Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1890-01-25

with the look of "A hunted creature.
Ally grew impatient.
Please, Miss Snow, papa says / am TO
take back an answer"
Dorothy rose, pushed her hair back from
hG forehead like one dazad, and with a
weary sign drew Ally to her, saying:
Ally, did papa look grieved or angry"
"He looked sorry, Miss Snow, and he for
| got tokisS me-"
Then ran back TO him, pet, ard when
you tell him Miss Snow says yes kiss him
very kindly with your little arms around his
neck
Ally ran away to do her bidding, and
found Mr.. Pentold pacing the room in an
agita;Cd manner. Size ran to him with out
stretched arms; he picked her up tcnderiy,
and She put her arms abou, his neck, saying
as she kissed him:
Miss Snow says yes, papa
God help her then, poor girl! Come,
petite, we vii! 20 to her"
Dorothy still stood by the fire, tears steal
ing softly down her checks. When Mr..
Penfold entered she turned tohim and said:
"Oh. Pierce. what can | do to max YOU
understand the MISERY that made me ues-
perate and glad 10 get away az any cost?
Send the. child away and | will tell you all
about it,"
Mr.. Penfold kissed Ally, rang a bell, and
said TO Jane:
stay here and give the child her tea.
Miss Snow Is going to write some letters for
me before dinner"
Jane stayed, and as Dorothy went down
TO the study with Mr.. Penfold, she seemed
excited ana upset.
In the study a CHEEKY fire burnt brightly.
Pierce drew a chair to The fire, and pursua-
ded Dorothy TO sit down.
She did as he desired, while he bent over
her, his eyes brimming over with pitiful
love. Dorothy's hands trembled as she
c!asped them over her knees, saying softly:
my troubles began a year ago, when my
dear mother, after a brief illness, died. She
was the widow OF a rich mine-owncr; the
dear dad had been a keen man Of business,
managing his affairs with such skill that
when he died he left his wife a large for
tune, and a splendid opportunity of increas-
ing it.
All, by his will. after dear mothers
death, reverted TO me, but left my mother
10 choose a guardian for me, should she die
during my minority. Ny mother had but
few friends, and no near relations. She
| chose as a guardian an old friend of my
fathers, a man who managed her affairs for
her.
lie is a man of about forty, handsome
and shrewd. NV poor mother believed him
10 be the best mar breathing, and died,
leaving me and all l possessed under his
sole control. He came directly after her
death and took his post as head of the
house, and treated me with marked kind
ness. Everything promised that he would
be a model guardian; but from the first |
sirank from his too tender manner-all my
instinct was against him.
Il begged him to allow me 10 return 10
my old school, till | came Of age, but he
would not hear of il, neither would he al
low me a companion Of my own age. In
stead, he brought his sister To rule in my
mothers place-a prim severe woman, ten
years his senior.
by degrees, all The old servants were
sent away, ill | stood alone, n martyr to
their power. l dared hardly call INV soul
my owl. But worse than Margaret Middle
tons severity was her brotEer's too evident
partially. He haunted me. j never knew
a peaceful moment.
AT last the crisis came. He asked me TO
marry him, declaring it was my mothers
wish, and when l gave him q decided refu.
sal, sad if he could not force my love, he
could make me marry him, if only TO save
my honor, and swOre, with an awful oath,
TO make me humble by outraging my inno-
| cence.
Il had no ono 10 whom l could appeal, he
had me cut off from all ties, ] was entirely !
in his power; and one night / fancied l tast.
ed something strange in the wine az dinner,
and was seized by a dreadful drowsiness
that took away vital power.
Il had sense enough left 10 know he had
dragged me-, and made some excuse to get
to my room. There l drank enough warm
water to act as in emetic; then while he |
thought me sleeping the deep sleep of in
senstoiiity, | managed, by dropping from q
low window TO get away just as | was, with
only a cloak TO cover my c~vening-dress.
Il felt 1t was useless to appeal against his
authority, he being supposed TO live a saint |
like life, and /, by report, giving his saint
ship much trouble. Two years seemed such
a long time, yet | could have been patient
even with him il 1t had not been for his in
cessant love-making and constant presence.
II was mad from life's history when |
fled from my miserable home, and tramped
To Cardiff from Penarth. You do not know
what that man made me suffer, or what a |
cruel torment his love was. / would rather
beg for bread from door TO door than return
10 him..
He has n will OF iron, and is determined
to marry me by fair means or foul. He
wants my money, l believe. He would have
married poor mammals If sac wouldhave had
him; perhaps that is why she thought so
well of him. Tam absurdly afraid of him.
i would rather die than feel myself in his
power again.
Il might be discovered at any moment
and f0rcsd to return. You see he has the
law on his side, and no one would believe
my word against his. live in dread of be-
ing found by him. What can i do. Pierce?,
Pierce looked gravely perplexed.
only O husband could dispute his control
over you. We must hasten our marriage,
my queen. l will 20 to London and make
the preparations; you must foiltsy with the
child. You are not safe here a day, any
moment he may discover you.
Il know Horace Middleton we'll, / have
had business dealings with him and liked
him immensely. Love for you must have
turned his brain, or III, ,ever would have
proved such q bastard TO sou. There Is moi
a man more looked up to and respected in
all Sonth Wales. Fancy you being John
Covers only child! l should not have con-
nected You with the notice In the paper,
but for the de crlption of tho jewels you
wore-that quaint cross and this ring.
He took her hand and looked at the heavy