Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-11-01
A ~THREE-SIDED STORY.
Extract from tho Diary of Algernor
Stokes.

Extract from the Diary OF Atgernon
stokes.
have found her! The maiden Of
my dreams-the fair, sweet girl OF my
soul! The poetic, tender embodiment
of my hearts aspirations! / have writ
ten three sonnels, two madrigals, and
a poem since midnight. all addressed
10 Marjorie! Marjoriel What tender
visions arise at the name! Let me re-
cord the happy event!
The utter abomination, Tom Grey,
came into my studio yesterday after
noon in his usual clustering, vulgar
way, and with the voice of a huckster
calling "Watcrmclonsr' shouted:
"Hullo, Dickr
suppose | have told Tom Grey
1000 times that | have had my name
changed 10 "Algernon" by act of the
legislature, but the brute persists in
calling me Dick" because, when we
went to school together. my name was
Richard" The Stokes" can not
drop, as my uncle Bob left me his for
tune OH condition that | did not drop
the family name in what he called my
COMPOUNDED nonsense" Uncle Rob
ert had no poetry In his entire eompo-
sition.
But l wander from my subject. Tom
Grey rushed into my studio, shrieking:
'Hullo. Dick!r
was deeply absorbed In the shadows
of my group of Lilies of the Lake"
and although my sensitive nerves
quivcrcd under that horrible voice as
ii | had received a blow, | painted on
without answer.
But 4 staggering blow upon my
shoulder, almost p~aralyzing my right
arm. compelled me 10 look mp.
Gomez shouted my friend(e).
Tom never speaks - he always
shouts.
Gomez | want you TO go to the
fair with me-"
What fairP"I asked. II never go
to farsi
But YOU must go to this one, Tip
top girls! Lots of funl'
II despise fun! l abomina,e girlsf"
oh. bosb! Come alongl Stop
whitewashing those old snowballs in a
puddle and comet"
viii you leave me in peacep' I
cried, desperately.
mo; am going to sit right here
until You take of that velvet monkey
jacket and put on a p%resentable coat
20 go with me. If | were you, Dick. /
would give that coat TO an organ
grinder"
only looked my scornl That coat,
made upon the strictest rules of art,
was one Of my triumphs over the con-
monplace. ] hoped the day would come
when | could wear it in the street. with
Venetian RIFLES of lace at the wrists.
But Tom was not to be daunted by
a look, and. finding ! should have no
rest until l complied with his request
reluctantly left INV work.
Under his ridicule I dared not as
sumo my full aesthetic costume; but I
ventured upon mt ruffied shirt-front,
my loosely knotted tie, and low Byron
collar. 10 my surprise he made no
comment, and v e pinned In my but
ton-hole a boquet .. valley lilies with
his own clumsy fingers.
But fcrgave Tom all past sins
when. after walking about in a great
hall filled with fancy turntables, he
said with q start:
why, there is my cousin Marjorier
followed the direction of bis eyes.
Can l calmly write down n description
Of that vision? Marjoriel Locks OF
gold. half-curling. floating down from
fillets OF classic shape hat confined
them above the ivory brow. but SUI
fered their lnxuriance to fall unre-
strained far below the slender waist.
A robe of pale-blue cashmere, confined
at the shoulders by canoes. fell in
long. loose folds to form a sweeping
train that gave majesty to the perfect
form. Lilies were broidered on the
edge. lilies rested upon the bosom.
Bands OF gold upon the white arms
were the only ornaments Marjorie
wore.
1t a disgnsfiugIy conventional to
be introduced to my cousin. Miss
Grey aud to bow in society form.
when | was longing to throw myself at
her feet and devote my life to her SER
vice. Could l have drawn a sword
and vowed to be her faithful knight
till death. II would have been some re-
lief. But. alas! ! could, only bow and
murmur something about my pleasure
In meeting my dear friends cousin.
Tom grinned like an ape. But Mar
jorie recognized q kindred soul. She
clasped her hands and spoke Ia low.
sweet words. her delight ia meeting
the author OF The Faded Jessamine."
Our souls me aud mingled. She
quoted lines from my ..Drooping
Daisies" and blushingiy confessed to
saving all my poems collected In an
album. She had seen my Maiden by
Moonlight" at the picture dealers. and
the M dream Of her life was one
day 90 possess 4 gem from my pencil.
Tom had sense enough to leave US.
and wc talked Of art, Of poetry, Of
music. and OF flowers.
Then she showed me q tiny vase, an
antique gem that had been donated to-
the fair By Z famous collector. She
told me the agony she bad suffered
lest thls priceless treasure should fall
into unnppreciative hands. She Inn
plored me N add Il to my store NJ
gems. aud / drew 4 check for the
amount with ecstasy. 1t stands before
me now, my inspiration. until l oncs
more gaze iuto the soulful eyes Of Mar
jorie! Another sonnet presses upon
my brain. I write 10 the sunny locks
Of tho maiden. Marjorie.
MACS LETTRR
Dear Sue: Il was too bad, alto
gether too bad. that You could not be
III vnr fair last evening. Tom had an
Idea. You would hardly believe that