Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-03-03
CHAPTER y.


"a carriage-and what should do with
carriage 7" said Florence, in tone Of
profound amaZement.
Il assure you," answered George unea-
sily, "that il is quite necessary. One little
lbrough..m is r0t sufficient Our business
relations are daily extending; and. be-
sides, il is really not the thing 10 see one
Of the firm going about on foot, and the
other in his carriage. 1t does not look
well. assure YOU. Ii is necessary ex-
pense. and shall treat il a. such. and en-
Ter il among the expenditures Of the firm
80 you may as well make up your mind
10 it."
II seemed 10 Florence as IL this fresh
expense must be robbing someone; but. as
George was so urgent. he felt compelled
10 yield thinking besides, "Ilow pleased
Sylvia will be-
The poor man did not know that a
month before Sylvia had herself chosen q
brougham, which George could not pre-
sent to her openly, and had consequently
devised this ingenious method of doing
30.
Florence was easily deceived. Perfect
" open and honest himself. he never sus-
pected duplicity in others. al this time
his mind was entirely absorbed in his new
invention, with which he hoped to revo-
usionize the manufacture of paper hang
nS. Thoughtful and anxious he would
come home TO dinner, and was only TOO
thankful 10 he received with smiles. II
never occurred 10 him TO wonder at this
change, nor 10 ask them the reason why.
Sylvia never made any objection now 10
| ais spending an occasional evening out.
| Their house. too, grew daily prettier,
and comfort had given place TO luxury
The simple knick- -knacks had disappear
I'd. and Sylvia now cared only for the
attest caprices Of the day; old carvings.
and rare china. Her boudoir was hung
With delicate shade Of blue. the silk
quilted in diamonds like the lining Of n
ewel casket. A grand piano stood in the
lrawing room. and the singing lesson was
daily affair.
| Madame Zola. the teacher. was French
woman whose black hair was arranged in
.oquettish little curls over her forehead.
Her somewhat prominent white teeth,
wide mouth, and sparkling black eyes.
completed physiognomy not altogether
pleasing in expression, but she redeemed
her appearance by the exquisite taste and
tyle of her dress. and by the tact and
softness of her manner. She commenced
by instructing her pupil in the regula-
ton drawing room ballads, but Sylvias
'ull ripe lips and mischievous eyes were
never made for such sentimentalities-
| 0ffenhach, or the ..Cloches de Corneville,"
xhose music she could have aided by a
gesture, nod, or an arm akimbo. would
have suited her much better. and as by
degrees she grew more familiar with her
teacher. new style Of music was intro
iuced at the lessons.
| Without relations or intimate friends.
Sylvia gradually 'D:o9e a friend Of Mad
lme Zola, she kept her to luncheon. took
aer out 10 drive in the new brougham.
and asked her aid in her shopping. Soon
| The friend became the c0afd7Htf. Sylvia
spoke 10 her of George. of their love. and
complained of the cruelty of her parents,
who had compelled her to marIyTa man so
much older than herself. The music
mistress was willing TO aid her, not so
much out of sympathy, as from the love
II intrigue. and the consideration that the
possession OF so compromising secret
would be lasting hold upon a useful
,riend.
Two or three times every week she
brought Sylvia tickets for the theatre or
The opera Florence supposed they were
presented to Madame Zola; little did he
know that George had requested her to
purchase them, and that they represented
| The best private boxes in the house.
| To deceive a man like Florence required
but little ingenuity. His credulity was
boundless. Besides. he knew nothing OF
The world in which his wife was only too
we'll known already. He never went out
with her. Occasionally. in the early days
,f their married life, he had taken her to
see a new play, but had himself slept
peacefully throughout the evening. not
Enjoying the theatre, he was only too glad
20 relinauish his seat to Madame lola.
Evening after evening. when his wife
eft him, he would frankly express his ad-
niration Of her charming toilettes, not
having the least idea Of their expense. or
The source whence they came. and then.
with heart free from doubt or jealousy.
spent the evening in solitude over his
drawings.
Below, in the Speeds apartments. the
same comedy was enacted. but the roies
we're reversed. There. it was the wife
who was deserted every evening. Half
ln hour before Sylvia's departure, Mr..
Speeds Brougham came TO the door To
lake him to his club. Annie was told that
many an important business affair had
been brought To a prosperous conclusion
over game OF billiards..
And she, poor child, believed that only
the interests Of the firm could take hin,
away from his home so constantly. Her
spirits tagged for time after he went
out, for each night she hoped to retain
him. or that he would offer TO take her TO
some place of amusement. But the loving
arms Of her child soon soothed away even
that ache from her heart.
George and Sylvia met at the theatre.
Their first hcait-throb was Of vanity, for
they attracted much attention. She was
very pretty, and each new caprice Of
fashion seemed TO have been invented to
end fresh charm to her coquettish face.
Before long Madame Zola was left the sole
occupant Of the box at the theatre, an,l
Sylvia with George sailed forth in search
OF adventures. With unparalleled auda-
city they visited supper-rooms and
restaurants, in regard to which Sylvia felt
= morbid curiosity. From these excur-
sions Sylvia, who seemed actuated by the
determination Of making amends Tor the
enforced monotony Of her girlhood by a
series Of extravagaoces and excitements,
returned with slang phrases and odd
gestures. which seemed strangely out OF
place in her quiet, middle-class home.
Doubts and suspicious about her were
beginning to be excited within the factory
walls. Women, even the poorest and
most menial Of their sex, have an instinc-
tive perception Of the cost of a feminine
costume. When Mrs Florence went out
every afternoon fifty pairs OF curious eyes
scanned her enviously from the huge
windows Of the workrooms. These sharp
eyes penetrated her velvet mantle and
her cuirasse Of jet, and detected the gull
ty conscience they covered. The factory
girls laughed contemptuously ~ they
looked.
sshh doesn't put on those fine clothes te
20 TO churchl"
Sand" said another, ssit not more than
three years since she use, to 60 out in q
water proof cloak. and slice of bread in
her pocket TO keep her from starving"
And. In the dust and turmoil Of those
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