Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-02-11


how; but he was painfully aware tina;
he had no such delightful epistolary
style.
Amy, however, was not critical for
she found his letters perfect. And the
correspondence continued. gradually
assuming more and more familiar
style. till the tone became playfuIly
but decidedly loverlike on both sides.
Weeks slipped by rapidly. Amy
thought the days had never been so
short, and before she realized i: the
summer was gone.
Ia his latest letter Eugene had given
her new address. saying he was
about TO return to the city very soon.
In that letter lie had also said some
thing more like direct loye-making
ihan ever before-somethiug which
had made Amy laugh and blush when
she read IL; aud she was still smiling
aud blushing when she answered 1t.
And this was how the letter to Eugene
concluded:
You SPEAK OF rivals 10 my regard, and say
you could not bear II with good grace. But
think there IL nothing you couldn't do grace
fully. As 10 the rivals, you have only one,
but be Is aii.powerfui, aud 20 such KIND,
him while live, ne have from tho first
moment In which beheld his dear face. In
complexion be Is not unlike you. for he has
fair hair and the loveliest blue eyes. but can
not datter you so far a. TO say that You are
like him. fOr no one was ever so beautiful,
30 charming. so captivating. III you ever see
him you will agree with me, though now i
suppose you are laughing at me, and no
doubt you think | am dreadfully I'm love.
To be entirely frank, ! Just am; but ] do
think that the dear fellow gives me some ex-
for lie 0ecla that lie loves me lust the
samel
Eugene turned white aud then red
as he angriiy crumpled up this letter
in his hand; then smoothing it out he
deliberately and with set teeth--for
every word seemed to stab him-read
il all over again,
THE bare-faced little firi" he ex-
claimed. "This is your sweet country
simplicity and innocence. Confound
tho fellow! some mo0n-faced BOBBY,
with saucer eyes and hair smelling Of
bergamot. | suppose. What fool
have been! Not practiced coguette
in society could have made more
complete idiot of me! And yet j de-
serve il. Wasn't I calmly flirting
with her as summer amusement
something to while away the time,
without thought Of any serious end
ing to il? And now--well, I'm punished.
This is what they mean by hosting a
fellow with his own petard, / suppose.
Practical illustration 10 enforce the
lesson"
But, storm and fume and philoso-
phize as he would, Mr.. Lorillard could
not get the subject out of his mind.
And when he reached the railway
station on the next day. instead of
buying a ticket to New York, he alb
sently mentioned the name Of the little
town where Amy lived; and only when
the train started and the conductor came
along did he realize his blunder.
mo matter" he thought sayagely.
81 suppose there's hotel of some kind
there. aud just for once in way j
would like, to see my rival. II will be
a new sensation"
He found Amy prcttier and more
charming than ever. The few weeks
since he had said good-by to her had
matured without aging her, and with
ont taking away her charm of girlish
simplicity, had invested her with a
subtle fascination. 1t was the charm
of being in love and knowing herself
beloved, though neither Of them knew
it.
But Eugene soon found out his own
state of feeling. and. somewhat to his
dismay, realized that he was for the
first time in his life deeply, hopelessly
in love.
Amy did not attempt to deny her re-
gard for him. She had never felt such
deep friendship for any gentleman in
ship, she admitted, with blush-it was
love. Oh. yes, real love; but not the
same she felt for his rival.
''My rival-where is he?" exclaimed
Eugene. turning pale again. II had
hoped that was only playful mockery.
| have seen no rival; where do you
keep him?"
"Oh. he lives with u.s. laughed
Amy. I'VE are inseparable. Who.
ever loves me must love him."
"Amy, could not have believed
that you were eruel" exclaimed
Eugene. shocked as well as jealous,
II congratulate my rival, but fear
you don't understand mans love, as
he may find out TO his sorrow"
Il understand his!' cried Amy, as
the parlor door was slyIy pushed open.
and lovely golden-haired little boy
peeped in, with great, wide-open blue
eyes.
Amy caught up the child and kissed
him with all an elder sisters enthusiasm
for au only brother.
Come and be introduced TO this
gentleman, WILLIE she said, putting
him on her shoulder. This is my
brother, Mr.. Lorillard," she said de-
murely, adding, with a lovely blush.
"and the only rival in my heart that
you will ever havc"'
"Oh. Amy" exclaimed Eugene, as
flood Of light seemed to break around
iini.
Don't you really think you can love
him?" she asked.
almost rs well rs bis sister," said
her lover, as his arms embodied the
tive.
But it must be added that he kissed
Amy first. Saturday Night.