Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-05-06
BETWEEN THE DARK AND DAwy.

Hat - 1Oui
81 have none, Mr.. Moore"
"Nor /, unless it Is woman. You see,
Brandreth, that Basil is only mortal like
ourselves, and we In our youth were not
absolutely free from indiscretlon. He may
have had a hason."
II don't think So" replied Mr.. Brandreth.
Basil Is not a milksop, but, for man, he
held very fixed ideas OF purity. He argued
that we are unjust in casting sinful wo-
man out while we hail q sinful man as
brother"
1t does seem unjust" replied Mr. Moore;
but there is a per contra view OF the mat
ter. A yirtuous woman holds higher posi-
tion than q good man. Everything con-
nectsd with woman Is extreme"
Just So"
well, Brandreth, what do you say to
staying with us until your son arrives?'
Il was really coming 10 thrust HySc.: :r-
on you. | had letter from Basil this morn
ing, as you may guess, and In 1t he tells me
that he should like TO meet Ruth and myself
at the same time took the hint, and came
TO ask you to take me in"
They rode back together, and long and
earnest was the discussion that crsGed be-
tween the elders.
Basil distinctly stated in his letter that no
steps to unearth the principal offender were
TO be taken until his return, and this was
somewhat perplexing.
Il am fairly burning 10 get at the root OF
the matter" said Mr.. Brandreth, and Mr..
Moore expressed similar desire.
kendall was on his way back, and was ex-
pected about the same time as Basil, earlier
In the day perhaps, but not before the thir-
teenth of the month. The coincidence OF
the impending arrivals appeared very re-
markable, but on the whole satisfactory.
Only Vida felt the shadow of the coming
time. To her In any case IL could bring
naught but darkness. She must commit an
other crime or bear with the spectacle of the
happy lovers together. And that she could
not do.
Il should 60 mad she said, ''and in
frenzy do something TO lay the past bare
Go mad !-horrible thought .-and be put in
Ia madhouse, and be shut out from the
light and reason ever more. No, death rath-
err"
At dinner she had TO listen to the joyous
talk of others, and join in occasionally. But
she did IL in a halfhearted fashion that
drew Mr.. Brandreth's attention, and two or
three times she found him looking at her
curlously.
His eyes were keen, with an analysing
light I'm their depths that alarmed her, and
she was thankful when Mrs. Moore rose and
gave the signal for the ladies TO retire.
In the drawing-room she was easier. Mr..
Brandreth did not look at her earnestly any
more, but was pleasant and chatty.
He asked her To sing, and turned over her
music for her, ''ln the absence Of younger
knight" he said, but by-and-by one may
come To YOU"
Never" she answered with fierce light
In her eyes; Il am doomed to single life
while live"
lie stood Just little behind her, and
glancing down at the fair head and neck,
saw that her bosom was throbbing wildly.
His brows bent, and he became thoughtful
again.
Did he read her secret then? Thinking il
over afterwards he was not quite sure, but
certainly he seemed to be looking at more
of the inner woman than ever he had done
before.
When she had sung the song he went back
to a seat near Mrs. Moore, and came no
more near Vida that night.
But to Ruth he showed gentle courtesy
expressive Of his sympathetic feeling, and
as II so chanced, Mr.. and Mrs. Moore were
engaged with each other, talking Of Basil
and the future.
Without any design they left Vida to her.
self, but In ii she saw q systematic avoid
ance Of her.
Conscious guilt prompted the thought, and
In her heart she hated and despised them
all.
Shortly after ten o'clock she stole away to
her room and shut herself In.
Then she took retrospective view of her
past, and il was not at all satisfactory. She
saw the mad folly she had been guilty of,
and repented so far as regards herself.
She was sorry she had woven such ter
rible net about herself. but did not regret
the misery and pain she had given to others.
II would do II all over again." she said
fiercely. ''only would do 1t better. ! am
not Moore-there Is nothing soft, or gentle,
or forgiving In me. 1t Is my mothers blood
the blood of the old Castilians-t that burns
in my veins.
I'VE love too well for ourselves, and hate
too thoroughly for those who thwart u.s."
By-and-by Ruth came and knocked gently
at her door.
"vida dear, are You asleep"
Vida would not answer, but stood quite
still, with scornfai smile upon her face.
until Ruth went away.
II cannot play the loving cousin tonight"
che muttered. III she had come In, the
temptation to stab her might have been too
great"
From the folds of her dress she took out
the small highly-tempcrsd dagger with
which she had taken Bardolph Dimsey's
life. The keen blade was In q leathern
sheath, and removing It she held the gilt
terlng dangerous toy at arm's-length, and
looked at II with fierce light burning In
the depths Of her dark eyes.
"You were q friend to me" she said.
"Yop saved me from . fate moro bitter than
death. By-and-by, when panned into cor.
ner by my enemies you shall save me
again."
Ere she slept she had recourse 10 one Of
the bottles on her toilettable containing IN
essence that has been the bane Of many wo
men. The dangerous indulgence had be-
come the habit OF her life.
Inconsistencies Of things around her she
obtained, but Il was not blessed slesp that
came to her aid.
u was another stage Of consciousness
vivid and horrible.
The dreams Of the epium-sateg we're not
more terrible.