Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-06-04

- NtlEAl lNlILdl dtItgI. WHEN
lie ITSELF fiows like q smooth unruflcd stream.
haa Just attained my one and-twentieth
birthday.
was engaged 10 be married to a man I
loved. My chief friend and companion was
the Belle OF Rothsey, the envy and admira-
loh Oh The whole village; her name was
trace Merton, and she was the ~loyeliest wo-
nan In the world, In my eyes. | was an artist,
ana II was my delight TO sketch the perfect
lace OF my girlish friend and school compau-
ION. was not Jealous. How could | be
Jealous of a bosom friendp
Besides, ] had secured the heart and hand
Oh one OF the most enyied heirs In Rothsey.
n standing next In succession To n baro-
netcy. What greater stroke of fortune could
l secure had | possessed the most beautiful
face in Christendom?
was not n beauty. but my friends all saw
q something in me; what that something was
i never had been able to discover. / was
about the average height. of somewhat stout
frame, with dark hair and eyes, and rather
sallow oompleXion-the very opposite 10 my
fair delicate friend, with her golden hair.
blue eyes, and exquisltely modelled features.
1 had no relative In the world, except a maid
en- aunt whom lived with but had money,
and OF course, could command q wide circle
OF friends and acquaintance. | was proud,
and, with the exception Of Grace Merton, /
never admitted any woman into my conf
dence.
was too proud 10 be jealous, / had too
much self-re5pect; | knew that IL l had not
beauty, | had many other higher gifts to
make up for its absence, and | bad one Of
the p~rettlest homes In Rothsey. l was hap
py-ahl too happy to last.
was, at the commencement OF my tale,
sitting on a bench beside the clear brook.
which rippled at my feet, at the end Of our
garden, and on which the cheering sunrays
reflected two shadows-my own and aunt
Betsy's who sat beside me knitting, seeming
more grave and solemn than usual. She was
a prim splnster on the shady side Of fifty, an
excellent and well-disposed creature, al
though perhaps given TO look on the shady
side Of things; she had corkscrew ringIets
fastened back by side combs, a ford com
plexion, and wore green glasses. One OF the
most unpleasant features In my aunt's face
was her mouth; II was always set and grim;
II never relaxed IN any occasion; no friyo-
lous smile dared 10 Turk around its sacred
precincts. She had long, long bid her final
adieu 10 this worlds glare and tinsel.
Gertrude" she said, after a long pause,
~ have been thinking over your wish, and l
advise you not 10 invite Grace Merton 10 stay
with you until after you are married"
opened my eyes 10 their fullest extent
"Wby afterp' / asked In establishment.
"My dear Gertrude, you don't face the two
sides Of the question; she may he all very
well as a companion; but have you consider
ed that your intended husband will be visit
Ing you at the same timer
Still IN perfect darkness as 10 the drift of
her argument, ] replied:
'0f course, / have considered il, aunt;
surely the house Is large enough to hold
both"
There was another awkward pause, a shift
ing OF the green glasses, and again a firm
hand on my arm.
MY dear, you won't understand me; there
are some women whom no houses are large
enough 10 contain. Suppose she should be-
come a-a-a nvalg' finally burst out my
aunt, turning round suddenly, and facing
me.
The latter word, instead of having its usual
effect, touched Inc quite in a contrary direc-
tion. / burst out with n hearty laugh, my
aunt looking on with frigid seriousness all
the while.
''Childl-why do you laughy' she said, aft
er regarding me for a long interval. rs it
so very impossible for one woman to rival
another; and one who has such winning pref
tsness, a~nd-and-g' She hesitated here,
and breaking of into another strain. remind
al tna that mona az anr camille haH nNar haan
beauties (Which fact she herself certainly
bore OUT reminded me also that my dark
heavy features would not retain youth In
them long, and that men were always led
away nowadays by prettiness.
Still bearing my aunt's uniiattering COM
parison spontaneously, / replied:
Some men, but not such men as Bernard
McGregor; besides, Grace Merton is my
friend" / laid emphasis on the last word
'friend, )" my ideas on the subject being rath-
er elevated. To me the word friend" com
prised all q woman should be 10 another
genuine, true, steadfast, ready 10 sacrifice
anything and everything. Alas, l placed too
high a stake on frail woman's friendship. l
judged Others by myself.
My aunt saw that / entirely ridiculed her
caution; she knew that my will was as firm
and stubborn as my friendship.
Have your WI way, Gertrude" she said,
rising and vending her footsteps towards
the house; you can never know anybody
until you live with them! But, come" And
my aunt was a sealed book 70 me for the rest
OF that day.
The following day Grace Merton arrived,
and was warmly greeted by myself, although
received somewhat coldly by my aunt Old
maids are often curious In their ~prejudices,
and | attributed my aunt's Formally TO her
weakness in this respect.
Grace Merton,I have neglected TO mention,
was an orphan like myself. Perhaps this
similarity In our positions made the bond Of
sympathy stronger between us, only In every
other respect we were entirely opposite.
She was fair and pretty, l was dark and
ugly; she was penniless, and | was well of.
j pitied from my very heart this young and
lovely girl left to battle with the world. sur
rounded by all the allurements and tempta-
tlons which such a beauty as hers would lay
her open Ia.
Grace met me with q hearty embrace on
her arrival.
"My dear old girl" she cried, holdlnng me
before her by my two hands; Il declare You
are growing quite pretty"
i smiled and shook my head. No, l was
not weak enough TO take that In l attrib-
uted this expression TO the natural warmth
of her disposition
In her eyes probably l might have been so
in the blind eyes Of a loving friend; but,
alas, when l turned my head and marked
the contrast In the opposite mirror, convic-
ton told me that II ! was not positively ugly
Il certainly had no pretensions to good
looks.
my dear Grace" replied. "you are sec
ing your own beauty reflected In me; but l
fear l nm a very uniiattering mirror Of your
SELF"
She laushed, and circllng her arm In mine,
led me oUs into the lawn.
Nov, Gertrude" she said, when we reach
90 the summer-house, ''let us sit down and
talk. You can't think how curious l am to
see this intended husband Of yours Oh, you
lucky girl, don't you appreciate your good
fortune%.'
sIEdeed | do. Grace--I love him with oil
my heart"
mot all" echoed my companion, placing
her arms around my neck, mot all; reserve
a little corner In your heart for poor. neglect
ed, deserted me-"
l glanced up at tho lovely profile bending
down upon me, with It's angelic ~softness, q