Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-06-27
ELVA'S ESCAPE.

II love your daughter. Give her to
me for my wife, and I'll attend to the
paying of of tho mortgage"
The old man looked up. On his
face the lines were many aud deep,
and in his crafty eyes n cruel CLEAN
shone under the bushy, grizzled brows.
Altogether he was very unlovely to
look at there in the lamplight.
Grasping. close-handed, willing to
sacrifice always TO the god OF gain.
Conrad Blair had passed his youth in
poverty. had struggled and saved
vainly in his manhood, and in his age
was soured. niggardly. unloyed
creature. with hands empty still, aud
no friend. no kin save the slight, pale.
sweet-faced girl who was his daughter.
How child OF his could be so proud
and yet so gentle, so shy and yet so
sweet, so high-soued and true-hearted
all who knew the two wondered.
But Elva Blair's mother had left her
own tender nature 10 her little one.
when, n heart-broken woman. crushed
by the hand that should have cher
ishcd her. she died. six years after her
marriage day.
Motherless, lonely. uncared for. still
Elya had grown like hedge-ilower.
rarely sweet and fair. And Jack
Delos. the young farmer. whose frank.
sunburned face was always aglow with
good nature and whose strong brown
hands were very tender il not well
filled with this worlds goods, had
loved her since she was child.
All their little world knew OF the
engagement between Jack and Elva.
Evan Gerald Droan. coming a stranger
10 the town and seeing the girls yonng
face as she went by the hotel ia which
he was stopping. was told that she
was betrotbed to Jack. And yet
within twenty-four hours he had OBJ
tained an introduction to her father
and opened the way to an intimacy at
what poor Elya called her home.
After that the dark. flashing face of
Droau was To be seen at the Blair cot
tage either In tho porning or tho
evening. aud Conrad Blair always well
coined him. contrary to his custom.
for Droan was reputed rich. spent
money with lavish hand and made no
secret of his admiration for Elya.
1t was month after their first meet
ing tlNt Gerald Droau said to Conrad
Blair one evening in July. the words
given above.
Blair had spoken OF mortgage on
his property which was due. and which
he could not lind money TO pay of.
'.Its bargain!" he cried eagerly.
If you want to marry Elva YOU shall
do so-prcvided you pay OF the mort
gage on my place. I'll see that she
consents. She never disobeys mel"
"Tll buy up the mortgage and you
shall have it the day become your
son-in.law." said Gerald Droan. slow
ly. THAT shall be tomorrow, for to-
morrow night must leave here and
my bride must go with me. Old man.
] love your daughter--not with tame
love that Is willing to WOO and sue and
wait. but with the impatient love of u
border chief of the old days, who stole
his lady from her couch and carried
her to his stronghold. VIII you give
her to me tomorrow"
Bring the Clergyman here and Elva
will be ready with her Yes" spoke
the cruel lips of Conrad Blair.
At that moment light step was
heard. the door was pushed open. and
Elva entered the room.
Such sweet. pure. girlish creature!
The dark face of Gerald Droan flushed
and then palcd as he looked on her.
Swiftly he reached her side and took
one Of her hands in his.
"Eiva." he said. hastily, passionate
ly, "such men as l are like vnltures.
We fasten our talons on soft. defense
less doves sometimes. But ii you
knew the hearts iu our breasts--if you
understood how they yearn for some
holy thing to nestle near then-how
their own darkness maddens their inn
pulses. you would forgive forgive aud
be kindr'
With an almost fierce kiss on the
soft fingers he freed them aud turned
TO Blair
.sfeli her." he said. but hoarsoly. as
though it was hard for him to speak
tue words: tell her. but be gentle
with her-be as kind to her as you
can. Would to God--for her sake-I
had never seen her facet"
Tken he passed out and Elya. very
pale aud startled. turned 10 her father
Conrad Blair used few words; in n
moment his daughter knew what fate
threatened her.
White. cold. still as death. she stood
long minutes; then. with sharp cry.
started toward the door.
But her father was before her. Push
ing her roughly aside and locking the
door. he put the key In his pocket.
"Would you dare disobey me, you
white-faced thingp" he thuudercd.
.'pll be rid Of you tomorrow. but
until then I'll be your jailer."
A frenzy seized the girl; che faced
him with face like foani and eyes like
those Of stag ut bay.
II will never marry Gerald Droan."
she cried; .'neverl Iwould rather die
II will die first!"
mot your mockcd the old man.
Hes handsome, rich aud loves you;
you'll marry him tomorrow. and Ia
month you'll worship him. Now not
word. but 60 TO your bed. | Will
guard you very well till your BRIDE
groom comes, my dear"
The day was In its decline, and still
Conrad Blair kept Elva close pris-
oncr. lest she should escape her fate
aud Ay to tho arms Of Jack Delos. 30
frustrating himself and Droan.
IL had been hot all day--hot with q
fierce. glaring intensity. but now .
sudden darkness had come; sudden.
low rumble was sounding aud just as
Gerald Droan, accompanied by Q
stranger, reached the door Of Conrad
Blnir's cottage such sheet OF white
lightning was fuug athwArt the gloom
that for . moment they were blinded;
: crash Of thunder followed, denfeh-
iug. appalling. and Conrad Blair, who
had opened the door TO admit bis
gusstG stasgsred backward apaoo or
two.
A. fhnf lnakank = sllnhk ANAL 60ura