Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-05-19

own house. The old man felt that Flor
ence ON seeing the peace and happiness Of
the little home where the brother and sis
ter lived together, might be led TO think
OF similar one for himself and Frank
And, in fact, hardly had they entered the
door, when the sweet home influence made
itself feiE
sYes, you are right said Florence. IL
must think no more Of this woman. She
Is dead 10 me from this time forward. I
have no one in the world belonging 10 me
now, except Frank. / cannot tell whether
I shall 20 20 him or send for him 10 return
N me. But one thing is certain, we must
pass the remainder of our lives together.
He has always been more like a son than
a brother TO me. and feel the need Of him
now TO lean upon. Once, longed TO die
now, mean TO ivc-to live for and with
my Frank"
"Bravow cried job. Now you are
talking like man Of sense, and as like
TO hear youw
At this moment Miss Denman came to
saw the room was in readiness.
Florence apologized for the trouble and
disturbance he had caused.
"You are so happy here it seems a
shane to bring the burden of my sorrows
under your roof"
"But you will soon lie as happy as we
are" interrupted Job gently; you with
your brother. and with my sister"
Florence smiled in dreamy way. He
seemed To see new home, peaceful
dwelling, Frank and himself its sole in
mates.
ut is late" said Denmsn cheeIfully.-
10 bed with you
Jobs room was large and airy simply
furnished, bat exguisitely fresh and
clean The old cashier looked about il
with pride. A glass Of water was on q
small table at the head of the bed, and a
cas- of razors lay on the dressing-table
ready for use.
all you want. think everything is here,
but If you need anything open the draw
ers, they are not locked And inst look
out at the view; you can't see much of it
to- night, but in the morning when you
wake. you will find it is really very fine
And now, good night; sleep well""
AS the old man was closing the door, his
friend called him back.
job"
The good man waited. Florence COL
ored slightly, his lips moved, but no words
were heard; then, with a great effort, he
said:
Never mind, nothing. Tomorrow will
do
In the dining room the brother and SIS
ter talked seriously and long in low voices.
job told Of the terrible occurrences of the
evening. and described syivia's appear
ance. Finally, one of them locked the
a.. =. L.. LII
job established himself in a small room
next his sisters.
In the middle of the night, the cashier
was awakened by frightened call from
his sisters room.
"What is it n he asked. starting up.
"Did you hear anythingr
~No; what was It'll"
'Ob! il was frightful--a gruan, so full
Of agony; il came from your room below.
They listened. the rain was coming down
in torrents. and rattling among the foliage
and on the windows.
ut was the wind" said Job.
"No, il was not. Harkv'
And in momentary hush Of the storm
they heard the wall OF a human voice.
.Frank! Frank"
A superstitious terror took possession Of
Miss Denman.
Il am frightened" she said. ..Go and
See
mo. no; he is thinking of his brother.
Poor fellow hut that thought will do him
more good than any thing else"
And the old cashier turned over and
went to sleep again.
In the morning be awoke as usual. His
sister was feeding the poultry. but when
she saw Job she hurried towards him.
.It is strange" she said nervously,
~but / do not hear the least sound in our
guests room. and yet the window is wide
open"
Job. somewhat astonished. knocked at
the door.
"Florence! Florencew He called again
with some anxiety: 'Are you still sleep
ingf"
No answer came, and he opened the
door, The room was deadly cold; the
window had evidently been open for some
time. At the first glance ut the bed Dem
man thought: "lle sat up all night
The coverings of the bed were undisturb-
ed, and every detail Of the apartment re-
vealed night of sleeplessness. The
lamp was still smoking; the glass of wa
ter was empty, but what most disturbed
the cashier was the sight Of the drawer
in which he had deposited the package
wide open and empty.
The package lay on the table, and con-
tained some photographs OF Sylvia taken
when she was but fifteen. The simple
muslin dress, high To the throat. the hair
parted over the pretty forehead. the
slightly awkward attitude. bore little re-
semblance 10 the Sylvia Of later days; and
il was exactly for that reason that Flor
ence had kept these photographs.
Job was overwhelmed with ccnsternA-
ton.
1T is my fault" he said; II ought &c
have locked them up. But who would
have thought that he cared stilli He
vowed that this woman no longer existed
for him."
Atthis moment his sister entered.
He has gone" she cried.
-Gonef Impossible! The gate was
locked"
but he climbed over the wall; IL II
quite evident, the marks are there"
Job looked blankly at her.
ut is that letter" he muttercd.
II was plain that this communication
from Sylvia had given her husband some
astounding intelligence. and in order not
TO disturb his hosts, he had left the house,
like burglar. through . window. But
where had he gonef
''You will see,' said poor Jot> ~ he has
tily swallowed some breakfast, -that his
abominable wretch Of wife has played
him somc fresh trick"
And when his sister offered him some
few words Of comfort he shook his head
despaiiingly.
IL have no confidence" he paurmured.
returning 10 his old formula.
On the earth. soaked by the heavy rain
Of the night Florcnce's steps were to DO
seen Ia the garden gate. He had gune be-
fore daylight. for the flowers were in some
places crushed by his feet, ami the walls
was marked where he had climbed upon
II. Once outside, il was impossible to
trace him.
.Why need we disturb ourselvesf" said
Miss DenmAn ut length. "He has pro-
bably gone back 70 the factory"
job shock his head. He dared not give
utterance 70 his thoughts and fears.
~Retnrm to the house." he said sadly
-snd win 70 up TIC road end ascsstAis