Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-08-27
A Dangerous Game.
BY THE AUTHOR OF my DEAREST mAnr."

glowing fire burned on an ancient hearth,
around which painted tiles told the story OF
Joseph and his Brethren; and the blaze was
reflected by the silver and glass on the table,
and yet more strongly by the Furnished
b~reastrplates and helmets of two knightly
figures standing between the folds Of the
tapestry curtains that shaded the windows.
At the head of the table sat my employer,
Mr.. Gascoigne.
II am glad to see you, and welcome you
TO ST. Gabriei's Grange" he said. II sup
pose you are aware | cannot rise to receive
you, also that | am not accustomed inyarla-
bly, TO have a lady TO do the honors of my
table?'
The only other person In the room was an
old serying-man, who stood behind, MI. Gas
coignc's chair. A very old man Mr.. Gas
colgne appeared to be; but / could see still
IL the lineaments OF the face, shrunken and
yellow though it was, the traces of a hand
some youth. a clean-slayen chin and Won
derfully bright eyes, that hardly seemed to
require the aid Of his gold-rimmed double
eyeglass, might still have detracted from
the aspect of age had il not been for the
parchment texture Of his skin and the per-
feet whiteness OF his scanty hair. His dress
was OF old-fashi0aed cat, q dresscoat Of
antique make, and embroidered black satin
waistcoat, on which shone a thick watch
chain with a bunch of seals, and a high black
stock.
Have You seen my nieces, Miss Thorne?"
he asked, as he carved with dexterity the
fowls In front of him.
Yes | answered; III have seen them;
Lady Martin Pomeroy was good enough to
give Inc some slight sketch Of my duties.
But, as ] have not had much experience, l
hope you will give me further instructions,
sir"
II wonder what she knows about themg'
said the old man. II will tell you fast
enough, Miss Thorne. AT the present time
l am not going 10 say another word until
dinner Is over. You can devote the whole
Of yohr attention to your meal, as | prefer
10 do, and we will talk afterwards"
Taking this TO be nothing more nor less
than an order for silence, / held my peace
and confined my consideration. as suggested,
TO the tempting dishes brought me by the
grave servant, with surreptitIous glances at
Mr.. Gascoigne and the details OF the apart
ment.
There were some choice flowers In the
large epergne In the center OF the table, ar
ranged without any skill or taste, and |
noticed in a recess by the fire a small high
backed piano. But the room nevertheless
did not look as though ii had a mistress.
Afterwards ] learned that those flowers had
been ordered from the hot-house IN my hon
or, and that the piano had been tuned the
first TIM for many years because of my
coming.
| i liEaI fha Lob - tlfa rn.,., h,44.. A..
the brightness Of the elegant d%rawing-room
downstairs. Its half light and big fireplace,
its low ceiling aud heavy curtains, seemed
warm and friendly; the gllttcring dinner
plate was cheerful, the atmosphere comfort
ably heated and pleasant with the scent Of
the flowers. OF Mr.. Gascoigne my glances
taught me little more than the first look had
done, for the long table and the flowers d.
yided Us. When dinner was over, he moved.
By the aid Of his stick. into the deep arm
chair by the hearth, and addressed me once
more
Now, Miss Thorne, kindly come a little
nearer, aud let me have a look at my new
secretary"
went to him, and he regarded me critic
ally.
YES" he said, Il think you will do; but
it's an eXperiment-an experiment. You
are the first young lady / have hal in that
~capacity, and IL is possible We may not suit
each other. But | think perhaps we SHALL
What he saw In me to bring him to this
decision 1 cannot tell.
II will try my best 10 please you" re-
piled, for his gaze was not unkindly, IL keen,
and the words had n complimentary ring
about them quite foreign TO their literal inn
port.
"You can sit down in that chair opposite
me: | am ware you have had a journey.
Now what do you think Of the Grange9"
Il think 1t Is the most beautiful house /
ever saw" 1 said. IL saw 1t shining in the
moonlight as ! came down the road, and
thought il almost too beautiful 10 be real
Well, | dare say you have discovered
that inside there are two parts 10 the house.
DO you prefer mine or my nieces'?"
Yours / answered at once.
"Why?"
Because it Is more in keeping with the
outside-paltly, too, because ii is a complete
change from anything | have seeii before"
And you have never seen such a beauti-
full house?-"Neyer."
"And you think you can make up your
mind to live in it; that is, so far as the place
a.,
Itself goesg'
1T would be q delight simply TO be- in q
house like this, / think" was my answer.
Perhaps | spoke rather enthusiastically,
Tor In truth | was charmed with the Grange.
DO you mean what you AVE saidg' he
asked, looking across at me suddenly.
The dry keen one came like a cold breeze
Oh my rising ardor.
II always mean what say" l answered
quietly;
And always say what you think?'
II did not add that. There is a great diff
ference"
SLOW sop
at might not always be either kind or
wise 10 say exactly what one thought"
Then what would you sayi If you couldn't
speak your thoughts and would not say what
you did not meanT'
Nothing"
The old gentleman chuckled.
bravo, Miss Thorne! You'll do. l be-
gin to see we shall suit each other. You
think you could keep a secret II circumt-
30 do so, for ~insianceg"
II am sure Icould, i'll thought it was
right"
All, tldl - u Coilutllpu. IL ttc sttIch
were interesting to communicate, perhaps
you would not think 1t right-eh?"
II hope my view OF right and wrong
would not be decided in any such way"
II hope not. 1t Is possible you may have
one or two secrets to keep in this house,
but l will promise you, on my part, they
shall not be wrongful. AS for others, why,
you ere not bound TO mind them, you know.
Now do YOU think you could sing me asong,
or are you tired?"
II am not tired now" / answered.
"But perhaps you have a cold or want
your music?"
mo, l have no cold. and / can remember
3 few songs without music. i will sing, IL
you careto hear me, Mr.. Gascoigne."
ut was In the bond, was IL not? retorted
Mr.. Gascoigne. 'Do you know any old
Scotch ballads-anything by Burns or
Hoggg'
/ opened the antique Instrument backed
with faded red silk tina. was gathered to a
central ~rosette, and began John Anderson
my Jo." The keys were yellow and the
compass was small, but the one OF the old
piano was sweet and soft; and, i'll was a
little tired and nervous, | tried to sing the
sad sweet old song as best / could. When
II was ended, Mr.. Gascoignc made no re-
mark, but sat silently watching me. as II he
expected / should simply 90 on until fur
ther orders. So I struck the notes with q