Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-10-10


conversation, but her COMPANION re-
wardcd her with silence. She made
uncomplimentary remarks about the
horse which were witty enough for an
ordinary occasion, but Marden did not
smile-he did not seem to be paying
attentions; so ilnally she subsidized into
her side of the carriage aud said no
more. Presently Marden spoke.
Grace" he said. do you know
why / am up hsrep"
Miss Grenyille looked up inno-
Gently.
'Of course" she said. you told
me you had come on business"
Which was not true. as you know.
] came because / followed you from
Boston,
Frank. how dare your said Miss
Grenville Indignantly.
Marden went on quietly:
And while | was standing out
there in the baggage car"
III thought you were going to fall
out of the door" continued Miss Gren-
vile suddenly. Marden looked at her
and then went on again quietly:
You did not see me. You were
surprised that was on the train when
l spoke to you"
Orr said Miss Grenville.
When was standing in the bag
gage-car made up my mind that you
would have TO talk to me. / am more
sure of it now. have been trying to
see you for two months and you have
been able TO keep me from it, know
am a brute and that il you wanted to
throw me over and not tell me why /
ought to stand il; but can't and I'm
through trying"
Miss Grenyille laughed uneasily. A
bough from one Of the trees that skirt
ell the road hung over within reach
and she snatched couple of its leaves
as they passed.
II wonder what kind of a tree that
tsp" she said. Marden took the green
bough from her hand aud threw it in
to the road.
Grace" he SAID, "wby did you
throw me over?"
Miss Grenville looked around as IL
for some avenue OF escape, but none
presented itself and she leaned back
again in the carriage.
Perhaps" she said at length. ''per-
haps 1t is better to talk it over. Though
lburriedlyl YOU know il eau never
make any difference now"
''Of course" admitted Marden. IL
never dared tn hope that"
'lt is very hard 10 tell" continued
Miss GreuyilIp.
did you ever care for me?" asked
Marden.
Miss Geuvillc looked at him with
wondering eyes.
DO YOU think wanted TO do it?"
she said.
Marden's face frightened wonder
fully. do you mean tha, somebody
forced you TO give me up?" he asked.
Nobody. only | had to. One can't
marry anybody when that person isn't
what they thought lie was" said little
Miss Grenville. getting confused in
her generalization. but with very
convincing air. Marden made no an
swer. and his companion continued:
You know l always said that | never
could marry anybody who was not
perfectly gentlemanly and"
do you mean that l am not gen.
tleman?" said Marden.
why, no, of course not. That Is
why why liked you"
'.Ohr
And always thought you were the
most perfect man in that respect"
Thank you! lam very grateful;
but will you tell me when it was fail
ed to be what you thought me?"
And always thought you weIO the
most generous aud unselfish man ever
knew. aud am certain that / never
had any reason TO change that idea"
"Well?"
'Aud you know there was never
anybody else that cared for"
'Well?"
You were always so handsome and
SO brave and-and-yes, l will say it
and SO lo,Tng."
.'Well?n
so you must see that / could not
have wanted to do it."
oh. but that does not explain why
you did do it."
Il know it. Only it is SO hard. and.
Frank. you are not helping me Bit"
Il don't see why l need to. You
were independent enough 10 throw me
over and make me miserable for life."
! Have you been miserable. Frank?"
IL think have almost died" said
Marden solemnly.
Have you? have been miserable
too. Frank. And have missed your
steps. and your voice. and your laugh
Il have missed your laugh very much,
Frank"
We used to have such pleasant
times together, Grace"
Yes. aud mother says that the
house sounds so lonely without you in
the evening""
Il thought great deal of your
mother"
Il know you did. Yes. we did have
happy times. l shall never forger
them. And to think that now they are
all over. came mp here because J
hoped | would forget about it. AMI
now ltearfuily1 you have brought il
all lback--again-aud | know l shall
20 on feeling worse and worse-and
w
Poor little Miss Grcnville fell tn sob
bing as il her heart would break. Ii
was more than Mar,len could stand.
Grace" he said. .don't. Let's patch
it up in some way. Tell me what l
did aud let's fix 1t up"
"Ws cant" sobbed the young woman
from her corner.
.Well. tell mo anyway"
1T won't do any good. Frank. Dut
I'll try II you say must"
"You really must"
II know you'll laugh Mt me and say
I'm goose. You always did do that"
Il will be sober as--as prayer-meet-
ing" vowed the young man.
well. then. 1t was about that Miss
Sangcr--you know what you said about
her."
Il know | must be very stupid but
don't quite remember all about IL /.
You had better tell me. Where did l
see her?"
AT the pond. and 1t Is really to
your credit that you don't remember.
shall think OF that and be grateful. 1
Frank, In after years. said she was
horrid. and you said she was clever
and had beautiful eyes,"
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