Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-08-13
THE PITY OF IT.

THE PITY OF 1T.
Nh. the memory of that delicious
evening. how it all comes up before
me now! How many changes a few
short hours can work in ones life. for
it seemed to me as if | must have
loved Jack Merriam all my life.
"Don't let us 20 back TO the bali
room." he pleaded, as we stood in the
moonlight in the hallway; "it is SO
lovely here. and then | may not have
a chance of seeing you again. l leave
tomorrow for the other side"
shall you be long awayP' asked,
with n fainting heart.
About three years" he said. IL
have accepted a professorship abroad.
| am glad. Miss Thorne, that ! have
had the opportunity of meeting you,
even when did not know you. Now
] know what | have lost"
Was he trifing with me or in earn
est? felt all my self-possession leave
me. ! rose TO my feet. Are you i'll,
Cecil? Look at me; hear me-" His
dark, handsome face was close TO mine.
] felt myself wayering; then ! grew
firm again. If he was triiing with me
! would teach him a lesson.
"Mr. Merriam" | said, coldly, "what
right have you to talk to me like this
after u few hours acquaintance"
Then | looked at him stealthily to
note the effect of my words that came
so hard from my lips. Was it fancy
or did his eyes glitter with q strange
emotion and passionate longing? All!
the secret of that heart ] was not to
learn for many years to come, for on
the morrow | was called away to the
dcathbed of my aunt.
Four years passed away and vas
no longer Cecil Thorne. When Her
bert Ellis offered me his hand and for
tune / only hesitated long enough To
convince myself that life with him
would be preferable to one of toll and
labor by myself. He gave me every
thing that wealth could buy, and |
gave him-siInply myself.
Only one letter came from Mr.. Mer-
RAM after my marriage. He congrat-
ulated me in cold and polite terms,
expressing n hope that | would be hap
py. That was all. From that day |
resolved to think no more of him and
to devote myself to my husband as
never before.
Had | misiudged him and thought
| him cold, when it was only his regard
for me that kept him from showing
| his alfectionp | had often noticed
his sad, distracted II when |
came upon him suddenly, and how
| difficult it was for him to regain his
usual placid, disinterested one.
The doctor ordered me abroad for
the winter and Herbert decided TO
spend it in Italy. We had been in
Florence about six weeks, when he
came upon me n morning, feeling
depressed and utterly lonely.
II saw n friend Of yours to-day,
Cecil" he said. do you remember
Jack Merriam"
Did | remember him? The room
whirled round before me and it was
with difficulty | answered him:
Il remember him perfectly, Herbert.
Is he the sameg"
a good-looking chap still, though
he saws he is i'll. Win be in Florence
n few days longer. You had better
have a dinner and ask him. He seems
the fashion"
But will he come if so ill?" | asked
"You can let him decide that for him
self, my dear" answered my HUSBAND
as he left the room.
"John Merriam accepts, with pleas
ure," etc; so read his note, in the ssm'
handsome hand he had written years
before.
was very particular as to my gowr
for that evening. For the first tim'
since my marriage | was pleased witt
myself, and think the yellow crap
never appeared To better advantage.
yes, Cecil you are charming, my
dear" said Herbert, when the all-im
portant day arrived; "your gown i
very chic, but your jewels? Wher
are they? Most of the guests onl,
come to see them"
II hate my jewels ! answered, sud
denly angry; Il don't wear them to
night" And / turned away to lool
over some late magazines.
Mr.. Merriam was at last announced
and with my heart my own no longer
turned and looked into the face tina
was all the world to me.
"Mrs. Ellis" he murmured, as hi
fingers closed over mine, for that on,
brief moment, "this is the creates
pleasure of my life to see you again.
For an instant he looked into IN,
eyes and seemed TO read all that wa
written there.
"You are the same nightingale a
ever" he said, softly, after | had sun:
him a selection or two later.
), "Am |? 1t seems as though | ha'
had everything to change me-" | an
swered, listlessly.
"Why that sad little voice. Miss Ceci
"a thousand pardons-Mrs. Ellis.
For | was conscious of reddening, all,
e strange tightening of the throat.
"Of course YOU are much more beau
tiful, but still the same Have yo'
been happy since / last saw your Blu
l need hardly ask-you have every
thing to make you happy" and hi
eye glanced around the l~uxuriousl.
, furnished room.
, "Ali but TIE chief thing" l returned
bitterly, sand that Is the love of a sin
gle being" as | answered his question
ing gaze. !.
|, "Surely your husband loves you; b
worships you.n
did not answer this time. but play
ell softly on the KEYS.
-And you love him!" lie bent
little closer, rs though not to lose
word.
@No. My love was dead when
} married Herbert Ellis"
-You mean that you have loved be
fore, and hc--is he alivep" he asked ii
q low. constrained voice.
For a moment u wild desire seize
me TO tell him all my life - m
thoughts and my passionate love TO
HIM. 1t was n fierce struggle, but
short one. and l felt that / would no
I stoop 50 low before the man honored
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