Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-06-23

the sum total that little gon must
! have cost the good-natured host, what
the winfs and fruits alone represented.
the "Ohristmas-boxes" rendered the
''ladies." the bets which had been laid
land paid on the faintest p~royocation
in short, the criminal waste OF time
and money. a record of the nights en-
tertainment inevitably suggested TO a
thoughtful mind. And 20 please whom
this lavish outlay? Bah. the enigma
scarce admitted of any satisfactory So
luton. Rose and Stella, Baby" and
"Phipps"-damscls who accepted such
costly sacrifices or the shrine of
Friendship as neither more nor less
than their just deserts, and all in the
proper order of events. Tomorrow, in
all probability, they would make merry
at the expense of some other wealthy
admirer Of Thalia. and, if the opportun-
ity served, remorseleSsly turn to ridi-
Guile the previous nights entertain
rnent.
AS such reflections crossed his mind,
Dick Carlisle shrugged his shoulders
contemptuously, and then he drew a
long deep sigh, regret for the wasted
hours mingling with relief in that he
was free at last.
He was the only son of a country par
son, blessed with a family of daughters,
and a pious gentle wife. Until the last
five years, Dicks interests had been
identical with those of his parents and
sisters, but in a lucky Tor luckless?)
hour he had attracted the notice of his
wealthy and eccentric godfather, who
had not previously seen the young man
since his infancy, but was forthwith in
spired by a sudden affection for his old
friend Carlisle's only son.
Sir Jasper Earle was a childless Wild
over, living in solitary state in a lonely
mansion situated in a sparsely populat-
ed district some half-doZen miles from
the village of BurDham, where the Rev.
Edward Carlisle had ministered for
more than twenty years, and all his
family had first seen the light.
When the baronet had originally
startled the inmates of the pretty par
sonage by volunteering Ito do" for
Dick, it had been vaguely understood,
that if the young fellows future con-
duct satisfied his patron, his fortunes
would henceforth be ensured; and as
Sir Jasper believed firmly in a lads
''seeing life" Dick had been sent
abroad, after a short career at the uni
versity, to explore Continental capitals,
previous to being installed with a coup
le of bachelor friends In luxuriou:
chambers in a certain small house IL
tage he presumably enjoyed as much oil
life about town as his age, Independent
circumstances and a liberal allowance
would permit.
The exact end or aim the baronet had
at heart in this some what eccentric
mode of procedure it would be difficult
TO define. Dick himself was as much
in the dark as n other upon the sub
ject; his patron had never felt himself
called upon to express his views" to
the object of his solicitude, who was
consequently fain for the present tc
confess himself mystified, albeit he re-
signed himself with a good grace to his
somewhat anomalous position and lux
urious circumstances. Sometimes, in.
deed, il had occurred TO Dick that the
baronet had q mind Ito see the sort OF
stuff" the young fellow was really made
OF, and therefore placed him in q some.
what perilous position that he Nigh,
the better judge whether he was calcu'
lated TO sink or swim upon life's tide
buffet or succumb beneath temptation
yield to or resist those insiduous in1u.
ences which make or maj q man at the
outset Of his career. BE that as il
might, however, the stern old man
gave not the faintest hint of his ulti.
mate intention or design; the young
man had carte blanche TO enjoy himself
and "see life" his patron manifestinQ
neither appreciation nor disapprovai oil
the course Dick had so far steered in
his short journey across life's stormy
main.
There were moments, however,
neither few nor far between, when
every better impulse of Dicks nature
turned longingly in the direction of his
quiet home. and now, as he walked
alone beneath the frosty stars, his
thoughts reverted-by force Of contrast
perhaps, with the scene he had jus,
~quitted-to the aspect life at that hour,
without doubt. wore within and with
out the dear old ~ivy-grown rectory
where he had promised to spend his
Christmas Eve, despite Of the manifold
attractions presented In town.
His sisters had been busy weaving
laurel-chaplets, and cunning devices in
holly and berries. which the rector him.
self had probably ''fixed,n standing
aloft on the rickety steps" with the
Wellsworn household hammer in one
ny nails in his mouth; whilst the gentle
mater had constituted an adpiring au
dience, whose approving smile or dis
sentient gesture had settled the fats
and position of each individual spray OF
garland in q final court from which
there was no appeal.
All! well, he should embrace them nj
tomorrow, and Dicks step ACQUIRED
elasticity at the mere thought; mean.
while-why what on earth was the mat
ter INDEPENDENTLY, too, at his very
doorl
Nothing Of a very alarming nature
after all il seemed; only a stout police
man, lantern In hand, bending over a
huddled heap, which nearer inspection
proved-a child
A shivering pale-faced imp, who thu!
unceremoniousIy aroused from sleep
gazed up half distraught into the po
liceman's face, vainly struggling to re
ply coherently to the string OF question!
sHulloai what's it all aboutY" asked
Dick, coming to a full stop. The chile
had staggered to it's feet now, and
leaning up against the area ratings
with teeth chattering, and sinuous I'm
gers twisting themselves In and out the
tronwork, gazed, scared and terrified
up into the mans face.
Nothing much, SIR" returned thai
worthy, touching his helmet with Q
good-humored smile; ''little un's out o
order, asleep at a genleman's front
door, an wuss than that, has letter
this drop just as l started her hup"-
this being q silver coin which Police.
man z was twisting between his fingel
and thumb a he spoke-swi'out fur
nishin' any satisfactory account
Won't do, you know, sir" with q judic'
prodooce property, which seems sing,
gurlally ont o. place In SIGH like hands
wi'out bein' able t'---n
rs wur guy mel" ~whimpered thu
"Guv' yerls A lot o. that! Who gives
little beggar CELLS silver bits--little beg
CARS ALI ragsy"-with uhkipdly refer.
Snos 70 W poor ehild's tatts5s, "a