Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-10-01

the explanation, Tor l could not tell him L
had run away from his partner, Mr. Craw-
ford Garden. | was bound to respect Mr..
GascOigne's secrets, even though | hated
them with all my heart, while / lived be-
meath his roof and in his service.
We stood by the wall for a few minutes,
and he told me again the old story | could
not weary OF hearing, nor he Of telling.
And, as we parted, he claimed and took his
first kiss, under the blue sky and the gleam-
ing stars. But the same moment | started
back from him.
What was ihatg'' | said fearfully.
''There was no sound, my pet, except that
melancholy old owl and the ~grasshoppers.
Are YOU So timid, Viola? Why need we care,
when tomorrow everybody may knowg'
II thought | heard a step-a whisper"
''The whisper OF the trees, dear, telling
you how | love you-perhaps the footsteps
Of the fairies, who have come to listen"
And, as vent quickly back TO the Grange,
It seemed to me as if there were fairies in
the wood singing his words 10 Inc, and the
refrain OF a song. 1t rang in my ears; the
air seemed full of il.
"whate'er may he, where'cr thou art,
Dear love l love thee sverm9re'"
Alt htAN hlDiiiilE a. llltNNt-t NaS biOukhb
10 me from Mr.. GascOigne-
"Mr. Gascoigne wishes TO see you at once,
Miss ThOrne."
1t was a very rare thing for him TO want
me in the morning, and | wondered, as l
mounted the wide stairs, whether | had vex-
ed him by leaving the room on the previous
night, and whether il would be well TO tell
him all now.
To my surprise, / found Mr.. Gascoigne
not alone. Beside his chair stood Hilda
Farquhar, erect and tall. Behind her the
morning sunlight slanted in through the
long side-windows and lighted up her pale
yellow hair, the curve Of her perfect face,
and the light blue dress that matched the
clear cold blue Of her eyeS-the blue of a
spring sky swept by the pitiiess east wind.
She raised those ~eyes-and there came In
20 them a sudden CLEAN of iire-and glanced
at me as ] entered the room. Then she
looked straight before her at the old piano
and the dark pictures on the paneled wall.
Her mouth was set in a firm hard line, her
hen hands, over which fell deep ruffles Of
the lace that here aud there enriched her
gown, were pressed "a little tightly in their
careless clasp.
And near her sat Lady Martin Poneroy,
her elbow resting on the table and her hand
shading her eyes. She neither looked nor
moved when | entered.
Kindly shut the door. Miss Thorne; l
wish to speak 10 you. VIII YOU sit down in
that chair?'
Mr.. Gascoigne indicated seat opposite 10
him; but l stood by it, nearly opposite
Hilda, and waited for his next words. His
voice was keen and sharp, and | trembled q
little inwardly, although 1 was able TO raise
my eyes honestly and inquirlngly to meet
| the penetrating look fixed OF ME from be-
meath his bent and wrinkled brows.
II have heard some statements concern
ing YOU he went on slowly, ''and | desire
you 10 answer them in the presence of my
informant. | am told that you, knowing
perfectly well the position of my %nephews
| with respect to this house and To myself,
knowing also your own position here as my
| amanuensis-"
"lour paid amanuensls,' put In Hilda
calmly, with scornful accent.
MY paid amanuensis'-thc old gentle
! man accepted the alteration in unchanged
voice. Knowing these things, you have, /
hear, been in the habit of meeting Mr.. Gil
bert Gascoigne during your walks, in the
dDotlAC W my hftNNns 0hh NbaN Mss hiShk
you left this house.
without leave added Hilda.
without permission, 10 meet him by the
lake, alone. | wish to ask you whether this
Is true. and. If it is, whether you have any
explanation TO giye?'
as that all you have been toldy' | asked.
| The question must have sounded strange;
but that did not strike me then.
| "a IIslla E..Ear EAN$
back the hot flush from my face and
strengthened my tremulous tones. He was
angry, and yet l had teen conscious Of no
sin. He was Gilbert's uncle, and he had
been kind to me.
SIS not that ~enougli9' said Hilda sharply,
and In the cry betrayed herself.
knew then that she had said nothing Of
| Uric and Anuis, but had trusted to my own
! disgrace to either diseredit me or briag on
me the blame for having misled Annis. /
knew too that the game was in my hands,
II | liked TO win but Annis was my friend,
and | could not betray her.
II am waiting for your answer" said Mr..
Gascoigne. II agree with my n~iece-what !
have said is enough. Is IL true!"'
Again IIilda raised her eyes and looked
at me almost iiercely, and her hands grip
ped each other tightly.
1T Is quite true" l answered slowly. II
have me. your nephew. | asked you, sir, IL
YOU had any a1mmands TO give me for my
conduct outside your rooms, and you SAID
not. 1 am engaged to Gilbert"
And is that all you have to sayy' he
jcrked out.
Except that / have acted with no inten-
ton OF disobeying you, that, II you are an
CRY, / am very, very sorry; and know Gil
bert will be even more So"
Why should he care? DO you suppose
he thinks | am likely to forgive him his W
sins? Does he expecs 10 get my money yety'
II am quite sure he does not"
"And you were nnsdeludlng yourself with
the notion that you would be the mistress OF
the Grange, l snpposey'
IF Gilbert had been your heir" said,
sit would never have happened. ] should
not have met him, and you would have had
the right TO see that he pleased you In what
he did"
You think l have not that right nowy'
ss'You east him of. Mr.. Gascoigne, ard re-
fused even to hear his name, and be had
acted independently of your wishes, but
never In opposition to them. III he had been
your heir. he would lave been abeye me In
position. and l would never have had II said
that | had married him for that position,
even had circumstances then brought us to
getber."
".As circumstances, ! suppose did nowy'
he said shrewdiy.
let II pass. The Circumstances ! could
not, for the sake OF Annis, explain.
IF l have seemed TO dibobey or deceive
you,r l said. II ask your pardon; but You
left me frsc and onieft him free"
".And how long did you mean 70 keep up
the decegliou"