Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-08-05
MOODS.
| Z
by BONA.
CHApTEI. V

village. Aud where is Eleanor? She Is no,
lying still with wet eyes and sorcly aching
heart among the tall grass and flowers Of the
meadow. She has summoned pride 10 her
aid aud has called q stiff, little si2ile 10 heI
face. but she can not put away the pain ri
heart much as she would like ~. Alas
which OF us can, at our bidding, do away
with pain?
She has removed the blue dress on which
the flowers, long grasses, and tiny insects
have bee holding gay revel a. this warm,
bright afternoon. She has put II away with
her creamy owl decked ont with withered
pansies and striped lilies. They are not hers
now: they belong to n deaf past. She her.
self is standing grave and silent by the win.
dow. She does not even turn her head when
lIer sisters voice breaks in upon her revcry.
Nelly, Nelly; are you going to stand star
gazing all MIGHTY
Not quite all night"
Does not your soul yearn for something
more substantial than moolshine? Come
THESE mullins wilnDt be warm much longer
Eleanor turns Slow and enters the din
nIng- room. AS the bright light falls upon
her poor. pale face ami heavy, black-ringed
eyes. lielen gives q little start OF amazsment
''GOOd heavens! DESIGNATION is telling
now. What on EARTH? Why, Nelly
child you look for all the world as II you hat
been crying"
"Do H."
-FOUR eyes are dDDuL Utll lUeIT hSud
size" goes ON Mrs. Rodney, calmly inspect
Ing her, 'and as rcd as "a n herring. One
would certainly say you had been crying fol
hours"
MY looks do not belle me then. for / have
been crying for-for hours as you JUS
now termed it,
But WHY. cries the other amazedly
"Why, Nelly?'
why 40 people ever cry" SAYS the giri
impatlent,y. "FOT amusement OF course.
cried all tie afternoon for sheer want Of
something better TAI do
~ hope you found II amusing" say:
Helen, dryly.
'On the whole lean not say I did" re
turns Eleanor, rising l~istleSsly and regarding
herself IN the mirror. "How consideratc II
was OF old Mrs. Green TO get sick tonight
and so call OF DOME. ! should not like hin
70 see his beauty so hideous. Bah, how un
becoming red eyes are"
"liark! y cries Helen, starting up" DO YOU
not hear SINE one coming inT
Il hear Trico barking which Is an lnvalu
able sign. No doabt II is my brotier-in-law
elect"
Your surmise is quite correct" cries Z
well-knOwn voice, and the Professor come:
beamingly in 10 where his gdncee sits lie,
murely quiet. and behind him, with rather
n troubled expression in his light grey eyes,
IS Allen. lie does not seem to see Helon
lie lDfS Stftlgnt 10 fIpaliOf.
"GOOd evening, Miss Eleanor"
Good evening, Mr.. Allen" She has re
sumed her old place at the window. She is
still staring stupidity at the moon. Mrs. Rod
ney at herlovers earnest request has laic
aside her work and has strolled out on the
porch with him. They are regarding the
dark night sky intently.
II would not have bored you with my
presence tonight" saws the young man
speaking very quickly, FOR after last might
IL does not require a very clever person Il
read your feelings towards me-only IL wa,
very foolish 10 doubt-but | could not x
away without saying goodbye"
80 you have come 10 say goodbye, too
looking half w~istfully at him. You are al
going. Mr.. Carew told me goodbye tli
evening. Stay, was it this evening" Yes
tins evening. Well, he said goodbye
What an ugly word II is"
Il have been here much longer than | in
tended" he goes on, but you know why
stayed. But now 1 have lone with it all
| auI going away tomorrow, and once away
/ shall try with all my heart and soul to FOR
get YOU beautiful face
ut is not very beautiful tonight" sh,
says, with 4 sad, little smile. But after al
Why should you forget IL"
lie does not answer. Outside the rive,
mourns low and increasingly and a whip
poor-will in one of the dark pine trees give.
out his ~plaintive notes.
'tDo YOU remember the other day down a
tile river when | came pom you porting upoI
the brook that babbled by? Do you remem
Der"
"Why do you askY'' he says, roughly. 10
course | remember. Am / likely to- forget?'
II tod you did not love you," she says
dreamily. mo, do not look 50 eager. 1 Il,
not love you one Whit more now. but if--i
- with q vivid blush, IF you are still fool
ish enough To want 10 marry me, l am Quit
willing
What is she saying? Is he dreaming? ii
stares az her amazedly.
You DO not seem very eager" she says
with a slow smile. Perhaps 10 il my valI
~. They all say | am vain, but | had ii
idea You would be glad"
"Do YOU, do you mean ity" he cries, find
ing voice at last. Il can not take II In. Oh
Nelly. darling, will sou really marry me
DO moi jest WITH :ac, ! beg of you"
Il am not testing, she says. Then as h
tries 10 take her In his arms she draws away
STAY q moment, you must listen to me first.
"Well?"' speaking eagerly and clasping he
two white hands IN his.
II do not want you 10 misunderstood me-
she says, calmly. Il a 10 tell you that
do not love you at all, but for reasons OF IN,
own | want 10 marry, aud you-you an
good looking and young aud 1 10 not dislik
you IN the least"
His face falls; his eyes put away thei
glad, happy look.
but why are you marrying me them" Ia
questions. -! go not understand"
There is nothing To understand" sh
says. ii am quite, quite willing, indeed,
wish to marry YOU"
You do not love any one else?.' he ques
tons, doubtlully, not feeling quite sure as 4
the right or THIS aid Yet not having tn
strength to resist.
she wihces at lis words. IL may as wei
be candid with yol,' she says. II think
only fan to YOU. A long time CO., no, no
SO very long ago either, l used to think 4 wa
IN love, but It was only a dream. | do no
love any one now, no one at all. do no
think | am very good at loving"
But he, this other, what of him?'
II tell you 1 have done with him. do no
ever wish 10 hear Of him again.
Then YOU are mine, mine forever" h
cries, joyfuiiy, putting his arms about hcf
'Oh, my dear, what have | o to deserv
such good fortunes?
lit may not be 50 good rs you think" sh
says. Il am not a nice girl and You hay
seen the best OF ne, the very best, for | trie'
to be nice to you. l wanted you TO like me.
And you certainly succeeded" folidi.
stroKing her hair.
bat / am not nice usually" she goes ON
fully determined that he Shall take her und.
no false ideas. IL am indifferent beyon'
measure, and after all l do not think II prof.
able YOU will like me when you know IN
better"
.Only try me-"
You are Young; YOU hardly know you
own mind. IL Is only my pretty face ina
has attracted yotl."
'Do not say any more" he cries, all tn
more eagerly, because he fears there Is
grain OF Truth in what she SAYS, Not an
other word | am satisfied, that Is enough"
Presently he takes leave OF her, q yer,
tender one IL Is, ana she. well, she says moth
ing. And when no has gone and the room
IL quite still and empty S:ye for The moth
that buzz about the candles. she goes up
stairs In her own room AMI locks the doOr
But she does not throw herself down an,
cry now. No, her tcuS are all shed, but SIN
sits there aud thinks Of what she has done
aud when she rises her face Is a shade white
than II was. Then she puts out her iighi
and opening wide the blinds that the moo
NAY come In with IFS pale. sweet CLEANS sb
lies down upon her bed. And all tiirougi
| tine s~uniiiivi iiiSst she lies restlessly Their
telling herself that she hates the man. aye
despsses him, this man who has won hel
love and gave her zone IN return. She L
right to hate him, 10 give her hand ~ al
honest man who loves her rs few love
while he
The night Is well nigh over. Long ago Oh.
m0on has sunk from sight. Slowly the STAR
are fading. Oh, Ii they would tut carry with
them the lnenI0ry III that still river, Of thoss
dark, earnest eyes and strong hands claspini
hers.
CHAPTER XVII. "a
let US withdraw; twin be n storm"
King Lear.