Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-03-22

any such thing; and /, who never kept
a secret from my mother, wisely con-
cluded In my new dignity. that I had
better not mention the matter-per-
haps Cousin Harvey would prefer that
/ should not.
So / dressed myself as usual and
went down to the parlor where NAM
ma sat at her work.
1T seems 70 M that your ride was
unusually short" she said, as l en-
tered.
''Oh, il was cold and windy aud for.
lorn, and I wanted to get home"
No reply. but a look of some sur
prise; such IN xcu from me was un-
heard of. After a pause sho asked:
why, didn't Harvey come imp"
why. l thought ne was behind me,
and when turned at the door he was
driving off,"
Another questioning look. I felt an
noyed.
But as l was expecting company-no
other than the son Of the wealthy
banker, Mr.. Poynter Smith, speedily
donned my sweetest smiles and my
most enchanting manner for his bene-
tit.
But Mr.. Poynter Smith, junior, spite
of being tailorized and barberixed to
the last degree, was undeniably COM
monplace In appearance, and not less
so in conversation. His remarks had
never seemed so trite and vapid. ]
was positively ashamed of him; and
when he asked rue to 60 to the thcater
with him and his sister on q certain
evening, 1t vas only the recollection of
his great name, and great expecta-
tons, that finally led me to accept the
invitation.
Cousin Harvey Lewis is a great
deal nicer. Indeed, / love him dear
lyl" and l began to feel very miserable
again; ''but ! do not think / could
marry my cousin; and, besides, Just
think Of Poynter Smiths wealth! Any
girl would be glad to get Poynter
Smith, or Harvey Lewis either!" and
my mind reverted 10 several of my
friends who were always raying about
him.
Nearly a week passed, and Cousin
Harvey, who never absented himself
more than two days at n time, had not
made his appearance, and, worst Of all,
he was at the theater the night before
with that horrid little Bessie Baker and
her brother.
was so angry that I could have torn
her eyes out but I pretended to be per-
fectly fascinated with Poynter.
wanted Harvey TO see me, but | was
not sure that he did. Several times |
detected him looking in that direction,
whereupon I instantly became absorb
ed In POINTER. Coming out we were
Just a little in advance of them.
managed it so, and I was in the gaycst
spirits, quite convulsed with laughter.
in fact, and clinging to Poynter's arm
as though / loved him dearly instead
Of utterly despising him.
We had received invitations to a
party for the next evening. / would
not have STAYED at home for worlds,
though / had nearly cried my eyes out,
and had a violent headache In conse-
luence.
On such occasions Harvey had al
ways been my escort; but, of course,
he wonld take some n else now, and
POINTER had asked me. l had always
run down to exhibit myself to Harvey
before the final wrapping up. but I
could not do so for Poynter, and was
as sulky as sulky could be when l pre-
sented myself.
What did l caro for his old richest
/ never would marry him, and he might
as well find 1t out first as last. So,
when he remarked on the beauty OF
the night, as we proceeded in the ar
rage, / declared that it was the cold
est, blacklist, and most wretched night
of the eason
An answer SO full and exhaustive adj
mltted OF no reply, and there was a ST.
lence Of several minutes.
Mfr. Lewis was probsbly not to be
present at the party, as he was generally
my escort, was the next remark.
/ was sure l did not know whether
he was to be present or not! l was
not kept informed Of all my cousins
movements.
A silence somewhat longer than be-
fore; but Mr.. Smith was not to be
thwarted. He had set out with the de-
termination to be agreeable and slight
obstacles should not discourage him.
mi. Lewis appears to be very at
tentive to Miss Baker lately" he said.
They were riding in the park on
Tuesday, / noticed"
Such a pang as shot through me! ]
had not the heart to be cross, so l
merely said, .'Indecdm and coughed,
and laughed, and choked, and swal-
lowed. to keep back q burst Of grief.
OF course the first person i saw ON
entering the room was Cousin Harvey,
with Bessie Baker upon his arm; but |
affected the most supreme devotion to
Poynter and utterly ignored Harvey's
presence. ! was perfectly wild that
night. dancing. flirting and laughing
as though l never had a care, inasmuch
Is / heard a gentleman remark to an
other: II think Miss Lewis Is the most
l~ight-hearted creature / Eve saw,
what q sunbeam she must be at home"
After a while Harvey and / met face
10 face, and he said ''Good evening
with q careless smile and turned to his
partner.
So the winter months passed. and
Poynter was usually my cavalier.
though now that Harvey's attentions
ceased, other gentlemen began to make
advances. But none OF them pleased
me, and Poynter disguised me so that
l could hardly treat him with necessary
ciyility. In fact. ] was often excess
sively rude to him. which had an effect
the reverse of that desired. and his
visits and attentions increased every
day.
Harvey, in the meantime. was as
attentive to Miss Baker. and It was
zoe reported that they were engaged;
and even l was compelled to believe II
when she displayed an engagement
ring.
Harvey had mot been to the house
since that last day, v . three months
ago; and now mamma and papa did
not mention him. never told them
the cause Of our quarrel. and they soon
ceased to question me. though ] q could
not help ~suspecting that they knew.
At last. a day. Poynter Smith
asked me. In a stupid, laundering sort
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