Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-12-23

50 ~.1 VII VIZ bfs w ~ UySi~-<nf
wished them dispatched by the evening
mail.
Florence who was on the qui vive, lie.
tened too, and was relieved to hear the
"other letter" In the hall referred TO. Hers
was safe then and gose. In q few days nj
farfbest q crumb 10 satisfy her hunger must
reach her. She would know II her cousin
considered the scanty faith between them
br~oken-ff he held her still In respect or
contempt. Nevertheless her conscience
told her that Philip might well be angered
ut the lcvity OF her letter after their last
parting; but IL hts anger found vent IN
words, at least they must give her relief.
For his pain she cared little.
The days passed YEARLY, even though
splendid toilets were donned three times
each day, and Miss Worthtngon's beauty
wa q constant theme, and her destinations
acknowledged afresh after her years seclu-
sion. Once again Lord Harcourt Vernon
was unremitting in bis devotion; and his
intentions were patent to the world, and
to Miss Worthington herself perfectly I'm
telligible. A week passed, during which no
letter had arrived from Philip Darlington
merely q few lines from Maud, accepting
Florence's excuse that overwhelming en-.
gasements had prevented her from driving
TO Fuiham. At last suspense became un.
bearable, and, prompted by her good OF
evil fairy, she wrote promising to see them
at Fulham three days later, at the time
she knew they would all be at home. The
test was a painful one, but she thought 1t
ordinarily might be conclusive.
Lady Raven could raise no objection
her niece had been wonderfully moderate
In her desire 10 revisit her cousins: her
only suggestion now was that they might
drive thither together. Lady Raven would
remain in the carriage or enter the house
~ Florence liked. But the latter little
cared; her only aim was to see Philip, to
read what his eyes told her, to relieve the
intolerable craving of her heart, which
she had repressed so long that IL now
gained complete ~aseendency over her. She
was sure TO see him, she told herself; he
would be less able TO resist the temptation
OF another meeting than she herself. Blu
she little knew him.
Philip, having sought and pleaded for
her love, had accepted his rejection this
she again had vaguely Withdrawn, and
then bound him 10 silence and banished
him, till IL might please her sudden caprice
TO recall him. II was humiliation enough
for any man, and Philip Darlington was
no humble lover. Her letter too was an
insult, II she regarded 1t In the right light.
The letter OF ordinary cold friendship to
the man she had vaguely promised to mar.
ry, whom she had bound to silence, aud
whom she yet informed she would love 10
the last day Of her life, could by reasonable
people be looked on in no other light.
He knew she was no faint-hearted fright.
ened girl, powerless TO control her own win
or assert her own freedom. He knew too
we'll that, act as she might, she was utter
ly beyond coercion; and he had not a
shadow Of hope left. In his heart he firm
iy believed that her old engagement TO
Lord Harcourt Vernon had always re-
manned anbrokep, and that she had only
gratifed her caprice by indulging in q
passing fancy for himself. Or was he mis-
taken, and did she choose TO wreck her
happiness for caste, TO live In a splendid
mansion, TO ride In q coroneted carriage?
If IL was 80 his pride at least should equal
hers. She had blighted his happiness, and
had robbed his life Of much Of its bright
ness. But, after all, he could bear IL; he
would never faint under such q burden-
He would work with more unfagging en-
ergy to WOO forgetfulness. Miss Worthing-
ton had perhaps scattered a few gray hairs
amid his wayy brown ones; but II mattered
little. He tried 10 force himself to believe
that time would heal his pain.
The reception of Florenee's letter AZ
Fulham had been very different from what
she had expected. Her aunt and cousins
imagined that 1t had been written simply
to prepare them for tho probable arrival Of
Lady Raven, SO that her ladyship's nerves
might not be shocked by finding them Ia
any confusion and their drawing-room not
ready TO receive her; and they laughed a
little at the idea. They did no. dream
hat it had been intended 10 give Philip
notice OF her coming, so that he would be
certain 10 remain at home. Ii had a per.
fectiy contrary effect to the one desired.-
lie most carefully planned to avoid her.
III the temptation again to see her was
great, his powers Of resistance were still
greater. His mother and Ethel wondered
at his absence, but Maud guessed the rea-
sor.
,aiEiy did Miss worthington remain uu-
ill the last moment possible in the old
drawing-room, where 80 many happy hours
had been passed. The piano was open,
just a. in the old happy times when Philip
had fingered near her while she sang. The
pain Of being once again amid all the ia.
III uDJ'Nto, anu Wv " ~ iioii
them seemed intolerable. Florence's doubts
were soon dispersed by Maud telling her
she thought pointedly-that her brother
had declared his intention of not return
ing home until night. Miss Worthington
knew her fate then; and Lady Ravens
fears were again set at rest. She began TO
think now that Florence might be allowed
almost any amount of intercourse with her
cousins unmatched, and that all her terri
bic fears must have been groundless.
Miss Worthington drove home with an
aching heart and . white set face. She
knew now that the past year was a dream,
from which she had just awakened; but
the awakening was intoierable pain. While
she thought 1t In her power to see Philip
again, and that ke would grasp her hand
but too eagerly did she choose to extend 1t,
she could bear his absence and silence; but
now the gulf between them seemed impas-
sable.