Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-03-10

| IUts your cdSiiieTb tbitSue - hS lOUg M
the rest. He is a horrid man"
These words had their effect. Florence
was indignant, and. too proud to complain.
good men, dlstrusting each others pre-
sence. ended 10y rarely meeting.
Sylva's time was fully occupied in
managing all the details Of her luxurious
life. She must have country house. 1t
was true she detested trees and fields,
and thought them utterly drcary. Bat
Annie passed the summer at Oaklands.
With the first warm weather her boxes
were packed; curtain and carpets were
shaken and put away; and the cab, laden
with luggage, was surmounted 10y the
baby's cradle.
Then Sylvia considered London deser-
ted; and although she loved the great
metropolis, even in July and August,
when il was hot and uncomfortable, she
was nevertheless annoyed and envious
when she thought that the world OF
fashion was enjoying itself at Scarborough,
Eastborne, or ON the Continent.
The sea-sidef But Florence would not
leave town.
Then house in the countryl
"But have not the means," said Syl-
via to herself.
George would have gladly come TO the
rescue and at once gratiied this new ca
price But country house is not so easily
concealed as diamond bracelet or a lace
shawl. Still, Florence was Of so simple
n nature that they might possibly try the
experiment with him.
To pave the way, his wife perpetually
talked of her longing for a little home in
the country. not too far from town. Florence
listened with n pleased smile. lie thought
of the green grass, of an orchard with
trees laden with fruit; but, as he was
prudent, he said: I'VE will see. I'll think
it over! Wait until the end of the year.
The end of the year means so much 10
men Of business. Then all the books are
balanced, the accounts all made out; and
even the errand-b boys in the establishment
are interested. for on the happy results Of
those long columns Of figures depends.
perhaps, their own bonus.
Job Dcnman, FOR the time being, master
of the situation, and the house of Speed
and Florence hung ON his words. The old
cashier has an impcnetrablc air Of inn
portance, ensconced behind his iron graf
ing. There he sat, day after day, turning
over heavy folios Young Speed would
come in on tiptoe, with his cigar in his
mouth.
We'll. how are you getting orr
The sole response from job would he
groan. This, George knew too well. in
dicated that things were not looking very
promising. In fact, since the financial
panic and hard times of 1S4S. no such un-
satisfactory accounts had been seen. The
general expenses had absorbed all the
profits and more, for young Speed found
that he had Overdrawn his account. He
received this statement from the cashier
pleasantly enough.
Things will lie better the coming year."
he said; and. TO restore the cashier to
good d-humor, George handed him much
larger sum than usual az a New Years
gift, and babe him say nothing to Flor
ence.
IL will tell him myself" added George.
When he entered the little Office, lighted
from above like studio. and saw his
partner bending over his drawing. George
had "A moment Of shame and hesitation.
"Is that your" cried Florence gaily
"My invention is nearly perfected. and il
will ~ be long before. with its aid, we
shall distance all competitors"
That is all very well for the future"
answered Speed: "but you don't seem to
think of the present"
True. true said Florence. "And the
accounts. how have they turned outi Not
very satisfactory. l am afraid"
He said this because he saw an express
sion Of annoyance in Georges face.
Not at all; they are very good" an
Swerod the young man, "fcr the first year.
We have each Of us cleared handsome
sum. and N i thought you might want
some money to-day to purchase some gift
for your wife," And. without looking
at the honest man whom he was deceiving.
George laid pile OF notes and gold upon
the table.
Florence for moment was delighted.
And all that money for him, for him alone!
lie thought first of the liberality of the
Speeds, who had done so much for him,
and then of his little Sylvia. whose oft-ex-
pressed wish he could now venture to gra-
tify His eyes grew moist, and he shook
his partners hand with q radiant smile.
Il am 20 happy" he cried. This was
his phrase on all great occasions, Then,
rustling the notes before him, he said:
'Do you know what these representa- A
box in the country for Sylvia And the
good man smiled with an air Of triumph.
About this time Frank Florence, who,
il will be remembered. was in Egypt. re-
its own story.
40 Frank Florence. Esq, c. f,
"Ismailia, Egypt.
"Frank, my boy, it is old job who Is
writing TO you to tell you that there is
trouble at home. Your brothers wife is
deceiving him shamefully. and no one but
you can convince him of it. He will not
believe his friends here, you must come
back at once, on soon the world viii be-
lieve he is the accomplice, and not the
dupe. l know it is difficult and seri-
Gus thing for you to do. perhaps involving
your whole future career; but what is
prosperity compared with honorl tell
you. therefore. solemniy, that, unless you
return at once, the name of Florence viii
be eternally isgraced.-Your friend.
Jon DENNA:'
CHAPTER All.
Those persons whose lives are sedenta-
ry. either from infrmities or from the ma
,lre of their daily labors, become inter-
ested in the opposite windows. and in the
passers-by. TO degree that is not easily
understood 10y those who lead sn active
existence
Mrs. De Lacy and her daughter lived
very secluded life, and had. therefore,
learned to take keen interest in the out
side worlI that flowed through their little
street with a certain regularity. AS the
window was small, the mother, whose eyes
were growing dim from advancing years
and constant labor, sat nearest to it. close
behind the muslin curtains; her daugh-
ter's armchair was little farther of, and
the mother announced each passcr-by;
this gave subjects for conversation, and
shortened ime long hours. There were
two young sisters; "A gentleman in gray
coat a child attended by a servant on its
way to and from school. If itrained Mrs.
De Lacy would lament: ''They will cer-
tainly get wet! They will not get in be-
fore the showerr'
When the spring sun shone in all its
glory, or the snow whitened the pave
ments in December, they only knew the
change of season by some new article of
dress worn by one Of their friends.
Now, on certain day of which we
write. the air was soft and mild. everyone
seemed anxious to be out of doors every
window was thrown wide open. Dora and
her mother, however, only sewcd the
faster. as they wished to make use of ev-
cry ray of daylight. The voices of the
children playing In the street, the Jingle
Of IL barrel-organ, and the costcrmongers'
cries, flied the air with an indefinabie
sense of spi1ng. Mrs. De Lacy at lasi pas