Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-05-18

Slowly he opened his silver inkstand,
and drew his pen through her name
"hatrinc ismay C~arlsVood."
Oae by ore the letters disappeared be-
Meath his heavy stroke, and when they
had ali disappeared it seemed to him that
his daughter lay dead. In silence more
bitter than the silence Of death he laid his
face down on the obliterated words.
Presently he arose and closed the record,
drawing his stately figure to its full
height.
II have mourned my dead,' he said to
himself; now it remains for me to forget"
And forget, TO all outward appearance,
he ana. lie called the butler, who, from
having been SO long with him, was raised
to the dignity of a confidential friend.
"fou know Mrs. Cameron's handwrit-
ing, he said. "Be good enough for the
future To look over all letters before | see
them; ana, if there are any from her, de-
stroy them"
Aud after that time Lord Carlswood
lived rs though he had no daughter. Only
the butler knew how many heart broken
letters came to Bralyn, how many pathetic
appeals, how many cries for help. Even
IL Lord Carlswood had known, ii would
have made no dilTerence-hc would rather
have d.cd than have yielded.
80 time passed on, and the name Of tho
Young girl who had been the pride of his
race was never even heard; al trace Of her
had disappeared, and the servants had
ceased, even in whispers, to refer to her.
Lord Carlswood grew prouder than ever.
Il have three sous,' he would saw TO
himself, land they VIII do honor to my
name"
People said atterward that he was Justly
punished for his pride. The three young
men Were all strong, healthy, and likely
TO 1--we to a good Old age; but, by "a strange
chapter OF accidents. he lost them. The
Two eldest, who were passionately fond OF
yachting. were both lost in n terrible
Storm-they with all on board their yacht.
Lore Carl,wood had often expressed his
dislike of the amusement.
Men who have TO carry or the name of
q great race" he would say to them,
should not willfully endanger their
lives"
They laughed at his fears; and one bright
summer il was arranged that they should
90 To the Mediterranean. Lord Carlswood
opposed the plan, but in the end he con-
scented. They touched at most OF the
famous towns on the Italian coast. Ono
morning they were aoout TO set sail, when
an Italian sailor warned them against do
ing SO.
There will be q white squat before the
day is over he said. but they, Lord Carls-
woods sons, laughed at his fears.
eve Will risk it," they said.
The sun was shining on the sea, and the
white cloud in the distance was as "a
mans hand" They set sail in despite Of
all advice and warning; they had not been
long at sen before the sluall In its widest
fury broke over them. From the shore
the boat was seen TO founder, and desper-
ate efforts were made to save the Inflated
men, but all in vain. On the day after
ward, when the sun shone warm and
bright. and the angry sea had subsidized,
the body Of Lord Carlswood's eldest SON
was washed ashore, but the other was
never found.
Those who knew Lord Csrlswood spoke
of the terrible change that had come over
him: long years of care and toll could not
have aged him rs his sorrow did; his hair
grew white, his stately figure dropped, his
hands trembied.
Anew months past, and his anxiety
about his only son was almost pitiful 10
witness. lie could not endure him out of
his presence-he could not rest one minute
away from him. lie WAS so n%ervously APP
prehensive that by his cautions he made
the boys life miserable.
Remember you are the last of the Carts
woods" he would say 10 him; our name,
our race, all depends on you"
But, when the fiat has gone forth, who
shall arrest it-what human hand shall
stay its course? The last OF the Carls-
woods fell i'll of a dangerous fever. There
were many who said that his fathers ex-
oessive care helped to kill him-that he
had too many doctors. Too many nurses
that he employed too many remedies.
But be the cause what il might, the result
was that, after all his care, his almost
frantic efforts, the boy died, and in his old
age Lord Carlswood was left alone.
For long hours after the boys death he
sat as one stunned and bewildered--he
could not realize the blow. Only q short
time since, as it seemed to him, wife and
children were all around him. Death had
swept them wav and he was alone.
When they reused him at last, lie stood mp
and looked around him. He bowed his
head, white now will sorrow.
"The hand OF Heaven lies heavily upon
me-" he said: and that was the only mur-
muir which came from his proud lips.
Even on the day his son was buried he
looked haggard and i'll, but no word es-
capped him.
The Carlswools know how to suffer in
silence he said to himself-and no man
knew the smart of l.s pain.
fts be sontnued.I