Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-03-03
tormed the liss Of this women. and began

|, formed the nfe OF tniS women. 9nu UcRhu
10 dream vaguely Of possibilities for her
self.
All this little world regarded Florence
as man grossly deceived by his wife.
Someone professed TO have seen Sylvia at
the theatre. accompanied by gentleman,
who carefully secluded himself from OBJ
servation at the back of the box. Tom.
too, had wonderful tales to tell. for the old
gardener did not love Mrs. Florence That
Sylvia had admirers, or even several, all
these people were quite prepared TO be-
Eeve, but. oddly enough. no one as yet had
connected her name with that Of George.
And yet Sylvia was anything but eau
ticus in her relations with him. In fact
certain ostentatious bravado characterised
them. Many time had she stopped him
on the staircase 10 make some arrange
ment for the evening, and had ofter
frightened him by whispering TO him be-
fore others. But, the first shock over
George was amused, and looked upon
these imprudcnces as a proof Of the
strength Of her passion. In this notion,
however. he deceived himself greatly.
The simple truth was that Sylvia
desired to arouse Annies jealousy and
suspicious. All her efforts in this direc-
tion were useless. Annie saw nothing.
suspected nothing: her own pure nature
and innocent heart, like Florences, re-
mained undisturbed.
Job Denman, the cashier, was the only
one whose peace was troubled. But it was
not Of Sylvia that he thought, as he sat
looking out on the little garden which his
distracted eye did not see. He thought
of his master. and Of the enormous sums
he was spending.
et41o g.. to Ia
Denmani l was thoroughly cleaned out
at cards last night"
| And Denman would open his safe with
groan as he remembered the day when
the young man came 10 his uncle 10 confess
some enormous gambling debts. The good
man suddenly conceived violent hatred
| for the club and all its members. One Of
them being in the Office one day, job ex-
pressed his dislike in very strong terms.
'Confound your club! In the last two
months Mr.. George has wasted thousands
| there
| The other laughed.
Thousands, indeed" he said; "why.
we have not seen him there for at least
three months"
The cashier said not another word, but
a terrible fear had taken possession Of his
heart. II George did not 20 to the club,
where did he pass his evenings, and how
| did he spent so much money! Evidently
| there was some woman connected with
| this mystery.
With this Interpretation, Job feared
more than ever for his dear cash box, for
TO this old veteran all women were appall-
| ing. more particularly fast London
woman. His first duty evidently was to
warn Florence.
"Mr. George spends a good deal Of mon
ey,' said he one day.
But Florence was not alarmed.
"What do you wish me TO do about it,
Jobi He has surely a right TO do as he
pleases with his own"
This was exactly the good fellows
| thought. In his eyes young Speed was
the absolute master Of the house, and he
himself only designer connected with it.
The cashier said no more, until one day
| a bill came for lace shawl-one hundreds
| pounds. lie went 10 George.
IAN to pay this, sirl" he asked.
George Speed was little startled. Syl-
via had forgotten TO tell him Of this new
purchase.
PAY it. Pay if, Denman!" he said. in
some embarrassment. PASS it TO my
private account II is commission that
| executed for friend"
That evening. just as job was lighting
his lamp. he saw Florence through the
garden. and called him.
ut is woman he said. in hoarse
whisper, land have proof for IT,"
The poor cashier felt that the manllfac-
tory was on the high road to destruction;
and all for woman.
Florence laughed. and refused TO be-
lieve il. He knew this old craze Of the
cashiers. who always attributed all mis-
fortunes to the evil influence Of the sex.
Nevertheless. the words Of his friend re-
turned TO Florence's mind in the evening.
as he sat alone after Sylvias departure
with Madame Zola. The room looked
strangely empty. Candles burned in front
! Of the mirror, forgotten bouquet lay on
! chair. aud a thousand expensive trihes
were scattered rccklessly around. Flor
ence nolced nothing OF TINS, but. when he
heard Georges hougham roll away. he
felt cold chill at his heart as he thought
Of the solitary wife in the rooms below.
poor thing! If what Job said is true
| il George Is faithless to her-oh, it would
| be terrible"
Then. instead of going 10 work. he went
down stairs TO ask if Mrs George was
visible. for he thought il his duty TO stay
with her awhile. The little girl had gone
| To bed, but pair of tiny blue shoes lay on
| the heart-rug with some forgotten play
| things. Annie was reading, while near
her sat her mother. occupied in rubbing
her watch, breathing on the crystal and
| wiping it. Florence was not the hveliest
companion in the world. but Annie re-
eeived him with the greatest coiNliality.
| She knew all that was said Of Sylvia, and
4 thn,, 81, Sh. All px. baitar.n half nf II
vet She felt the most profound compassion
For the husband who was left so often in
solitude. A mutual pity drew these two
! hearts together, and il was touching 10
| see them each consoling the other
Seated at this little table, Florence was
very happy; the genial warmth of the
| fire, the sight of the furniture that for
| twenty years he had known so well. the
| portrait Of his old master. and his dear
Mrs. George bending over her sewing.
! seeming Younger and lovelier than ever
among these old surroundings, all seemed
| to render the doubts suggested by Job
alike improbable and fantastic. Occasion
ally she rose 10 60 into the next room to
/ look at her sleeping child. Without ex-
actly knowing why. Florence found it
| pleasanter in these rooms than in his own;
| for sometimes his apartments seemed like
place where his wife only came 10 make
| fresh start for some new scene or gaiety.
| There il was like an en.ampment; here
| like home. A careful hand and watch
/ full eye maintained order and elegance;
| the chairs were disposed at the right
angles; the fire burned with a clear flame
! and cheerful crack1e; while the baby's
half-worn shoes spoke of the tender
presence Of childhood.
Thus. while Annie compassionated this
kind good soul, who merited better wife,
! Florence, absorbed in admiration OF her
gentle ways and peaceful eyes, that looked
/, on him SO kindly, asked himself il it were
possible that George could weary Of SO
/ sweet companion.
n