Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-08-12

W Ntllilt just Nlltlt llt NllhllRt COllltS III.
Her figure is rs soft and rounded as OF old.
But somehow she is not the same; there is
q shadow OF SORROW about her face; only "A
shadow one you'd not notice did not they
know and love her well.
II can not realize that | am going To be
married day after Tomorrow" she says,
turning from the glass and beginning 10 un-
fasten her gown which Helen has persuaded
her to try on.
'Oh, you will soon get used To the idea
says Mrs. Rodney, with all air OF experience.
'One always feels queer at nrst."
Eleanor smiles; the very ghost of a smile
II Is. docs oney | cai lot take IL i'm
Oh you soon will. But see, Nell, Is moi
this lace pretty
Very pretty"
81 hope" continues Mrs. Rodney. turning
~ her sister. vic !:as removed her dress aud
Is sitting silently Oh the bed. II do hope YOU
will have more color; you are perfectly
CHASTITY n0w?'
IAN I?'
'But no doubt color will come with ex-
element. il Is so exciting to feel every one
Is looking at you, you know"
"ls itp"
We'll" says Helen, throwing her train
over her arnl and lifting two of the candles
from their resting places" well, | must 90
and put this away. Stay here TILL | come
back, Nelly"
GsttlibI NilS 1lllt SUN WIFI htI lldIli,
clasped In their old attitude about her head.
or what is she dreaming? OF her wedding
which n is speeding swiftly OH? | think not.
She ~ not regretting IL NJ all events. for, like
Macbeth, she feels that "'twere well il were
done quickly"
She has PIT Dallas Carew away from her;
she has buried lis memory far down in the
innerm0st recesses of her heart, and she
prays nightly that she may wholly forget
him, but as yet that prayer has not been an
swered. Joe Allen has only returned a
week ago. Very happy is the young fellow,
though he is puzzled sometimes by the UNI
flattering Indifference OF his bride-elect.
The tea-bcll wakes her from her revery
and she goes slowlY down.
well" says M. Hathwell. as they al
five sit about the table. three garrulOlS and
happy, one thoughtful. and one wholly in
different, well, have the guests been all in
yIted? Nell. did you send Dallas Carew All
invitation? i should not like him to be for.
gotten
mo; | did not"
"Why. how silly it was of us to forget
him." cries Helen. swell, rs not too late
now. He will think ii was delayed in the
mail"
IL dare say. he'll soon return the compli.
ment,' says the Professor, carelessly. II
suppose you know he Is engaged"
NO, i did not" eXclaims Helen.
oh, yes; to a pretty little doll: very
wealthy she is, but | do not think he Is yerS
devoted. Indeed, | sometimes doubt il il
Will ever come 10 anything"
why do you dOubt?.' cries Eleanor, hei
checks are aflame with color, her eyes glow
with unusual light. why should it moi
come 10 anything'
"Oh, I've no reason for suppOsing il won't
says Kan, surprised. II dare. say it will il
shs aen,. ,shs ~ lg,. her ,,.sa 20 ~, s'saa.
., mssss ssolls III sivIa ars m,s a.e n .ss,Ss n sss ss +;
terly. She is listiessly turning over til
leaves OF q photograph album looking wit
no pretense of interest at the stiff face
which stare blankly at her.
Il suppose you will send Mr.. Carew an In
vitation tomorrow will not yougi say
Allen. who has found his way 10 her side.
u don't know" she says. p%ettishly. "Wbl
should l?' I'm sure the glad tidings liav,
been shouted far cnOug already. | an
quite willing they should die a natural dealt
now"
He il rather panied by her words but at
tempts no rejOinter. Presently, half ashamed
of her spleen, she looks up at him as b,
stands silently beside her.
You see l am very cross she SAYS. Blu
j told you In the beginning | was not a nic,
girl
There Is TO be a wedding to-day: not 9
plain wedding either but a double affair,
NNth1 az ~ W w. ~
twice the number OF crosses and bells, twic,
the number OF brides. The sun knows il
He can nor make two OF himself Ii he would
like ~, but he Is shining out grandly; he il
bidding the birds sIng and the c~hrysanthe
NUNS bloom; he has dyed the leaves OF tile
naples SD red that the trees look all aflame.
Eleanor has been walking across the
lawn, through the meadows, down 10 the
garden and on 10 the river. She Is aking z
last farewell OF them all. The dogs are with
her. They know she Is going away anC
their tails, instead Of being proudly borne
alott, have a melancholy droop; their whole
attitude expresses grief. Eleanor herself
does not look very like the 'blushing bride
one might expect. There are great tears In
her eyes; tears that she does not suffer u
fall. She has been all around now, having
kept the river for the very last. She is sitting
on q low, fiat rock, the skirts Of her faded
dress and one of her bare hands are dabDlins
IN the stream. She will not sit here as
Eleanor HatilwelI ever again. The stream
will go on, II will not even miss her. though
she loves IL 80. The wild forget-me-nots Wi
open their blue eyes with the soft spring
winds, but she Will not be there to see them.
bhe Will be far away; away from the river
from the meadows and the green hills; from
the dogs and oh, UNNECESSARILY worse than
oil, away from DOME.
The thought causes the hot tears 10 force
themselves from her unwilling eyes. They
fall into the stream which carries them away
ripping and dancing oyer the grey rocks
and stones as though laughing at her sorrow.
Dit the dogs are tired OF sitting here now
they stand before her wagging their tails ex
pectantly, So she rises sadly and turns away,
'Good-bye, pretty river" she says. looking
Mt the clear, sunlit waters with dim, WEI
eyes. Goodbye, dear rocks and willow
trees. | love you all. 1 do not want to leave
you but | must. Goodbye, sweet blue flow
ers and you white lilies. 4 grew up with
you; / am one Of you; do not forget me,
You pretty birds | love so dearly, will you
sing as sweetly when l am gone? Farewell
TO you ALL"
So she leaves them and the willow trees
sigh farewell" and above her head the
birds sing, 1--WE will not forget you."
The morning has gal!oped by. II Is broad
afternoon now, the eve of her wedding day.
Helen Is upstairs sleeping sweetly. Under
any circumstance Mrs. Rodney can enjoy a
stestG. II this she well knows will heighten
her beauty tonight.
Downstairs In the little study, with
their arms about one another, are Eieano,
and "DOnie." They are looking out OF the
little window, out OF the fair autumnal sky
on the fast sinking sun.
Promise to think OF me every hous,
Donie," Eleanor Is saying In q broken, tear
full voice. promise me you will miss me
you will not let Helen creep Into my place
In your heart"
my darling no one could do that"
"She will be hers and | will be far away,
you will not think OF me when l am away
from you you will forget me. How we,
YOU aud |, read .Rassslus' AMI "1hg Rum
bier together, and all the lectures you Used
TO give you: spoiled Nelly. But IL shall
not forget"
"Ah, child. hush. II you only knew how
hard 1t Is for me to let you go. IL ! were moi
certain that ii Is for your good, that you will
be happy. | could not"
"You think I will be happyw There Is
nm eager longing In her voice, but he does
not notice Il. :.
"Assuredly, my Nell. Your husband will
love YOU truly. l shall love IN think OF
you; l win always think OF you as bright
and Joyous"
Think Of me so them" she cries. AFTER
all why should not be happy What Is
there to p~revcnty'
There IL a long pause. They stand 50
still that q fearless little robin perches it,
self on the sill and stares with Its head on
one side up into their faces.
.sBe q good gill, Nell" says the minister
taking both her hands In his. .'0h, my dear
remember that nil your beauty and grace
will count for nothing In the end, but that q
voman that faarefh the l0rd aha shall IN