Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-19

for Fairy herself, with her bonny child
ish ways and merry ripping laugh, was
like CLEAN of sunshine in the old house,
and soon won the hearts of all--even OF
Mr.. Elmore. She was little shy at first
of the grave-looking old man; but, after
she had got over her shyness, her great
est delight was to wander about the
grounds clinging to his hand or to sit
perched ON his knee while she chattered
TO her hearts content.
Mr.. Elmore had great deal TO tell his
san, but his favorite theme was always
Dora-her sweetness to him when he was
overwhelmed with sorrow, and her stead
fast faith in Dicks goodness and truth,
which had been one of his greatest COM
forts
"She has been like daughter to me
for these many, many long years, he said.
IF only had the courage, Iwould ask
her to be your daughter in reality" put
in Dick, in low tone.
MY boy, it would make me happy if
you would: and i do not think you need
fear that she will say No"
A little later Dick went to the drawing
room. Dora was sitting there, near the
fire, busy sewing, while Fairy was play.
ing with the dog, laughing in her pretty
merry fashion at his antics.
500 to grandfather, darling; he is az
by himself" said Dick; so the child ran
off, the dog barking and jumping after
her.
''She is quite at home here now," said
Dora, smiling.
Yes, and do not wonder at it-you
are SO kind to her; but then you are kind
and good to every one, he returned.
His eyes were fixed on her; the freight
shone brightly upon the fair head that
was now SO thickly streaked with gray;
and with a feeling Of pain he noticed how
the years of patient resignation and suf-
fering had changed the bright pretty girl
into = careworn woman; and yet, in spite
of her altered looks, he knew that there
was not and never would be face so
beautiful to him as hers. He stood lean
ing against the mantelpiece without
speaking, and she looked up with smile.
you are very silent, Dick" she said.
II was thinking of the past, Dora. DO
you remember how happy we were once:
1t was in this very room that l told you
how much | loved you. / was only o
boy then, Dora, but my love has never
changed--I have never loved any one but
you. | have hardly courage enough
now, after all that is past, TO tell you how
my love for you has grown deeper, truer.
IL you were not SO good and so forgiving
! should fail. But, Dora, you are so ten
der-hearted, so sweet, that /, unworthy
as / am, must tell you that | love you;
and, if you will give yourself to me, |
will love and cherish you for ever, and,
Heaven helping me, will never again
bring sorrow into your life. You are so
good, so bad-will you help me to be
better man? Can you overlook every
thing and be my wife?'
She rose from her chair her dark eyes
full of tears, her lips quivering, and, in
spite of the emotion that overpowered
her, managed, after a brief silence, to
speak almost without faltering.
''Dick, have always loved you; will
try to make you happy. Oh, dear Dick,
you have made me SO happy-for your
love is my lifer'
So Dick Elmore settled down to quiet
country life, happy in having an almost
perfect woman for his wife-a woman
whose deep love made him forget the
shame and bitterness of the past, and
who helped him to fight against the
temptations that sometimes came TO him.
There are many children in the old house
now-his children and hers-as he had
once fondly dreamt there might be; they
fill the rooms and passages with their
merry voices, bringing renewed vigor
and joy to old Mr.. Elmore; and yet, dear
ly as he loves them all, Fairy Brenham-
little no longer-will always reign queen
of his heart, for he knows that but for
her he might never have seen his son
again.
Fairy's life is very happy one, for,
although there are many children at the
Grange now, neither Dick nor Dora love
hex less; and, could the poor circus-rider
look down upon her child and see how
happy her life is, she would know that
she had indeed acted wisely when she
left little Fairy as a legacy to wild
Dick"