Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-05-12
shed the tasx he nae assigned hims

news had moved him more than he wished
anyone 10 suppose. He wandered up and
down the garden, and smiled sadly enough
ut old Denman as he passed the window.
! "What does he want7" wondered job,
puzzled at this unwontcd restlessness.
But. in the evening, just as the cashier
was locking up, Florence came to him.
! "Dcnmay, / should like" here he
hesitated moment. "You may give me
that letter now. and the package too.-
! Job looked utterly astounded. Stupid
ly enough, he had fancied that Florence
thought no more of Sylvia; that he hat,
| forgotten her.
What! you want"
| "Listen! 1 can afford 10 think little
| OF my own affairs. Hitherto, l have al
lowed myself only To think of others
"Fery true" ielid Denrnan; 4.now let me
! tell you what we had better do. The let
/ ter and packet are both at my house at
| Hammersmith. Suppose we dine together
/ at Simpsons as we used to do sometimes
| a man does not get gold medal every
| day iii the week, and we will drink .
! bottle Of good wine in it's honor. Then you
can come home with me, stay the night,
| and we can both of us take the first omni-
| bus to town Tomorrow morning. Do me
! this favor; II is so long since we passed
! an evening together"
/ Florence consented, not SO much to do
/ honor to his medal as to hasten by some
/ hours the moment when lie could open
/ that little letter He must change his
! clothes. which in itself was an exertior,
| for II was six months since he had put on
anything but an office-coat.
| Mrs. Speed was summoned to the win
/ dow by an exclamation Of wonder uttered
| by her nurse, aud the sight of Florence's s
bowed form going out Of the gate with
job caused her strange pang. and one
/ which she remembered long afterwards.
| In the street he received many cordial
| greetings, which seemed to gladden. his
| heart. while the noise and confusion be-
wi!de.ed his brain.
My head is dizzy and weak" he said
! 10 job.
Take ny arm. and don't think about
[ it." answered his friend gaily.
The two mon entered the restaurant,
/ and took table that stood in a recess Of
window. Here was jobs idea of luxury /;
n large room, all gliding and mirrors. As
| each course was served, job would insist
on bIorence's trying il. He did his best,
in his wish TO crafty his friend but he
bad little appetite.
Don't you remember. Jobi' he said at
last
"Whati The first time we dined here 7.
Florence shook his head.
"Oh. no. l mean only three years ago.
II was there that we dined nearly three
years ego; IN that very room, you and /,
and my wife,
Yes, / remember, murmured Job, in
confusion; why had he brought his un-
fortunate friend 10 place that recalled TO
him so much that was painful
Florence. anxious 10 enliven the repast,
raised his glass:
TO your health. old friend
He tried 10 turn the conversation, but q
few moments later he himself returned Ia
IT,
Have you seen herf"
"Your wifel No, not once"
"She has not written agains"
"No. never"
"But you must have heard something
about her in all these months. Is she
with her parents7"
mo. she is not"
Florence turned very pale. He had
hoped that Sylvia was with her mother,
expiating the past by a life of honest Ia
Dor. He had determined that by what he
should now hear of her he would regulate
his future life; and sometimes he had
dreamed OF a future in some far-distant
land where the shameful past would be
unknown. He had made no plans, but in
the depths of his heart some vague idea
of the kind had taken root.
lis she in Londonf' asked Florence,
after moments pause.
mo, she has been gone three months,
and no one knows where she is"
job did not add that she had gone with
Benedetti. whose name she now bore, and
that her mother was broken-hearted. Job
saw no need of telling these facts, and SO
sat in silence.
Where shall we go :" said the
cashier. rs they left the restaurant.
wherever you please"
Strolling down to the Strand, they no.
ticed concert room in street running
towards the river, and almost under the
railway station, towards which Il number
of people were huriyiug.
Suppose we go in. too. for half an }
hourf' sail job, anxious to cheer his
friend. if possible.
florence made no objection. 1t looked
ike the arch Of bridge. transformed in
10 music-hall. Although it was early,
the room was crowded. The air was suf-
focating. and the glare of gas bewildering.
Little tables were scattered about, and at
the extreme end was a raised platform.
Our two friends had much difficulty in
finding seats. but finally established them
selves in a corner. whence only partial
view could be obtained of the platform, at
that moment occupied by . magnificent
parsonage in evening dress and lemon
colored kid gloves.
The public-the small tradespeopIe of
the neighborhood, with their wives or
sweethearts--were highly delighted with
the romance he was singing; but Florencei
and job drank their beer without paying
much attention to the music. when sud-
denly the cashier exclaimed, just as the
song came 10 an end:
There is We're dc Lacyw
Sure enough, the old actor was there,
close 10 the little stage. He was careless
~ leaning against pillar. dressed with
most punctilious care, his linen was dazz-
ling. and huge flower adorned his black
coat. He occasionally examined the crowd
with the air of Il man who accidentally
finds himself among his interiors; but his
attention was mainly directed to the plat
form, where he turned continually with
an encouraging smile or gesture. intended
for some one whom Denman could not see
on account of the intervening pillars. 1
There was nothing very extraordinary
in the presence of old De Lacy in this mu-
c-hall. and yet the cashier felt uneasy,
more especially when he saw Madame Zo-'
las sparkling eyes and black hair among
the audience. Amid the totGcc smoke
and the noise Of the crowd. these two fa-
ces had the effect Of the Illusions of a bad
dream. He felt afraid for his friend, and
yet he knew not why nor what he had to
dread; but he determined to take him
away
.'Come. Florence. let us go; the heat is
intolerable here"
Just as they rose, for Florence was as
willing to go as to stay. the orchestra,
composed of piano and several violins,
began peculiar air.
"Hushw cried several people. "Sit
down" cried others.
They We're obliged 10 resume their seats.
Blu. Florsnce felt vaguely disturbed.
IL know that air." lie said; "where
have heard itf'
Fociferous applause, and an exclama-
lion from job. made him surn round.
'tomc, quick--l~t us go." said the
cashier.
But il was too late! Florence had seen
his wife come forward to the edge OF the
platform. and bow with the air Of y ballet
Japeee