Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-03-25
And then there was 4 siIenee He stand,

And then there was silence. He stand,
Ing with HIS head hanging. and she looking
at him straight, scanning his very soul.
"What makes such cur Of your Vida
asked suddenly.
II AIN not a ciir," he answered.
Lift mp your head then"
He raised II, and tried TO look AT her de
family. But she was smiling. and he stared
af her amazed.
Upon my word,r she said lightly, II
think that you are In love with me-
''As there Is a sun in the sky, he cried
passicnately, II amw
well, don't shrek 1t all over the woods"
said Vida. Now. being IN love with me,
what wolld you do for me?'
1t was boldly put, but he did not yet feel
encouraged. He only stared at her with
amazement In iiis dark wicked eyes.
what would do for you?" be said slow.
ly. why, anything"
Easily said," Vida replied in banterins
tone. But suppose ! try you-put you TO
the test?'
"Do it," lie said, 'and anything short Of
taking my own life I'll do"
You would not part with that?"
ITS only just begun. I've had no fling
yet. No, my lady, I'll not part with my
life"
Perhaps" still in a bantering tone she
spoke, you would take the life of anotherT'
An understanding was growing up be-
tween them. He drew step nearer, and
now looked at her steadily.
II would take life" he said deliberately,
''if were paid for it,
And what would be your price?''
He paused, and hot flush deepened the
brown Of his skin. Only by an effort could
he speak.
Il wouldn't do it for money" he said, ''bui
would for-loye."
He expected to see the fury spring into
her face and hear himself denounced for his
audacity, but she stood still and kept her
eyes upon his face.
Tomorrow night" she said I'm tone
that reached his ears distinctly, but went
very little beyond him, "a gentleman will
come riding through the village towards the
Gordonfells.''
DO know him?' he asked in the same
keen whisper
His name Is Basil Brandreth."
Il know him we'll"
Enough, then. He Il not TO come 10 the
Gordonfells; he must never reach it; and II
he could disappear and never be heard OF
agan-all the better"
He can be-
DO not let me know what could be done
buttell me this-can he be kept from the
Gordonfells?'
He cam
He no longer called her my lady," and
each moment he was growing bolder. He
had drawn nearly up to her when she check.
ed him with her hand.
You must do your work first, Vida said,
"and then seek payment"
I'll have something on account, " he said.
You will not deceive me-?
III there were twenty Basil Brandreths,
not one OF them should reach the Gordon.
fells tonight"
'0r be heard of again?'
Never again"
Haste you, then, to-day to CarpiHgdean.
and post this letter there" She drew one
from her breast and handed II IN him as she
spoke. DO il secretly and we'll"
You must not go yet" ne said, planting
himself In her way. Something on account.
Let me touch your cheek with my lips"
With shuddering frame she stood still
while he stopped down, and trembling with
JOY, put his lips, not TO her cheek. but to
her lips-he had quite recovered his ordinary
audacity.
That's my seal upon the compact" he
said.
And Vida, without answering a word.
drew her cloak over her head and hurried
back To Gordonfells.