Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-01-14

sand, Leon, you--you win Forgive ne
what am about 70 sayf'
Certainly"
al do so love brave man. j think l
should be very, very happy as the wife
Of brave man. Leon, IL was not 30 very
long ago that you asked me to be your
wife"
.!True."
"And said that some day would give
you an answer"
.You did"
THAT answer, Leon, give you now.
II is that will lie your wife"
And she laid her small white hand up
ON his arm and looked earnestly into his
face, wondering, however, as she did so,
what made him look so grave.
Suddenly the face Of Leon underwent q
complete change. A fierce light blazed in
his eyes, and, Hinging his cigar from him.
he started 10 his feet. and looking full in
Ethers face, he said:
"Ethel Danvers, were ii TO save my
life. were it to save my soul, would not
make you my wife"
Ethel rose to her feet, and in turn
looked hard into the face Of the man be-
fore her.
Her bosom rose and fell rapidly. and
then she gasped out:
"What do you meant"
IL mean what l say. ] would not be
yonr husband upon any consideration. II
had TO choose between marrying you
and death, would choose death"
"why this change, Leoni What have
done TO he treated SO by youf" she
gasped.
( "what have you done, Ethel Danvers"
cried Leon bitterly. "Why do you ask :
You know well enough that, had not 1
been present at the lake ON that dreadful
night, you would be standing before ms
al this moment IA murderessp
His voice sank into a whisper as he
said this, but no sooner had he uttered
this terrible word than Ethel trembled
from head 10 foot.
.oh. Ethel" exclaimed Leon In . voice
which trembled with emotion, lit In true
that oace i loved you-aye, with all my
heart and soul! I would have thought
myself the happiest Of men had led you
/ 10 the altar. No man ever loved woman
more passionately than did you but all
that is now past and gone. II has fed.
never more TO return. You stand before
me now. not. thank Heaven, as q murder
ess, bit still with a load Of guilt upon
your soul. see now the reasons Of your
repeated refusals Of me, but that need
not mention. All ask Of you 10, never
speak 10 me again"
.Ob. Leon" cried Ethel, as she cast
herself at his feet and raised her hands
in supplication, shave mercy upon me!
have mercy upon me-"
"Hsve l not been mercifulf Have
uttered word respecting iti Could
not have done sol But no; that would
not do. l."
"You will not expose met For my
mothers sake, l implore you. do not ex-
pose met"
AYE, will not not only for your
mothers sake. however, h:t fc- pour c%n
But do not ask mercy Of me. Rise and
seek your room, and when there ask
mercy and pardon Of your God. Oh.
would freely give my whole fortune could
that fearful night be forever erased from
my memory"
And burying his face in his hands,
Leon sobbed bitterly.
Ethel slowly rose. There was now no
sign Of emotion visible upon her features.
Waiting until Icons emotion had some
what abated, she said IL will obey your
desiie. and will not see you again. But
you will promise not to mention a word Of
the matter to anyonel"
IL do promise"
Farewell. DO you forgive mel"
'fes. l forgive you, for believe that
you must have been mad--consumed by
foolish passion. Therefore I forgive
yos. and may Heaven do likewise"
"will you take my handf" she asked
softly, as she stepped close up to him.
do no. ask met is impossiblew
"fet you had better. or one-one day
you may regret not having done So"
A. that time Leon did not attach any
importance TO her words.
After short Isuse he held forth his
hand; Ethel took it and pressed il warm
ly. but the pressure was not returned.
Heaving deep sigh. Ethel turned and
with slow amt stately steps returned TO
the house.
On the following morning, Jus. after
breakfast, Grace came hurriedly into the
sitting-room in which Rowland was seat
ed. She looked scared and excited.
what is it. my deari" asked Rowland.
rising and folding her in his arms.
"why, Rowland. what should you
thinkf cannot lind my wreath"
"Your WREATH Why, is it not in the
boxf"
mo, the box il empty"
"Strange. Well, you must have mis-
laid IT,"
mo, indeed; that would be impossible,
for previous TO my accident il was in the
box. and l placed it in my trunk and
locked it,
"Arc you surei"
"Oh. quito. l recollect that showed
II to Ethel, and after that put it away
again"
"Well, that is most extraordinary. How
on earth could il have vanishedi Did
you lock your trunki But there, no one
would take such 3 thing rs wreath OF
orange blossoms. i. is, putting 1t in the
words OF the advertisements, of no value
except to the owner Had you not better
question the servantsa"
IL will, little later on, but don't
think it will be OF much use. Surely none
OF them would tamper with such Il thing.
l."
At this moment Sir Rowland entered,
followed by Mrs. IAanvers.
Rowland" said his father. shave YOU
seen anything Of Etheli'
sThis morningl"
.Ayc, my son."
mo. indeed. In fact / have not seen
her since yesterday morning"
.'Nor l." said Grace.
"tiracious Heavens" cried Sir Row
land, .whcre can the gill ber'
.My poor chiid!H moaned mrs. Dsnveru,
falling into the nearest seat.
What has happcne.lf' asked Rowland,
amaxed beyond measure.
.-Shc 10 not In her room," said Mrs
Danvers, ''and her bed has not been
touched.
surely you are Mistaken cried Grace,
turning very pale.
T. "a L. Il L.