Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-08-15
DRIVEN TO DESPAIR.

through the tangled vines that shaded
the piazza attached to Judge Bruce's
mansion on the River Hudson revealed
a lady and gentleman pacing up and
down its smooth length. Like wraiths
they seemed rs they glided to and fro
ia the shadows. the lady's silvery laugh
ter now and then filling the slumbrous
air with music.
A soft happy smile wreathed his face
as he took from his pocket q lovely
diamond ring and slipped 1t on finger
OF her delicate. shapely hand. There
II glittered like a star upon a fore
ground Of purest snow.
I'm commemorative OF our betrothal,
dearest" he whispered, clasping the
hand.
y .Oh. Ralph, how beautiful!-how
exquisitely beautiful! All! you are"
She stopped short. She had raised
her hand aloft and her eyes were fast
ened upon the ring with steady
peculiar stare. For one moment her
gaze seemed to devour It,,
Then. rudely freeing herself from
his clasp. she wrenched the ring from
her finger with wild. fierce gesture.
and dashed 1t violently to the floor.
.Elnor! What is it?-are you madp''
cried her lover in an amazed, reproach-
full yet tender tone.
She glided past him as she spoke.
ran swiftly down the steps. and IN an
instant was lost in the depths OF ver-
dure that everywhere surrounded
them.
While she stood there. in this state
OF doubt and dread. suddenly. without
warning or rustic, a man came out
from the shrubbery and faced her.
His eyes cleaned exultantly rs they
fell upon the woman. One word burst
from him" "Elinor!"
.'She shivered slightly. She avertcd
her face.
you spoke-you called me-what
do you wantp" she said, slowly.
I'VE will not quarrel. Elinor. l
hardly expected to lind you tonight.
But nm very glad. for think / can
persuade you to go with me-"
Go with you!" WhereP"
'To California; or. indeed. any
where beyond the pale Of civilization. :"
"But cannot-cannot."
..Elinor. this Is folly. Will you
listen to reasonP have legal claim
upon you--a claim you were once very
willing to acknowledge. You are my
wife. Elinor. A legalized minister
made you so. am not going to seep
quiet any longer.
Tone and manner were angry and
menacing but her reply was even more
bitter and threatening.
Would you ask me to follow the for
tunes OF one who has made himself q
candidate for prison?"
You are mine" he answered bit
terly, .and l will have You"
AS he ceased speaking, Elinor sud-
denly raised her head. Charles Stone
deigh recoiled involuntarily. Never
mad he. In all the desperate phases OF
-kis' reckless. wicked life. seen such an
expression on q mortal face as hers
. rxgSs; %seo she spoke which wa. after the
lapse OF moments. her voice had q
hard. metallic ring. as II all the music
had been suddenly taken from it. She
said: Charles Stoneleigh. will 60
with you. Only don't ask me to love
you. for l hate you, hate your
Elinor had met this mau while nj
school in distant city. She was
young and romantic; she knew moth.
log OF the ways Of the world. He
completely captivated her fancy; she
Imagined she loved him, clandestine
marriage was the result. When 1t was
TOO late she found out the true charac'
ter of the man she had promised ''to
love, honor and obey" She discover
ed that he wns villain. a gambler
aad perhaps worse. The shock almos,
killed her. Hencoforth her life must
be burdened with terrible secret-s
secret which she kept until it became
uncomfortable. when goaded by BIZ
threats. she put all thoughts OF happi
ness aside and went with him into q
strange, reckless life.
When Ralph Meredith became fully
assured that Elinor Bruce had actually
( disappeared leaving nothing behind to
remind him OF her love. he consecrated
his life to one object--that object was
20 find her.
Il was near the close OF q drcary
day Ia autumn, nearly six M chs
after her disappearance. that he Joined
. party OF emigrants who with hoavy
numbering wagons. had oil day toiled
across the bleak, wind-swcpt prairie,
stopping only 10 rest when the sun
sank below the horizon and darkness.
impeded further progress. Then came
recreation. Gathered around the
blazing fire, with songs and stories
aud pleasant jcsts time passed swiftly
enough.
Ono Of tho men was relating an In
cident that had occurred on the route
that day.
Il stopped for drink Of water at
little cabin which squats forlornly q
the foot OF the mountaln---"
what thenP" asked Mercdith--tc
whom his remarks were principall,