Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-12-22
CHAPTER XXyU.

IPREPARE TO LEAVE ST. GUnIorT's.
All this time, there had been a double shad-
0w on my life: for not only was it darkened
by my unfortunate and despairing passion.
but by anxiety for my uncle. | alone, of all
who knew and loved him, guessed the true
cause OF TIE sorrow which made him,
n tree iEclincth weak and bare
bEder us unseen loGd of wintcry air"
bend lower and lower with a mysterious
burden; so that, although not an Old man,
he had become prematurely iniirn. lie sill
went about his daily work In the mine: but
feebly, mechanically, and very silently: hut
In the long evenings he sat brooding by the
hresldc, starting al the sound of a foot with
ont or n knock at the door. but otherwise
showing little or 10 interest in the affairs of
life.
@ Annie noticed the change, and Sc
cretiy approaching herself as the cause. was
ever watchful 10 attend his slightest wish,
10 answer his most careless look. Her moth
ers rnnes panied her, after all, infinitely
less Than the sad endurance of one who had
ever been the tenderest of fathers. And the
change rejected herself in her: so that no
one could have recognized, in the pale. sui
iering woman, the happy, gentle girl who
had once been the light of a humble home.
All this troubled me greatly. and made me
naturally anxlous To leave the scene of so
mucli pain. Had | been able in any way 10
heal the wounds that misfortune had made.
mad l even been able To speak with n free
heart OF the trouble which, in one shape or
another, was weighing upon rs all. ii might
have been different: but | was utterly help
less. Combined with my great grief, cane
oftentin,c q great ~dread-leSt Others should
discover what was still an unspoken secret
between my uncle and myself. SO. i'm my
despair OF being OF any service. | could not
help counting the hours till the day came
when l was To leave 81. Guriott's and repair
TO my new place in the adjoining country.
was anxious, too, Ia get away from the
district. where the engagement between
Madeline Graham and George Eedruth was
a matter OF common gossip: where 7 was
tormented. a dozen times a day. by rumors
OF what was going on UP at the great house.
After our farewell. described In the last
chapter, when my last hope left me, and
there was nothing for ii save TO resign N.Y.
self to the inevitable. saw nothing more OF
Madeline; but "a day OF two later | heard
that sne had gone, accompanied By Is.druth
and his mother. to London, and ] knew, in
some distant way, that the journey meant
further preparations Tor the marriage. All
this matte me chafe and fret like a man in
chains; eager to breathe other air, and q put
solid earth between himself and his sources
Of tsrment.
had lost Madeline forever, that was clear.
indeed, l Ind never had any hope or chance
% gaining her; but the dead, cold certainty
OF my loss was uncomfortable. III was 10 liy,.
ON, l must exercise all the powers of ms
manhood. and endeav0r to forget what had
been, at the best, only n foolish dream. So
long as / remained in the neighborhood.
haunted by so many sweet memories and
troublous associations, forgetfulncss was OF
course Impossible.
The evening before the day liked for my
departure, the gloom In the little cottage was
greater than ever. All our hearts were full. !
Although was caly going away a little dis |
tince. and although 1 had promised to revisit !
my Old home whenever an opportunity Of /
Tered. II seemed like parting with the old life
forever. Ever since | was q boy, l had
dwelt there, with those good peop.c. who
nad stood TO me In the place OF father and
mother; my little world had been 81. Cur
ie't :, ny ossly Leias that humble cottage;
and I slion!d have been made Of hard stun
mdecd. II | had failed to feel the parting.
We saf together round the fire. tried to
sssaine a cheerful tone. and talked hopcful.l
y OF the iufure; but IL was no use. Eager
~ ! was to set away. l was no voluntary
sx'ie. where had lived 20 lorg, I would
nave CHOSEN To have lived aud died.
Aiy auut, who yas bnsl!y knitting some
tors.iss u form part of nay wardrobe. list
head.
~'rls well y La' lEhs heart" she said,