Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-10-26

Dolly brought Rupert to the house in
he search for Dia !, who was waiting
n the cool, dim jasmine-scented draw
ng-room, pale aud quiet and cold.
A perfect glory of moonlight flood
ID the long veranda which gave grace
the plain, roomy cottage where IA
widowed mother had reared her two
ovely daughters-daughters whom to-
morrow she was to lose, as mothers
.ose girls whom they give to men in
marriage. Perhaps Mrs. Davenport
felt that she did not so much lose her
daughters rs gain two sons; for she
seemed well content as she nuttercd |
about from DON to room, tired yet
smiling, putting the finishing touches
to preparations which had kept the
quiet old home busy for many = day.
There were n dozen merry young
people promenadting the garden, in
the white glory of the night-brides-
maids and best men, rs well as the two
pairs of lovers-Dolly clinging lightly
to the strong arm of Rupert Leslie, and
Diana pacing side by side with the
man she had promised to marry-a
sutton who had fallen in love with
Dolly first, but, on being refused by
her, had turned to the elder sister, APP
parently as well satisiicl-a widower
fifty years of age. of courtly
and refined habits.
He vas not q bad match for Diana,
her friends said; she was so quiet; the
great difference in their age would not
be so observablc; and really, after the
way Rupert Leslie Tilted her for her
sister, it must be quiet Il triumph for
her to make such a match before his
eyes.
Oh, YES. it must be a great triumph!
Doubtless Diana felt it so, rs che
walked proudly and calmly by Mr..
Burleigh's side, her fair face fairers still
in the brooding whiteness Of the
moon, her beautiful eyes lifted to the
shining heaven with a strange look in
them.
To many she seemed lovelier than
her more blooming sister-a lily purer
and more gracious than any rose. As
they passed and repassed each other in
the moonlight, Rupert's eyes were al
ways lifted from the piquant face OF
his wv partner and fixed with troubled
scrutiny on that other quieter face, out
his anxious look was never returned.
81 declare, Rupert" pouted his
bride-elect, you seem TO be walking
in your sleep. If you are going to be
silent and stupid, I'll steal Diana's
companion and let her have you! Come.
Mr.. Burleigh, let us run away and
hide"
Dropping Rupert's arm she ran up to
the other couple, with that pretty,
sparkling, half-defiant way of hers.
Dolly could say all sorts of things
with safety; people only smiled at her
folly as ut that Of Il pretty child; but
Rupert's face flushed dark as she
dragged the elderly tiance away from
his betrothed.
Turn about is fair play" he said.
soberly. Diana, will you take my
armp'
She would not refuse it. though he
observed her hesitate. In n minute
they were walking along the g"ravelled
drive. on into the frost-kissed garden, |
along the winding paths shining in the
moonlight. Finally, in that very
arbor where he had met and kissed
Dolly, Rupert suddenly stopped ana
threw at his companion a look that
her pale cheeks even paler. A
cry of anguish, long stifled, uncon-
t%rolable, burst from him in a few
desperate words:
'Diana, why have you treated me
SOP | came back to you, after five
years toll for us both, faithful, loving,
ardent, eager-and you froze me with
a look. In one cruel moment you al
me to see that your love for me
was dead. 1t is late to speak to YOU
now, but must ask you why you treat
ed me so cruelly?
1T is late, as you say; and you seem
to have easily comforted yourself"
"Ah, now YOU are bitter! World
you like it better if you had crushed all
life and hope out of me? You tried
hard enough! Little Dolly liked me
and was sorry for me. / was grateful
to her-I shall try to make her happy;
but there will only be one love for me
in this world, Diana"
Rupert"
The passionate ring of pain in her
thrilled him with wonder.
"Diana.n
at is Observation-Disclosures,
you to say this to me now! Rupert.
| was within hearing of your every word
when you came back that day, met nv
sister on this very spot, mistook her for
me, kissed her for me-and the n
loved her for herself"
LAS heaycn is over us. Diana, You do
me strange injustice. | did mistake
Dolly for you and l admired her be-
she was like you. In my heart
| laughed at her girlish vanity and
condemned her se%ltishness; in five min
ntes ! saw that her soul was not like
her body, the image of yours; when |
found you, at last, my very heart
melted in speechIess love at the sight
II the grave, noble. beautiful girl whom
| thought my own; you know how you
me. Dlana-how you shranS
from me! 1t seems so strange to me
you, of all women, should be cold
aud worldly-for it is his money alone
which you must be marrying this
other man."
He stood aud looked at her as IL try
ing to understand aud read the beauti-
ful woman who had bafflcd him.
He looked haggard in the moonlight
--unntterbly sad and hopeless.
Her dark blue eyes searched his for