Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-01-13
A DOUBLE TREACHERY.
ADAPTED DY II. r.



heartfelt tone. indicating. TO close oh
server, that he placed certain restraint
On himself lest he should say too much.
The newly-Inade husband feared ridi-
sule, and yet his happiness longed for ut.
serance. Every now and then he felt
compelled 10 express his Joy in o whisper
10 his mother-il-law. who received IL with
proud smile. as the just tribute to her
daughters charms.
For hours the poor fellow had feared
hat he was dreaming. that he was
ieluded by some ccstatic vision: but the
hands Of the clock pointed TO ten. and be
had not yet been roughly awakened. He
lived over the events OF the day; he saw
himself in his simple bachelors room; he
had just placed in the pocket Of his new
coat two pairs Of white gloves.
A few hours later. the wedding process
sion had started. In one of the carriages
le beheld "a shining cloud Of silk and tullc
hat betokened the presence Of the bride
Then came the entrance into church
.wo-and-two-- following the floating white
cloud; the organ. the clergyman. and the
simple old service. and the gny crowd
round in their spring toilets! Then the sign.
,ng in tho vcstry. where the snowy little
sylph had been kissed. and embraced
while he himselfwas warmly congratulated
by the friends and acquaintances who had
assembled TO do him honor.
Then the coming out into the com.
mon world. the last triumphant peal o
he organ swelling tumultuously through
ihc widely~opencd door Of the church. tn,
nurmurs and comments Of the crowC
gathered at the entrance; even the word,
of a stout woman. wearing n large white
aprOn-words unnoticed at the time-now
returned TO Florence.
''Well, the husband is not much 10 look
AZ, but the bride is beauty And the
woman was right, he thought.
Then came the breakfast. the room gay
with flowers; the drive in the park-a
concession 10 Mrs. Chipp, Londoner oi
that class who substitute turn round
The park and dance in the evening for
.he usual honeymoon tour.
Finally. the dinner, just as the daylight
Iaded. He heard the rattle Of the car
-iages az the wedding party drew mp
with needless amount of noise and hustle
1t the star and Garter, at Richmond.
And now. worn ont by happy excitement.
Florence leaned back in his chair. and
quietly surveyed the large table. in the
'oim Of a horseshoe, round which were
seated twenty-four familiar faces. in whose
Joyous eyes he read only the reflection of
ais own happiness.
Desserts had been served. and the fruits,
lowers. and ices gave color and light to
.he gay scene.
A buzz of conversation filed the room
some Of the chairs were pushed slightly
away from the table, and all was going on
we'll.
Yes. Florence was content. With the
exception Of his brother Frank, every soul
! Tor whom he cared in the world was near
him.
! Opposite sat Sylvia--yesterday Miss
/ Sylvia" to-day his wife, Mrs. Florence
She had laid aside the veil. emerged as it
! Sere, from her white cloud. and her pref
! iy. paled face. crowned by wreath II
| 1range-blossoms and heavy coils of hair.
rose from the severe simplicity Of her
.iose-htting robe Of white silk. In her
Eyes sparkled an expression Of impatience.
and about her mouth fingered n curve Of
discomfort; but bridegiooms rarely read
such signs Alright.
Next 10 Sylvia and Frank, the person
whom Florence most loved was Mrs.
Speed. whom he always called Mrs.
George." the wife Of his partner, and the
daughter Of the deceased Mr. Speed. his
'ormer patron. and his hero and model.
He had placed her next himself. and his
nauuer of speaking to her plainly revealed
lhe Difference and affection with which he
sssEfsa her; AAe I BIZ MY ~ B92Y'yHtf B9'HTf
| ,tyle og beauty. more quiet. more refined.
/ Speaking very little; feeling somewhat
| vat Of place in this mixed circle. though
/ he was perfectly courteous and amiable.
On Florence's other side sat Mrs. Chip.
he brides moth or, who was dazzling TO
/ bolrld. in role Of glittering green satin.
/ All that day the good womau's thoughts
I hal been as brilliant "a her dress. and she
had said to herself hundred times. My
daughter is marryingSpeed and Florence"
For to her mind il was not alone Florence
whom her daughter married. il was the
srm itself. the celebrated firm: and each
time Mrs. Chipp arrived at this conclusion.
she drew herself up so erect that her silk
cracked like the harness Of a war-horse.
What a contrast To her husband who sat
further off. This little man, with his shin
Ing bald head. as round and empty as a
blown ont bladder, looked as angry as his
wife was radiant this. 20 be sure, was
his usual expression. This evening he
was not so shabby "a was his custom. and
his new black coat WAS proper pendant
TO his wife's green satin; but unfortunate
", his thoughts were as sombre as his
coat.
Why had he not been placed next the
bride. as was his rightf Why had that
place been given to young Speeds And
why did old Gray. the Speeds grand
father, sit on the other side of Sylviai OF
course. every consideration must be paid
10 the Speeds and none TO the Chipps.
Fortunately. as a safety-valve for his
Indignation. the irate little man had next
him his friend We're de Lacy, crushed
tragedian. who listened TO his complaints
with majestic and nnmoved countenance.
A man may have been driven from the
stage by the Vaccinations OF jealous
/ managers. kept from il for fifteen years,
and yet have in reserve many impressive
attitudes and magnificent poses.
So on this special evening, DE Lacy feit
that much was expected az him. and he
| had adopted u half-smiling, half-ser1ous
air. at once condecendng and solemn. He
might have been al feast IN the FIRST act
of q new play. assisting Mt banquet
where all the viands were made OF lsaste-
board.
In 1uft tnlS ahculN 'tiN VIC hoSs h"a
exactly the manner Of one playing part,
| feigning to listen to what was SAID, Dut
really meditating only on his reply.
Singularly enough. the bride. too. had
something Of the same expression. There
was ~ certain preoecupation on her pretty
face, and occasionally FAINT, absent
smile. as IL she were talking to herself.
1t was with this faint smile that she re-
Piled 10 the not refined witticisms of grand
father Gray. who was seated oil her right
1T is not quite two months" continued
| the good man. with a boisterous laugh
'.since this little mink, this Sylvia here,
talked of going into convent. but a
monastery, fancy, would have suited hcl
| betterw
Every one applauded this poor joke Of
| the old man, whose colossal wealth, a:
well as native shrewdness, inspired
respect. Among the few he fancied was
slittle Chipp.r as he called her; he had
| known her from infancy. and understood
her thoroughly. while she, in her turn
yenerating riches, treated him always
with an odd mixture Of respect aud
! coquetry.
! To George Speed who sat on her lcft
| however, her manner was very reserved
| Their conversation was simply an ex.
change Of polite commonp!aces, and
seemed almost oil afectation OF indif'
| ference.
Suddenly came the futter and rnstls
of silks, the half silence, and the general
| Indication of rising from the table, an :