Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-12-27
*.
A RECoNcIIrATIoN.

I've llE iu3Elt NV tidNNb N1ttNtN = bNN
there was nothing except the truth in
his niece Margaret's voice and eyes.
She spoke, too, in q tone Of regret as to
Mary's obdurate conduct, and there was
the plain unmistakable fact of the let
ter sent in reply to the one Margaret
had written at her mothers request.
He spoke very decidedly when he said
he would not go to Cranmore Square,
and Mrs. Allenby was secretly glad; but
she had her part to play, and played it
well.
"Of course she is very young" the
lady said, land her character is natur-
ally obstinate. still / have no wish TO
say or think anything unkind now. We
must not expect too much of her. We
have to remember her early training
and lamentable surroundings, ard so
every allowance is TO be made for her.
Above all, there is Arthur's boy to be
considered"
Yes" said Uncle Michael, that is
to be considered first of ALL"
at is bad enough that she should
have the care Of him, even while he is
so young" the lady went on; ''but when
he grows older, and begins to under
stand things. il would be dreadful for
him 10 think OF himself as the child of
q clearinghouse keeper, and not what
one would call a respectable lodging
house either-wild young medical stud
ents who keep dreadful hours, and eld-
criy bachelors from Heaven knows
where; a disrepntable untidy old person,
who takes snuff and keeps q negro serv-
ant"
You are mistaken, mamma" Mar
garet said quietly; there is but one
medical student in the house-a sweet
tempered, simple-hearted gentleman; If
he were otherwise George Hyde would
not make q friend of him. AS for the
elderly gentleman, / just long to see
him. Mary literally loves him, and
baby is never happy out Of his rooms,
and the negro servant-that is so absurd
he is a handsome creole or mulatto OF
the lightest brown. l wonder who could
have told you such things?"
II heard it from the servants, my
dear.n
Servants, my dear mamma; you
know how they let their tongues run
away with them. j should speak
of them as reliable authorities"
Now / do not agree with you there"
Mr.. Allenby said, with a smile of kind
ly humor at his niece. Il have found
that YOU generally can relic on the
statements of most servants, if you re
peat those statements; but you should
be an authority, as you are so frequent.
" at the house. Sull, as your mother
correctly observes. it would never do 10
let the little fellow grow up TO think
himself the son of a lodging-hous5
keeper; but the thing Is, how q we
bring this obstinate young lady to rea.
sony'f
IF there is no other way" Mrs. Al.
lenby said, II will see her myself. She
will scarcely carry her ~ill-breeding SC
far as TO refuse to see her husband!
mother"
MARY is not ill-bred, my dear ma,
ma" said Margaret's tranquil voice.
shut you would scarcely expect her tC
overlook, or forget, our neglect of hel
for so many years, and be reconciled
just when it suits u.s."
Her good-breeding has not improv.
ed you" Mrs. Allenby said, with a bit.
terness she could not suppress. "Ycu
treat me with no respect, and contra
dict me at every word"
II am very sorry, Mamma" and the
girls lips trembled, "but you are under
a misapprehension, and I like you tC
know the truth. If you go you will be
received with courtesy, and after atimt
you are sure to be good friends"
"What would you have me doY' and
the lady turned to her brother-in-law
understand me that l do not know
whether / shall ever learn to forgive OF
like this girl, and if / go it will only be
for the sake of Arthur's boy. OF course
i do not know what time may do. She
may De very loyable. Arthur found all
bis happiness with her, and Margaret
is entirely taken by her, as you see
What would you have me do?"
II think" the old gentleman said
slowly, ~ should go. 1t would be {
very womanly and graceful thing to do
The kindness in such a concession
would not fail to bring its own reward
You may learn to forgive and like eacl
other; in any case You will be doing
what is right, and that is always good
for it is so easy to 60 wrong, to let pride
and stubborn temper lead us on, steI
by step. till 1t is too late to return"
He spoke with some solemnity and {
touch of sadness too, as If he had som,
such memory TO repent. Mrs. Allenb,
took her cue from that.
Twill CO." she said, tomorrow. /
will not let her pride and stubborn tenn
per lead me, step by step, into wrons
until it is too late"
"Why not write first, or let Margaret
inform her Of your ~intentionp She vii
be prepared then, aud in q bettef fran,
of mind. perhaps"
81 will write, and Margaret can speal
to her as well. We will leave nothing
undone since you desire this r~econcilia
tion."
lido"
Mrs. Allenby wrote that evening, and
set the letter before him to read. Their,
was no fault to be found in it; the tons
was conciliatory and kind, though th,
lady had not abated a jot OF her dignity
Mary vas wondering how to answer i
when her eccentric ledger arrived
though it was quite early in the morn
ing-so early that Mr.. Parker, who wa.
standing at the window reading his pa
per while waiting for his breakfast, saw
the old gentleman alight from his cab
blue spectacies, govt, and all complete
and asked himself IL he was beginning
to have temporary attacks OF insanity
~ would swear to the figure" h
sad, 'and the carriage OF the shoulder.
when getting down from the cab; but
then, the govt as bad q eve and thos,
hideous spectacles, Of course it cannod
be. and perhaps I am going wrong,
had better read up Forbes Winslow'I
treatise on soothing syrup-symptomati,
mania, / mean. / wonder II q little
music would do me goodY"
Thinking that it might, he began Il
tune his violin. and after an interval Of
about a minute something came thun'
iering down the stairs. He did no
know whetaer it was . chest OF drawer