Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-10-08
uumbed by the sudden presence OF death

numbed by hes sudden presence or death
and its cold influence on her feverish soul.
The news had been telegraphed 10 Lord
Martin Pomeroy, and he answered briefly
that he would be in England to Join his
wife as quickly as possible.
/ heard the message with a feeling Of re-
lief. Gwendoline said nothing, and betray-
ed nothing of pleasure or regret. Gilbert
and Uric did not come to the house.
1T would not be right, Viola" Gilbert
said. II will do nothing that he would not
have me do while he was alive. Poor uncle
Richardl / wish he had just mentionedns
before he died, TO show that he had forgiven
us.''
And | longed to tell him what Mr.. Cas-
coigne had said to me; but my promise was
a thousand times more sacred now that he
could not return TO charge me with the
breaking of il.
do you not think" / asked, that his
consent to Annis's engagement was proof
Of itg'
mo. He only acquiesced in that as he
acquiesced In ours, because he did not think
it important enough to object TO, and be-
cause he did not believe IL would hold. Car
den tells me that uncle Richard said 10 him
that he had very different views for both
Annis and you. You were a great ~favorite
with the old gentleman, you know, dear,
and | believe Garden was half In love with
you himself"
/ felt the tell-tale color rush furiously to
my brow.
Don't believe anything Mr.. Garden tells
you, Gilbert!' l cried.
lie smiled, but looked at me a little curl
ously.
Even Garden may slip into truths once
in q way" he answered.
Two or three distant connections of Mr..
GascQigne came down 70 the funeral, and
hair Norbury was assembled In the grave
yard of the little church of Marlands St.
Gabriel when he was laid In the vault Of his
fathers. The summer sun shone though the
windows upon the stone monuments Of Gas
coignes In armor, Gascoignes In ruffs, and
Gascoignes by Flaxman and Chantry that
were the admiration Of all stray visitors to
the old edifce; and we stood in our sad
black dresses and listened to the clergy
mans solemn words. BY the grave-side
flowers were in bloom, and great wreaths
covered the coffin and away beyond the
churchyard stretched the fields white unto
harvest"
Crawford Garden was there, Of course,
with hy/ o%critical sorrow on his countenance,
thinking perhaps to find himself master Of
the Grange in a few hours; and the dead
mans nephews were there also, but they
did not so back with us to the house. wher
the blinds were now raised, and the great
dining-rOom, never before used while | had
been at the Grange, was formally arranged
for the reading OF the will. They would not
have it supposed that they expected any
thing from the old man.
had no wish to join the family assem-
blage. / did not want to be absent from the
funeral, but the will had 10 interest for me
since II did not concern Gilbert. And yet
everybody was a little agltated and anxious,
and had been ever since Mr.. GaScOigne's
death, although until he was buried they
had, for decency's sake, hidden the feeling.
No n knew TO whom ST. Gabriel's
Grange was bequeathed. / went upstairs
and wandered into the quaint old room, so
familiar, so strangely empty. L seemed TO
see Mr.. Gascoigne in the great armchair By
the carved stone chimney-piece, and felt an
impulse to push the little chess-table to the
chairs side and arrange the pieces on the
squares.
As l stood in the centre Of the room. look
ing round at the figures in armor and the
tapestry and the deep windows and the
high-backed piano-which | was soon TO
leave, with all else in ST. Gabriel's Grange,
perhaps never to see again-Annls came to
me aud laid a soft hand on my shoulder.
Viola, | nave been looking for you. Come
down; you are one of us now, you know"
Il thought your sisters would consider Ii
better that l should stay away a. Gilbert
has done"
NO; your absence is noticed. and Mr..
Garden says you are to be present. And /
want you-it all seems so dreadful, Viola. /
wish they would let me stay away"
Her pretty mouth was QuIyering and her
HeI, @nu sosJt.Ns -"V- -Ssrv .aEvoNn0- urnnIs'
hall.