Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-12-06

young doctor who m here every
day, or n~early--the faithful friend your
husband speaks OFF"
YES" Mary answered, without a
sign Of embarrassment. II have been
spending the evening at his mothers
house."
us she a l~ady-socially, | mean-the
equal of Mrs. AIlenbyi'
Quite"
$50 / should think. The Allenbys
are not much, you know-mere trades
men of n grade or another. The great
grandfather kept a retail shop on Tow
er-hill, and dealt largely in Struggled
tobacco-so it is said. Arthur was the
first fientleman of the family-this lit
tie fellow will be the second. AS for
old Mike, he is what people call a rough
diamond, knows a deal more of arith-
metic than grammar, and is not asham-
ell of it. As for Mrs. Allenby, she is a
stuck-up nobody; she was companion,
or something of the kind, TO a lady of
title, and got so much in the habit of
talking about her MISTRESS friends,
that she talked herself into the belief
they were her own. | know her, my
child-at least | have heard of her; and
Mike used to call her a secondhand
duchess. She hates him, but she is very
civil to him. He is an old bachelor, you
know. and she makes sure Of getting
his money. | wish," Mr.. Barker added,
grimIy, II wish she may, but / don't
t~hink"-and he touched the baby's
cheek fondly with his forelinger-"I
don't think she will. My dear, l am
glad you have shown me this letter; /
take it rs a mark of confidence, fox J
have been a disagreeable old bear"
Mary only smiled quietly.
Perhaps, like baby, my instinct
told me otherwise, " she said; land there
is so much allowance to be made for
pain"
NOW" said Mr.. Barker, wincing at
the answer. lit is not unlikely Uncle
Michael may be in England soon. What
shall / say about this letter."
"Should he wish to see it, | will show
it to him; it is his by right, it was in
tended for him; but / hope he will not
think / want him to do anything for
me or baby"
lyon are quite independent"
~ hope so, sir"
Saving money, eh?'
Yes sir. a little.n
"Still it is precarious, very. LodCers
do not always pay rent, and taxes must
be paid, servants wages. too. As for
Uncle Michael, my dear" he said. dryly.
you need not fear any act of spontan-
eous generosity on his part. His liking
and dislike as regards yourself will not
affect the baby in any way; and now,
my dear, since this little fellow has
broken the ice betN,-n us, let him come
up now and then, and you may come
with him. / am glad he likes tamarinds
and ginger, | have plenty more
Master Arthur was a frequent visitor
after that. The mulatto caught him at
odd hour, in the day, and rode him up
shoulder high. and very often the little
gentleman found his way to the draw
iDg-roOm alone. If he did not find the
door open, he hammered at it with his
fist. and called out for his Mis'er Bake
until ne was admitted. lie dragged his
toys up II by one,-his coral and silver
rattle. a box Of soldiers, half q dozen
harlequin-colored balls of various sizes.
some india-rubber figures. weighted so
as to retain the perpendicular, and a
drum. 1t was not an uncommon thing
for him to be found by Mary snugly
asleep on Mr.. Barker's bed when he ". 5
tired. and the old gentleman either
reading or writing; and when she went
to clear away his toys, she saw them
mostly packed in a corner.
And you can let them remain Mr.,
Barker said; "he will want them when
he comes again.