Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-04-21

from childhood. Her fAvOr1te seat unHer
the tree still stood there. but she had not
a thought nor q look for them, nor even
for the old dog who ran to greet her.
She had entered the house as il she had
some claim TO kindness and protection ;
she left IL like stranger, wrapped in her
own cares and sorrows.
Good-bye, grandfather"
"Good-bye; and the gate was violently
closed behind her.
She stood for a moment and turned to
look back at spot once so dear TO her.
As she did so she caught sight Of the little
post-box at the lodge, and was instantly
overwhelmed by one of those sudden
CLEANS Of memory which sometimes bring
back trivial act bearing on our present
joys or sorrows. II was here, three short
years before, that she had placed in the
box that fatal letter inviting Sylvia to
visit her for a month. Why had not some
thing warned herr
Had ! but known she said; '.had
but KNOWN And she could almost have
fancied that she held the envelope in her
hand. Then, as she thought of her child,
she felt momentary indignation against
the injustice of life. But suddenly she
exclaimed. mo, il is not truer and as she
hurried towards the station the unhappy
woman continued 10 do battle with her
own doubts and fears. She comprehended
now her husbands constant absence, his
preoecupied air, and evident anxieties.
AS Annie reached the deserted station,
she felt a touch ON her hand. II was .he
old dog, who had followed. The sight ,f
this one faithful friend, his humble. low
ing caresses, broke down her foititude.
She knelt upon the frozen ground, and
laying her head on his rough coat, wept
convulsively. Suddenly, ashamed Of her
self, she rose, and sent him home again
with an air SO imperative that the poor
creature obeyed in an instant.
Annie's first thought on reaching Lon
don. was to GO TO the jeweller who. her
grandfather had said. had nldGefgge tn,
others would lie also. But her fears lest
these details should he confirmed was 81
great that she hardly dared enter the
shop At first she looked at some orna-
ments IN their velvet cases. and as she
bent over them III her elegant dress, 4 BY.
stander would have imagined her happy
woman. only anxious to make becoming
selection, instead Of Il miserable wife about
to learn u truth that would darken her
whole future life. For five minutes she
suffered pangs worse than the agonies ol
death.
At last she spoke.
"Ah. yes. madam. perfectly-Mr. Speed
We can make you one precisely similar for
a thousand pounds"
Thank you," said Annie; IL will think
about it,"
A mirror opposite reflected the frightfnl
pallor of her face, and ahe hurried away
lest she should faint
She had but one idea-to be alone. Sud-
denly, without knowing how she had
reached it, she beheld the dark walls OF
the factory before her. BY what road had
she GOMEZ Had she walkedl She never
knew. But the stern reality Of her life and
her sorrows returned to her as she ascend
ed the broad stone steps Of her home.
Florence himself was there, superin-
tending the arrangement Of the ornanen-
tai plants in the hall. 1t was the night
Of Sylvia's bail.
This atmosphere Of luxury and amuse-
men. pursued her, then. to her own home.
1t was too much, and she lost her temper
so, when Florence bowed 10 her with his
usual Difference, she looked him full in the
face. and with an expression Of supreme
contempt passed on.
From that moment the course she would
take appeared clear to her.
She hastily kissed her child, and then
ran TO her mothers room.
snake haste, mamma" she cried: ~hur-
ry, for we are going away
The old lady rose slowly from her arm
chair, where she had been rubbing her
watch-chain with infinite care. Her
daughter restrained her impatience. and
looked round the apartment, and all at
once realized the fun extent of her own
loneliness. Her mothers mind was near
ly gone, her husband faithless, and her
child too young to sympathize with her.
In moment the whole household was
busy in preparations for this abrupt So
parture. Annie. perfectly self-possessed,
directed all their movements. She deter
mined to depart before Georges return. 81
that when he came he should be greeted
by vacant home and an empty cradle.
Where should she goi She had not decid-
ed. Perhaps to an aunt at Blis-
tol; possibly TO 0aklands. 1t mattered
little; her first care must simply be to
leave this atmosphere Of deceit and
treachery.
As she bent over a trunk, each article
that she placed in il seemed TO be full of
memories. There is so much of ourselves
in all the trifles which we see constantly.
Sometimes the perfume OF IA sachet, or the
design on bit Of lace, will bring the tears
TO our eyes.
Suddenly a heavy step was heard in
the next room. the door Of which was
open; then a slight cough. She supposed
it was Florence, for he alone had the right
to enter thus unannounced. The idea Of
seeing that hypocritical smile. that lying
face, disturbed her hardly won eqnanimi-
ty, and she sprang 10 the door TO close it /;
but job Denman appeared.
Il have come" he said mysteriously,
"for the money"
"What money Z" asked Annie. who had
utterly forgotten why she had gone to
Oaklands.
.Why, the money for to-morrow's pay
ments. Mr.. George told me to come to
you for IT,"
".frue. true; but nave not got IT,"
'.rhen," said the cashier, in low voice,
as IL speaking TO himself. ..there is nothing
for US but absolute bankruptcy"
Annie started at this fatal word, and
staggered, half fainting. into chair.
For the last few hours her mind had
been so absorbed in the ruin of her happi-
ness and hopes that she had paid little
heed To the ruin of the firm.
But this bitter recollection overwhelmed
her now. George would return to find his
house deserted, his wife and child gone
And then Annie asked herself what would
become Of that weak and erring nature,
left TO face the storm alonei
Her eyes filed with tears, and her heart
with compassion, Notwithstanding the
wrongs she had received at his hands.
"He would have the right to say" she
thought, "that his wife deserted him in
poverty and misfortune. and to think that,
had he been still rich, she would have for
given him."
A few minutes quiet reflection showed
Annie the path Of duty before her, and
when the servants came for further in
structions, the sad wife answered gently
that she had changed her intentions, and
was not going away.