Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-07-09
Matte came In with the "bise"-mince-pie,
bread and milk, and a bologna-sau-

sage.
II used to keep a chunk of bologna In my
pocket when / was a boy mp In the pilot
house learning the river with old Tom Cor
win, and / like the taste OF 1t yet" said the
Captain, filling his capacious mouth. "Yes.
sir, 1 followed the river a good many years,
and no boat made better time than the City
OF Columbus while 1 was her Captain; but /
got sick OF II, it's an uneasy life, so l settled
down here In the lumber business. That's
my lumber piled up opposite the church, and
you won't find a neater stock in that line this
ride of Chicago, sir" i.
He always m~onopolized the conversation,
even when people called expressly To see his
wife or daughter, and he continued Dragging
about himself and even about Matte, who
sat quietly by, until Mr.. Liscombe rose, shook
hands all round, and departed.
The days and weeks passed. Mr.. Liscombe
drew his pay regularly, and kept the children
In the school-house the allotted hours of the
session, but there his usefulness as an IN
strlctor seemed to come To an end.
ale doesn't know whether he's hearing
Latin or geography" complained the rector.
"The school Is going to pieces. A man in
love Is good for nothing else; l wasn't my
self" he added with a smile.
"Doyou think Matte really cares for him?'
asked his wife.
II don't know; she gives him encourage
ment enough. Ross Arnold is home from
Philadelphia for a visit. | heard him ask 10
see her home LIST night, but she declined,
saying she had an engagement with Lis
combe.''
Mr.. LiscOmbe had heard her, too; and It
almost gave him courage TO ask the question
that for two months had trenbled in his
heart and on his lips. But his tongue al
ways refused TO do its Office. and So, tonight,
although he intended to tell her he loved her,
ne found himself saying: ''Were you much
acquainted with Harris, Miss Matte? 1 used
10 see him at the divinity school,
Miss Matte removed her hand from his
arm for an instant, but only TO take her
handkerchief from her pocket, and replied,
with a sweet emphasis, "He was a very diff
ferent person from you, Mr.. Liscombe."
The tender infection of her voice gave him
the long-sOught courage. so, Miss Matte"
he cried, determined to say il now If he cll0k-
ed in the attempt, 'if you only knew what
you have become"
"Ilarkv' Matte turned her head. 'Isn't
that Kate st. John calling me?'
Yes, It was she, hurTying breathlessly to
overtake them. Mr.. Liscombe did not like
Kate 81. John. She was Mattie's very inti-
mate friend, and had interrupted so many
precious tete-a-tetcs that he dreaded the
sound Of her voice. She was a telegraph
operator and boarded one door above Capt.
Frosts. Matte often went 10 the Office to
be company for her In the evening, sitting
ont or sight behind the wire screen until )
o'clock, when Kate was relieved from duty
by the night operator.
Inc days grew warmer and the ice went
out of the river, but ii was still heaped up in
great, broken sheets In the lake, and IL might
be several days before n boat would venture
through.
Tomorrow is my 18th ~bi",hday," said
Matte, as they walked home from church.
MIR. LiscOmbe had been telling her important
news; he had just received an appointment
70 a parish in the eastern part Of the State,
Dht would not take his departure until Easter.
only ore thought was In his mind-that lie
would take her with him To his new home.
lie had never yet declared his passion-but
her birthday. He would present her with a
volume of Tennyson with such tender pas
sages marked that she could not help but
understand him.
Capt. Frost was out Of town; he had gone
up TO the pineries 10 see about some timber,
and his wife, taking advantage of his alb
sence, had driven over to Plain View, a VII
'age six miles distant, 10 spend a few DAYS
with an old friend, leaving Matte TO keep
the house and sleep with her old friend Kate.
1T did not look like a very brilliant celebra-
ton of her birthday, but she seemed unusu-
ally animated as she saw that everything
about the house was orderly and then went
to the schOol-h0use door TO speak TO Mr.. Lis
combe. She frequently stopped 10 see II he
had the list Of hymns or 10 tell him that
cloir-meeting would be a half hour earlier
or later than usual 10 oblige one of the girls.
But no GRAND of this nature brought her to-
day. He thought she seemed agitated as he
stepped into the vestlbule, and, without
waiting for him TO speak, she said:
mir. Liscombe, will you do me q great IA
vor?'
II will do anything In the world for you,''
he replied earnestly, for once forgetting his
bashfulness.
Then will you meet me in the church to-
night at z o'clock and not tell q single soul?'
'ln the church at Z o'clock. Yes, l will be
there" he said.
''Be sure" she cried almost breathlessly;
"don't make any mistake" andmoved away,
but turned back to add: Remember, you
must not tell any one at all"
What could II be? Was she made desper-
ate by the news of his approaching depart
ure and would tell him that she could not
bear him to leave her? His gentle heart was,
filled with dismay ut the thought OF causing
her pain, but II she only would take the in
itiatlve and say she loved him. how mex
pressibly relieved Mr.. Liscombe would be.
He was promptly In the church at the hour
she had designated, and, lighting one small
amp, waited quite happy and confident for
her to come and bring his fate.
A long, deep steam-whIstle broke the quiet
of the evening. "A boat has gotten through
the lake." said Mr.. Liscombe. Immediately
there was a din of shouts and hurrahs. Tho
first boat through was a great event, and al
most the entire populace rushed from their
houses and down to the leyee to welcomethel
first break in their long, monotonous winter.
But all the boats on the Mississippi would
not have drawn Mr.. Liscombe from his sta
lion In the church, watching to see the door
open and the mistress of his heart appear. 1T
din oper-she came, but to his sudden dis
may she was not alone. Was he mistaken?
Could that DO tall, handsome John Harris?
Close behind came Kate 81. John and u
stranger.
Matte was very pale, but her eyes shone
with a light never seen there before. Even
then Mr.. Liscombe could think he had never
seen her so beautiful.
Mr.. Liscombe," she cried, 'you promised
to do me q favor"
"How do you do. MI. Liscombe," saiG John
Harris. II have cone to ask you to marry
me to Miss Frost"
Marry your gasped tho young clergy
man.
Certainly, and we are in a hurry, too"
you haven't any license" he falterel.
n licenses are required in Wisconsin,"
proclaimed four voices In unison.
Miss Frost isn't of age" he walled, pit
cously.
''lsn't to-day nv 18th birthtay9r asked