Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-06-06
HER LOVES GRAY LENT.

All lent that year had been exceed
iDgly dreary.
Outwardly it was gray lent in
deed.
Perhaps Valeska lie We're would not
have noticed it so much had she been
less wretched'y unhappy.
But it seemed SO like what her life
had become--just as devoid of light,
color and sweet, vivifying influences.
Alas. II / could only feel it would
endure only for season. But for me
II is the long lent OF love. to end in the
grayer gloom OF the grave" she said to
herself.
She had gone into the pretty con-
servatorv where even the lovingly
tended flowers seemed 10 pine for the
sunshine.
She had paused before marble
pedestal holding costly china pot. in
which was growing slender rose-tree.
1t was rare aud precious variety.
and in its native air it would no doubt
have bloomed luxuriantly.
But It bore only single. perfect
blossom--nn exquisite disk of strange,
pearly white. tinted at the daintiIy
crimpled edges with the faintcst lum-
inous purple--and the fragrance was
subtle and sweet. like eastern incense.
That rose was all Valeska possessed
10 recall the days which were no more.
Ii was the sole thing in her possession
which seemed as link between her
and the man she had learned to love
ouly after she had spurned him from
her.
And Il was his gift-the cherished
gift OF Noel St. Regis!
He had been her guardian, although
still young man.
She had Believed herself TO be an
heifess. and she had lavished money
upon every sort OF fancy and extraya-
gance.
And after her imperious and frivol-
ous prodigaliiy she learned one fatal
day that instead of having n fortune, as
she had believed, she was absolutely
p9nniless--a beggar-dependent upon
her guardians generosity.
In her bitter modification. in her
wild shame at her unbounded waste of
another's means she reproached her
indulgent guardian.
Did You think had no pride. no
conscience, no sense of honor. that
You should deceive me SO meanlyp she
demanded in passionate anger and
pain. .'Did you plot such an outrage
that you might force me into your
power-that you might hold me at
your mercy. 6Sss, bound under obligations 4
Even now, as she stood there pazing
| with tear-blindeG eyes * iae precious
gift rose, she could see the white agony
OF his face as he WINGED under her fierce
| denuuciation.
Even now she could hear his voice as
he answered her.
Dearest child. " he said, TRY TO be-
iieve that I only wanted you to be
happy. value money only for your
sake. All possess is subject to your
command. ! love you, my sweet
darling; and have tried to think that
some time you would care for me
enough to become my wife. But l
would not compel you. my little love.
And whether you can ever care for me
or not, sweetheart. l shall worship you
to the end of my days. You will be
first and best and dearest with me
always; everything | own on earth is
yours now, and will continue yours
when shall be no more"
His forbearance, the startling knowl-
edge that he loved her. only seemed TO
aggravate her torture and Indignation.
II be your wife?" she cried. in
scathing mockery "Why, l despise
you! Ihate you! There Is nothing
on earth hate so profoundly and ire
yocably as l hate YOU"
And with that wild speech she fled
from him.
She had never met him since that
tragic day.
The same night she closed his doors
behind her forever. determined to
seek employment Of some sort--re-
solved to labor as woman had never
labored before, until she could pay
back dollar for dollar and so cancel
her hateful debt to him.
Strangely enongh. before the event.
full day had ended Valeska le We're had
in very fact and truth become an heir
eSs.
An only brother, much older than
she. whom nobody had seen for years,
and OF whom nobody ever expected to
hear again. had just died In far
Australia. making her the sole heiress
of $500. 600.
The instant her fortune was 10 her
possession she scrupulously computed
her debt to her guardian and sent it to
him with liberal interest.
"And now / am free. Dear heaven.
/ am freeT she had cried. exultautly.
to herself.
But her freedom brought her no Joy
no peace.
Now that she had surrendered her.
self completely from Noel st. Regis, au
unaccountable sense OF dissatisfaction
besct her.
She cared for none of the advant.
ages and pleasures which riches CON-
maud.