Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-07-08
OF MANY MOODS
BY BoEA.

VI nci lips ohe WOULD Judge that Helen was
not far wrong.
But am picking a great, great many"
she says, throwing n few into her basket as
she speaks. 1t Is not my fault that 1 am
not quick like YOU"
Helen looks incredulously at her sister, but
says no more.
The sun shines on, the bees and the grass
hoppers are having n ball down In the clover,
now a yellow butterfly, drunk with too much
sunlight and dazzled by the gold OF the
girls bright hair, tumbles beadlong into II.
The roses nod their heads drowsily, and far
on a bird Is singing. Eleanor has ceased TO
pick, though her basket is not nearly full.
ana her long, white hands are lying idly In
her lap. Trico, who has decided that cur
rants do not SUIT his taste, is lying with his
noble old head between his paws, blinking
ut the flies and wondering why his mistress
docs not speak or even look at him.
But his mistress is all unconscious of his
presence, 50 far away In the dream world Is
she. Her eyes are dreamily staring past
Irlco, past the garden, beyond the old par
sonage, staring out into space. But from it
and all Its dreams she Is rudely wakened.
Nelly! Nell, some one is coming, and oh,
how shabby you do lookv'
Helen has come towards her, with her
bucket filled TO overlooking with red fruit,
not a stain is visible upon her small white
fingers, her costume is as faultlessly perfect
as ever, bu: her face wears a vexed express
sion which sets i'll upon IL.
And you have not half finished, and your
dress is stained. How %provokingv'
WHO is that comingP" questions the other
tartly. ut Is a curious time for calls | must
say"
Hush! they will hear you. All, how are
you, Professor. Y0u find us veE busily EN-
ployed, / nm sure"
"iou must excuse our early call" says
Ran, looking admiringly at her, but | came
to ask you about our proposed boating party.
You know we did not quite decide last
night"
Rut he. the other, offers no excuse as TO
his presence here. lie has found his way to
where she, his goddess, sits, and has thrown
himself down before her. lie hardly knows
how 10 greet her, for was he not here last
night-aye, and the night before that. She,
indeed, Is heartily wearied Of him, but she
has been sweet aud gracious TO him as she
has never been 10 any man before, and in
return he has given her his heart, aye, laid
II at her feet for her to trample on, and She
hit - 81 purify lIuilltItUl tildi size uDtS UDt
even know that il Is there.
"What were you doing? ! hope | have not
interrupted your he says, half shyly.
mo, not at all. / was"-with q slow
smile-'sitting here In maiden meditation
fancy free
II met Miss Saunders this morning, and
you may not believe IT. but she did not cut
me-"
Did she not?'
ION the contrary she stopped and talked
10 me. She told me there is 10 be q ball out
at Riverside, Col. Young's place, you know.
1t will be given in honor OF his sons bride,
who returns next week"
"A hallP' with something Ike interest
"How nlce!'
And if" says the young fellow timidly,
'if we, You and |, are invited, will you let
me 20 with your
He has said il! lie has prayed that the
gates OF heaven may be a little opened for
him!
Certainly / will, with pleasure
Are you not counting your chickens be-
fore they are hatchedg' cries Helen with a
laugh.
But he does not heed her. She has con-
sented TO go with him, and his heart is beat
ing with a mad JOY.
But YOU have not heard the object of our
very early CALL" the Professor is saying.
ave came to know If YOU two would not
like to be rowei down TO the Hollow. IL is
30 beautifully cool there, and we can easily
get back by dinner time
IL should like il Of all things" says Helen,
looking at her sister, "if Nelly will go.'
'You will, will you noty' pleads Allen.
The thought of a long day with her Is too
delightful TO be real.
"0h yes. / suppose So" she says, half re-
luctantly rising. But ! must change my
dress and fix my hair up. What a trouble it
Is, TO be sure"
al am sure it looks very nicely as it is"
says the young man, gazing admiri:igly at
the bright strands.
"Yes. Does il not? SO tidy, isn't it?'
Then, seeing his crestiallen look, she smiles
softly. II am like the girl in one OF Dickens
stories; which was ii? She was always
twisting up her hack hair. Wait for NE; l
shall not be long"
Nor is she. Her dress is too simple TO
keep her long.
"Wha great man was it," she says, as they
walk slowly down 10 the water, Il am not
good al remembering names. He wished
for a river at his gardens end. Do you re-
member, Helen%
NO" rather sharply, nor do 1 care"
They have reached the river, and Parker
Is christening the boat. They step in GIN
perly: il is old, II is leaky, but il is a boat.
Slowly il Is pushed out from among the tall
green flags and white river lilies; down nm
der the shade of the dropping willow II
goes, swiftly propelled.
Ii Is so lovely here, this summer day on
this clear stretch OF water, with the tall, dark
trees OH either side, with the sweet, cool air
bringing delicious scent from the garden or
lavender and roses, and only the swish,
swish of the oars TO break the stiffness
Eleanor is glad she came.
Helen has broken the silence. She Is talk
Ing garrulousIy. and the Professor Is laugh
Ing gayly, and so they row on to the Hollow.
~ love the water" Eleanor is saying, bet
Ter than almost anything. l should like to
have been a mermaid, an Undine you KNOW"
looking dreamily up at Allen.
~ should pity the sailors that came near
you ii you were," he says. ION the whole
] am glad you are not"
But / would make such a nice mermaid.
They were beautiful you know, and had long
hair. See, Helen, can you not imagine me
now, sitlng alONt. sHlBins diohc, cohhoinS
nry hair with a sea shell comb"
IL can't say l can considering there are
three other good-sized mortals present" re-
turns the other dryly. Though" with a
slight laugh, iii would not be hard to mag
Inc the latter part of your sentiment"
1T would take you to do the singing"
goes ON Nelly. Then turning to Parker:
"Have you never heard her singy What q
deal YOU have missed"
II did not know You sang, Mrs. Rodney"
says the Professor, looking up supposedly.
mo more l can. 1t Is only Neliy's nom
sense"
'.But you should hear her try" says Flea
nor, with q merry little laugh. 1T is like Q
canary with q cold In Its head"
1T is the dream Of my life TO sing" says
tfrs. Rodney. She does not seem to mind
her sisters insulting remarks. "What a pity
4 Is that l have no voice"
Eleanor has abandoned the conversation,
and Is looking iaziiy up al tho azure blue
Ay. Mr.. Allen has been telling her some
,arghable anecdote. He is rather piqued
that she has taken not the slightest notice OF
him, but then she was never one for man.
ufrs or etiquette. He Is supremely happy
q being near her; he Is looking forward
With such Joy to this long day In the pretty
oeen hollow. He has n copy OF Tennyson
s~;th him and ha will. eff af her feet and raaI