Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-06-04
fair. placid brow I had never seen RULED b

fair, placid brow I had never seen RULED b
fore.
Heavensl shall / ever believe In my own
sex againi But this libel against Bernard. ]
would hasten TO him at once; I would hear
from his own lips the truth, and nothing but
the truth.
"Remain where you are, woman" I cried;
" will be with you again I'm a short space"
i entered the ~drawing-room.
My manner was that of one who wanders
In a dream-cold, Icy, almost ~lifeless. Colo
mel McGregor evidently perceived a marked
half-confusedly.
show Shall l ever dare hope TO obtain your
pardon?'
My proud spirit was fully reused.
i did not relent.
"Sir," / cried, II nave come TO release You
from your engagement with me. You have
this morning offered marriage TO another wo-
man."
'Oh, Gertruder' he cried, looking white
as death, forgive mel implore it of you; !
was a mad fool, and hardly accountable for
what | said; II was a trying hour for me-, and
all men are fallible."
/ sneered contemptuousIy. "If a man Is
so weak that he cannot resist a pretty face,
Heaven knows what will become of him
You asked Grace Merton TO be yours, sir, and
she desires TO hold you to your word"
"Oh, Gertrude! Gertrude ~ he cried, wiring
ing his hands despairingly, Il tell you, upon
my honor, / was speaking under the infiu-
ence of mere passion. Gertrude, must / APP
peal 10 you in vain?" he continued, falling
on his knees at my feet. 'Confound that wo-
mani / desplse her far more than you dol
l should have awoke to a sense Of shame at
my folly before IL ever went any further. III
you leave me, Gertrude, you don't leave me
TO marry another. / never loved as / love
you, Gertrude. For Heavens sake hear me
forgive me-without you my life would in
deed be a blankr ~
His appeal was most earnest; doubtless he
bitterly repented OF his folly. We had been
very happy together for years. Why should
we allow a worthless woman TO separate us.
Are you willing 10 speak face toface with
Grace?" / asked.
"WillingP-Yesw he cried, impulsively,
and throwing open the door, Now, madam"
he cried, addressing himself to the occupant
Of the next room, KINDLY step this way"
/ shall never forget the detected appear
ance my friend presented as she came for
ward and faced US.
Miss Merton" / said, looking at her with
u~ndisgulsed contempt "you have been our
enemy and mischief maker; hear what Colo
mel McGregor has to say To you"
Miss Merton" he said, bowling, al am
sorry TO have to speak such words to you. /
speak them on my own account and IN my
nxrn Iafmnoo aal ~. % N,rxaf thn x-.-l,
1 uttered to you a short time back. They
were not meant seriously. There is but one
woman In the world whom / love and re-
spect, and that one is your friend, Gertrude.
l was weak enough, mad enough, TO listen
to your avOwal, but | have since repented Of
my folly. Had you proved yourself a sincere
friend Of Gertrude's, I should have at least
cherished a kind feeling towards you; as it
is, l thoroughly despise you. You are a false
friend, and a dangerous rival; but tell you
that, with all your beauty, 1 would rather re-
main a single man all my days than wed
you"
She laughed q bitter laugh.
'Grapes are sour! p she cried. "YOu are
a coward and a sneak; you cling to your
golden treasure because you can't live with
out 1t. l soar above you both. Gertrude is
a blind fool, and you are amercenary knaveI
-Adieu"
She was about TO fiounce out of the room,
when my aunt appeared at the doorway, a
rigid smile upon her lips. She fixed upon
Grace Merton a look | had never seen from
under those green glasses before.
1t was not a look exactly of anger. but a
penetrating. scrutinising gaze full Of con-
tempt and disdain.
She had heard the latter portion of my
friend's-or rather my enemy's-speech.
Eun ~