hes
ita;ed.
What you are going TO do about the
winf" suggested Augusta
Mono: nothing about the will-please
don't laugh at me and put me oiI9:'
She looked up innocently-as much as
TO say that she never dreamed OF doing
either Of these things. She had a lovely
face, and the glance of the gray eyes quite
broke down the barrier Of his fears.
''Oh, Augusta, Augusta, he said, don't
you understand love you'll love you!
No woman was ever loved before as / love
you. / fell in love with you the very first
time / saw you in the Office at Nelson's,
when / had the row with my uncle about
yon; and ever since then l have got deeper
and deeper in love with you. When !
thought you were drowned it nearly broke
my heart, and often and often l wi he'd
that ] were dead, too"
IL was Augustus turn to be disturbed
now. for, though a lady's composure viii
stand her in good stead up to the very
verge OF an affair OF this sort, IL generally
breaks down In medias res. Anyhow. she
certainly dropped her eyes and solored to
her hair, while her breast began to heave
unanimously.
..Do you know. Mr.. Meeson." she said
at last, without daring to look up at HIS
imploriug face, ''thaf this Is only the fourth
time that we have seen a other. inciud-
ing Yesterday"
"Yes. I know, /" he said; sbut don't re-
fuse me on that account; you q zee me
a. often Is you hke"-tthis was generous
Of Master Eustacel-'and really I know
you better than you think should think
that ! have rcd each Of your books twenty
ttmea."
This was . happy stroke. for. however
M from vanity . person may Be. u y -