Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-04-18
M a u L:
A TALE OF A CARAVAN.
DY ROBERT BUCHANAN

came 1rom!
Matt shook her head again. Once
more the young man was lost In medi-
tation. Doubtless it was owing to his
abstraction of mind that he quietly
placed his arm around Mats waist.
and kept it there. At first Matt went
very red; then she glanced up at his
face, and saw that his eyes were fixed
thorghtfully on the distant sand-hills.
Seeing he still kept silence; she moved
little closer to him, and said, very
quietly:
II didn't tell William Jones that you
kissed mel"
Brinkley started from his abstraction,
and looked at the girls blushing face.
"Ehy What did you sayy"
Il didn't tell William Jones that you
kissed mel"
These words seemed to remind the
young man of the position of his arm;
for he hastily withdrew it. Then the
absurdity of the whole situation appear
ed to return upon him, and he broke
into burst of boyish laughter-at
which his companions face fell once
more. IL was clear that she took life
seriously, and dreaded sarcasm.
Matt" he said. this won't do. This
won't do at alll''
what won't dor"
"Well--this" he answered, rather am
biguously. You're awfully young, you
know-quite a girl, although, as you
suggested just now, and, as you proba-
ably believe, you may be 'growed up
You must-ha-you must look upon
me as sort of father, and all that sort
of thing"
"You's too young to be my father"
answered Matt ingenuously.
We'll, say your big brother. I'm in
terested in you, Matt, very much inter-
ested, and should really like to get TO
the bottom of the mystery about you:
but we must not forget that we're
well, almost strangers, you know. Be
Sides" he added, laughing again cheeri-
ly, you are engaged to be married,
some day, to gentleman of fortune"
Matt sprung up with heaving bosom
and flashing eyes.
"No, ANTI" she said. Il hate himl"
"Hate the beautiful Monk, of Monks
hurst! Monk the beneicent! Monk
the sweet-spoken! Impossiblel"
"Yes, hate him." cried Matt; -and-
and-when he kissed me, it made me
sick"
What, did he? Actually Kissed
your"
AS he spoks, the young man actually
felt that he should like to assault the
redoubtable Monk.
Yes, he kissed me-once. IL he
kisses me again, I'll stick something in
TO him. or scratch his face"
And Matt looked black as thunder,
and set her pearly teeth angrily togeth-
er.
"Sit down again, Matt.1
Il shan't-if you laugh.'
"Oh, I'll behave myself. Come!"-and
be added, as she returned to her place,
did it make you sick when kissed
your"
lie was playing with fire. The girls
face changed in moment, her eyes
melted, her lips trembled, and all her
expression became inexpressibly soft
and dreamy. Leaning gently toward
him, she dropped her eyes, and then,
fsesiRqs shls hs1aa EastiDa- -aR hieskass-. .rlla
Il should like to marry yOu," she said,
and blushing, rested her cheek against
his shoulder!
Now our hero of the caravan was a
true-hearted young fellow, and man
Of honor, and his position had become
extremely embarrassing. He could no
longer conceal from himself the discov-
cry that he had made an unmistakable
impression on Mats unsophisticated
heart. Hitherto he had looked upon
her as a sort Of enfaat terrible, very
rough diamond; now he realized, with
shock of surprise and self-reproach,
that she possessed, whether @growed
up" or not, much of the susceptibility
of grown-up young ladies. twas clear
that his duty was to disenchant her as
speedily as possible, seeing that the dis
eoyery of the hopelessness of her at
tachment might, if delayed, cause her
no little nnhappiness.
In the meantime he suffered her to
nestle to him. lie did not like to shake
her off roughly, or to say anything un-
kind. lie glanced round into her face;
the eyes were still cast down, and the
cheeks were suffused with warm, rich
light, which softened the great freckles
and made her complexion look, accord
ing to the image which suggested itself
to his mind, like a nice ripe pear. She
was certainly very pretty. He glanced
down at her hands which rested In her
lap, and again noticed that they were
unusually delicate and small. Her foot,
which he next inspected, he could not
crlticise, for the boots she wore would
have been good lit for William Jones.
But the whole outline of her figure, in
spite OF the hideous attire she wore, was
fine and symmetrical, and altogether
His inspection was interrupted by the
girl herself. Starting, as il from de-
llghtful trance, she sprung to her feet,
and cried:
Il can't stop no longer. I'm going"
But the picture, Matt?' said Brink
ley, rising also. -Sha'n,t finish it to-
dayy"
Il can't wait. William Jones wants
to send me with message over to PEN
croes, and If don't go, he'll scold."
very well. Matt"
@But I'll come" she said smiling, 4to-
morrow; and III come In my Sunday
clothes somehown
Don't trouble. On reflection, think
you look nicer as you are"
She lifted up her hat from the ground,
and still hesitated as she put it on.
Upon my word,' cried the artist:
@those Welsh hats are very becoming.
Goodbye, Matt"
She took his outstretched hand and
waited an instant, with her warm,
brown cheek Ia profile temptingly near
his lips. Blu. he did not yield TO the
temptation, and after moments fur
ther hesitation, In which fear she be-
trayed some little disappointment, Matt
released her hand and sprung hurriedly
away.
Upon my word, muttered the young
man, as he watched her figure receding
In the distance, -the situation is grow
ing more and moro troublesome! /
ubo1l hoxxo - ,s>.y<~ n