Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-09-17
"A Dangerous Game.
By THE AUTHOR OF my DEAREST HEART"

By THE AUTHOR OF my DEAREST HEABr."
81 would give up the whole world, and
Uric must think l would not give up any
thing. / do not want any of uncle Richards
money. / am very miserable, though l am
very happy too, Viola; and when uncle said
he had engaged a young lady to be his COM
panion, and when / saw you, l said 1 should
have a friend TO coniide in, and from whom
10 seek advice"
"How can a stranger, an utter stranger,
possibly help youP"
"Better than any one, II she were really q
friend. DC you think cannot tell how
strange n household we must seem? Some
times ! think the house itself must be
haunted, and / lie awake and tremble as |
hear the wind moaning among the iir-trees;
it seems to whisper 10 me, and cannot UNI
derstand. HiIda is cold and angry with me
! Or meeting Uric; / never see my uncle
without fearing he has in some way heard
! OF 1t. GyendoliHe Is most unhappy OF MS
all; but she will tell me nothing. You say
IL is not the dreariness which drives you
away?"
Il would sooner live in st. Gabriels
| ufduCt IMAM VI dl1 btiiCi HDu5G Il hANN t'tA
seen"
"You go because of G~wendoline?'
i was silent.
IF she took back her words, would You
stay, Viola?"
II would stay If / thought she would not
use words like them again. But IL / can
help yOu-as a friend, Annis | will stay, let
your sisters say what they please"
~ 4. II - - t-l ~ H. A.tI.N -.
ing and kissing me. Now / know Uric
and / are SAFE. Think what a dragon uncle
Richard might get"
She had been gone five or ten minutes,
and | standing, half hesitating, with my let
ter in my land, pride rising against my last
decision, when Lady Martin Pomeroy enter
ed the room.
$50" she said tauntingly, "Sfiss Thorne
puts on the tragedy-queen air, and demand
an apology!'
'Your sister has m~isinterpreted me-" /
answered coldly; and at the sound Of that
s~neering voice my hand frightened on the
letter | had been about 10 destroy, and /
met her eyes straight and calmly.
AS / did so, / could but think how lovely
she was. Never before had she appeared
so beautiful. There was a flush on her face,
1 y III III hNi ltAtdl tHs alA ' lib
gold hair, hanging loose on the crimson
gown, shone in the glow Of the lamp as If
light was given off from each cleaning
thread. There was something magnetic in
Gwendoline Pomer0y's loveliness which
fascinated even those who denied her
charms.
you ask no withdrawal or explanation
from mey'
stNpna - raplied pnldly
''Then YOU should. No IN OF spirit
would endure such words to be said TO her
facet
Il am satisfied with Annis's assurance
that your words were hasty, and that YOU
would in future treat me as one lady treats
another"
who says what | will do in future? /
can give no promise myself" she cried.
And have meant every word have said.
You were hired TO be a spy, Miss Thorne,
and a spy, il you stay, you will be"'
Then / will not stay, Lady Martin; you
may be assured OF that"
"Oh, do you think | do not know she
cried passiUnateiy, what il means? Your
predecessors Were employed as spies, and
would have acted 30; they came 10 watch US,
and report 10 Mr.. Gascolgne where we went
and whom we met, so that If he did not ap
prove everything, he would send us of like
Gilbert and Uric. Do YOU think l should
care for that? No; but il is who am 10 be
followed by a detective, and this by my hus
bands orders, To be watched like a crimina.
by my own sisters, and by hired spies! Your
predecessors were men," she continued, hel
voice shaking; they could be duped by z
look and cheated by u smile. And my un
Gle began to fear that the remedy might bt
worse than the disease, that his niece nigh
fall in love with his secretary. So he EN-
gagged a Woman for the business, who would
see with sharper eyes n heal with sharper
ears. And from the moment l heard you
name l hated you, Viola Thorner
She stood before me with sparkling eye,
and flushed face, her breath coming in saor
, quick gasps, as, in a voice intense and sup
pressed, the angry words came from her sc
lips.
"Do you think" Z asked calmly, that al
English girl, a girl scarcely older than YOU
sister Annis, Lady Martin, would under
take such duties as you have deSeribedY vi!
only duties have to do with Mr.. Gascoigne
What interest have l in your doings!g'
Interest! No! But that you are pait
for it. Already. tonight, l have been watch
ed. and you ask an apology from mer'
/ tried to speak; but the impetuous rusl
OF her words half frightened me. She wa
trembling as she uttered them.
Il have been suspected-always suspectes
all my life! Ii Is enough to drive one Il
evil. They may have something to suspec
ME for at last!' she said, with her shor
cynical laugh, sharp and intensified; an,
after il came a wild sobbing cry and a aoos
of bitter tears. and Gwendoline sank into
chair and let her head fall on her arms, I'm
fit Of uncontrolled Mysteries.