Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-06-25

nanceS winch eyed hcr lnquisitlycly She
bore 1t as long as she could, then she rang
the bell ~neryotisly.
II shall take off my bonnet, II you will
kindly show me the way TO a bedroom" she
said, accostlng the grim woman-seryant with
friendly warmth.
The woman surveyed her with hostility,
smiled unpleasantly and preceded her upthe
staircase without answering.
Arrived in a neglected chamber, Miss Pris-
ella looked round her with the inevitable
curiosity that spinsters bring 10 bear on the
abodes OF bachelors or widowers. The pref
ty paper on the walls was widowed, the
brown Holland blinds were dropping from
their rusty nails, and the mirror was so dim
that she could not refrain from drawing n
finger across its surface. Then she blushed
at her action. "What an old maid | am
growingT' she said, and effaced the traces
of her handiwork.
"Master allows no one in the study the
servant informed her rs she approached the
door OF her descent.
Your master will not mind me-" she said,
turning the handle and entering.
Here, too, the demon Of neglect and disor-
der reigned supreme; the CRATE was REDEEM
ed In spots by the last shower down the
chimney; the ink-stand was filled with n
thick sediment, and a heap Of pre-Adamite
pens lay beside IT; when she selected a book
from the shelves It blackencd her fingers;
when she sat down the chair retained an out
line Of her form. 1T is perfectly Disgrace
full! she said, flushing angrily; 'and 10
think Of that horrible woman pretending to
serve him! And, of course, hc, poor dear,
notices nothing"
Miss Priscilla was I'm n scOrnfully indig-
nant mood, otherwise she would not have
ventured to jerk the bell as she did. Bring
me a buster, please" she said, when the wo-
man appeared. The latter tossed her heal
wrathfully and waited for an explanation.
None being youchsafed, she flounced off, and
presently returned with a nOndescript arti-
Gle, which she offered at arms length. Miss
Priscilla thanked her politely, closed the
door after her carefully and then set to work.
She did nst reason about what she was doing,
she only felt that Ii she was 81 sit in that
room 1t must be clean first, and with her
snowy cuffs laid aside and her sleeves tuck
cd up, she got 80 into the spirit of her occu-
patton that she sang softly to herself over it.
There was not a thing that she touched that
she Gid not ~renoyate, and, when all was tidy,
and the roses, gathered an houT ago, were
pouring their fragrance from q jar on the
center-tablr, Miss Priscilla sat down and
sighed. Meantime, the rain had begun 10
fall sharply and the wind TO whistle shrilly
In the keyhole, and Miss Priscilla beth0ught
herself Of the luckless pedestrian.
when Mr.. Horribly is out in the rain what
doyou doy' she said, walking boldly into the
kitchen and a~ssailing the enemy in her
stronghold.
"Do? Why,nothing. What is there to do?'
gruffly.
'Do you not have a fire lighted for him
and his warm things waiting?"
''rhe master has no old maids ways that
i know OF, and, II you please, missis, you
will leave me to mind my own business in
the house where | have given great ~satisfac-
ton for over five years" This self-satisiied
person leaned herself in a threatening atti
tude against the table as she spoke, and look
cd at the intruder sourly.
Your business Is To make your master
comfortable. and | am sure YOU have no
stronger desire than TO do So" Miss Pris-
ella answered sweetly.
I'VE never have fires i'm the rooms before
September"
And, in a general way, that Is quite
right" Miss Priscilla pursued with the same
serpent-like smoothness; but, on exceptional
days, would you think ii wise to break your
ruler
Master never asks for a fire, not If it rains
ever So" was the mcompromising rejOinder.
Then would yon not think il well to sur
prise him for once? lie and | have been
friends for nearly forty years, and as he is
not very strong. ! should like to know that
he Is not running any risk. MEETINGS are
dangerous, you know, and 1 Z dare say you
and | would have difficulty in finding his like
again." The woman hesitated still, and then
this clever Miss Priscilla looked 1T her watch
and notified her Of the necessity that she
would be under of returning home soon.
Toms appearance that day was ended, bur,
in the ardor Ut her work, Miss Priscilla had
m~Omentarily forgotten the subject of her
yisiJ To tire rectory.
Three things in her last remarks had molli-
fed Miss Gaunt; first, she had known Mr..
Horribly for forty years, and, therefore, was
not likely 10 prove fatalto his peace of mind;
second, she was about ID remove her obnox-
ious presence from the reciory fcrthwith;
third, the rector was really a phenomenon
among masters.
Actuated by n variety of motives Miss
Gaunt bestirred herself, and in ten minutes
a good Gre was piled In the crate and after
a little suffering and putting, consented 10
burn cheerfully. Just Us IL To convince tho
rector's guest that she knew what was what,
and could have things right when she chose,
the attendant spread q spotIess cloth for tea,
and brought forth honey and fresh butter,
reserved, ~ doubt, for her use in a gem
eral way, and made the toast delicately and
crisply, and being then Modified by her suc-
cess, grew amiable, and urged Miss Priscilla
not to think OF venturing out in such soak
ing weather, us Mr.. Horribly was sure 10 be
in presently.
Miss Priscilla went 10 the window and
looked out obviously. The wideopen roses
were hanging their heads dejectedly. the
%mignonette was stirring H~beliously in the
wind, and the vivid ~greenness of the spongy
turf showed how thoroughly 1t had been
soaked. Rain was falling still, but occasional
riffs In the clouds gave promise OF improve
.nen. ., anu ny. enc decided. therefore, to
await il.
The rector felt, on his return,a II a change
had come to the whole world. To find hini-
self cozily and comfortably and cheerfully at
tea by his own iireside, with Miss Priscilla,
rosy from her past exertions, smiling p
site him, and expressing a kindly interest IN
VII bN hto W ttiis hNii-utNh hihi oehitiAoWs
lie could not have accounted for 1t, but he
felt rs IL he would like to go 10 sleep then
and there, to the musical accompaniment OF
clinking silver and china and a woman's
voice. Not that he ever indulget In an aft
enoon's nap, but he felt SO soothed and rest
ell, 1t seemed as il the next step must be
slumber. But Mr.. Horribly was polite, il he
was anything. lie shook or the drowsy In
nucnce, discussed Mrs. Tom and the best
way to reach her. feeling more than ever
how sad 1t was that Priscilla should fall into
her clutches, so that before his guest was
bonncted for her return home, the sun had
set. snd- tirc crcsccnt snucn~ itssif
boldly in the watery sky.
~ shall 20 down the village with you"
Mr.. Horribly said when she wished to say
good-by; and in spite OF her demurrings, he
got his thick boots and oyercoat. and sailed
forth by her side.
In the air there was the softness of recent
rain; the stocks anu gillyilowers were pour
Ing out Incense To the moon, while an uii-,
dauntcd nightingale sang Justify ima neigh
! boring tree. Z