Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-06-09
A LOVERS QUARREL.

children, daDced together, Uiftef TO-
eether and finally fell in love with one
another.
We were to have been married in a
month, and now | had sent him away
aud told him | never wished 10 see him
again.
What was to be done-and oh dear!
What should | say to Aunt Mariap
There was no help for it however, but
TO 20 home and explain the situation TO
the best of my ability, a.d accordingly
home | went.
Aunt MIria was in the drawing-room
and | stole softly in aud took mp a book
hoping that she would not notice me.
But she saw me directly, and inquired:
Where il Dick?"
"He has one home" | replied, trying
10 assume an unconcerned name and
failing most ~signally in the attempt.
"6one home? Why? Did yon not
tel him | expected him to dinner?'
Eyes"
Then why is he not comiug?"
HE had an engagement, | mumbled.
For goodness sake, child, speak out.
Come here where | can see you. How
tod NOll ldIN lcs w Dhl IL lllt llAdNttI
I rose obediently and stood before
my aunt, who fixed her relentless gaze
upon me.
You have been crying" she said.
"Now. just tell me the truth at once,
Da,sy. Have YOU and Dick %quarreled?"
Yes" l taltcred.
And what about. pray?"
4 don't know"
you don't KNOW This in a very
SARCASTIC tone.
/ remained silent and fumbled with
my pocket handkerchief.
"Who began it," pursued Aunt Maria,
steyply.
u don't know"
'Have you broken of your engage
megt''.
Yes" 1 burst forth; Il hate him and
] will never speak to him again" Then
l began 10 weep copiously.
n you are going to bawl, said Aunt
Maria, with bitter irony, "you had bet
ter leave the room. shall require a
full explanation tomorrow from both
you ana MI. Johnson"
fed upstairs and did not appear
again that evening. ] passed a wretched
plight and had u fearful scene with Aunt
Maria the next morning. She stornied
and expostulatod, but | remained tirn
IN my resolve to return Dicks ring and
presents that very day.
Accordingly | spent a couple of hours
in crying over them and packing them
up.
After luncheon Aunt Maria announced
her intention Of visiting some pension
ers of hers in a village about three miles
distant. and ordered me TO accompany
her, which | prepared to do with a very
bad grace, | fear. We walked for about
half an hour without exchanging a
word, and a more thoroughly ill-tem-
pered pair of pedestrians could hardly
have been found anywhere.
Our way led through some fields, and.
on reaching the first gate, l noticed a
man leaning against it. As we came
up he opened it for us and politely
raised his hat. He looked like a gentle
man and was dressed in a well-fitting
suit of blue serge. saw that he was a
stranger and wondered where he came
from, rs strangers were rare in our Sc
Cluttu pdIi VI the WoIlu.
A little further on | looked back and
observed that he was following us.
l thought this rather odd, but having
resolved not to speak to Aunt Maria un-
til she addressed me | held my peace.
At the third gate the same perform
ance was repeated, but this time the
stranger did not fall behind. He walked
to Aunt Maria's side and asked: May
/ offer you my arm?"
Certainly not, sir" was the indig-
nant rejoinder; Il have not the honor
OF your acquaintance. nor do l desire
it,
AT least you will permit me to carry
your umbrella" continued the stranger,
unabashed. Aunt Maria merely snorted,
and, clutching her umbrella more firm
ly, marched on at an increased pace.
as there nc little service YOU will al
low me to render you?" pursued II un-
welcome companion in tragic mes.
go away, sir" said my aunt, furi-
ously. I'VE do not wish for your COM
pany. Your having spoken TO us at all
Is a piece of the most unwarrantable
impertinence."
do not drive me from you, was the
reply. Il love you! / have loved you
from the first mom0nt l saw you. You
are the only woman | have yer loved"
nd with these words this most ex.
traordinary individual threw himself on
his knees right in front of Aunt Maria's
path. AT this point a light broke in up
on me. There was a large private l-
matte asylum in the neighborhood. This
must surely be one of the patients who
Lad eluded the vigilance Of his keepris
49, 60
Hes mad" l whispered to Aunt
Maria. For goodness sake humor
him or he will murder us both! have
always heard they must be hnmored."
Aunt Maria. however, paid no atten-
ton, and / almost doubt if she even
heard me.
Let me pass this instant, sir!" she
gasped. crimson with wrath.
Never! never! till you promise to be
mine"
At this point ! regret to say, my aunt
lost her temper altogether, and. raising
her umbrella, she brought 1t down up
ON her suitor's head with such force
that she quite crushed in the top of the
powder hat he wore. and which FORUM
ately protected his skull. For a mo-
ment he seemed petrified with astonish-
ment Then he sprang to his feet, and.
seizing Aunt Maria in his arms, lifted
her bodily from the ground and carried
her along the path. She struggled vio-
lontly and ! followed. screaming for
help.
The lunatic strobe on until he reached
the gate which led into n held, on one
side OF which ran a rselcr high stone
wall. Upon the top of this wall he
placed my unfortunate aunt and then
stood and calmly surveyed her.
Take me down! Let me 60" she
shrieked-