Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-11-17

my preparations accordingly.
During the years that I had been overseer
OF tue mine my salary had not been large,
hut | had been able 10 put by q small sum
weekly. My first care was to break into this.
to put into my pocket-boo sufficient for my
Journey and give a sum TO my aunt.
Don't be afraid 10 use it." / said; 'there
Is more vet; and before it's all gone I'll have
work, please Godv
My hopefulness, somehow, soon infected
my aunt, and she set about putting my things
together with a brighter face. She dried her
tears, and talked quite cheerfully of my go
Ing.
They do say" she said, shat averything's
for the best, and may be- It's saw nav, though
us can't Just see it. Mayhap You'll meet our
Annie in London and bring her back to US,
Hugh"
its more than likely" / returned. "Our
black cloud won't last for ever, the silver
lining must be coming round"
When all was ready. | stepped down to
the village to tell John Rndd to call for me
on the morrow, when he was TO start before
daybreak. Having done my errand, lit my
pipe and strolled slowly back TO the cottage.
Ii was a splendid night. All sie earth,
hHitSstth ~ ltif httl lDlCl Ol IiOHI, WNs
flooded by the brilliant moonrays; and the
SKY was thick with stars. All was so quiet
and peaceful, | could hear the click claek OF
my footsteps on the frosty road.
My mind WAS sorely troubled. | walked ND
and down the road until my pipe was finish
ed, then | Knocked out the burnt ashes upon
the ground and turned To re-enter the cot
tage, when | started back with q half-sup-
nTnEGn1 RTN ThaV4a mt Nsnrt. Far frgp, Yn.
standing in the shadow OF one OF the laurel
bushes in Annie's garden, was the tall figure
Of a woman. She came quickly toward me,
and laid her hand upon my arm.
"MadelineT / murmured, for il was in
deed she, dressed in her evening dress. with
her mantle thrown lightly over her hend and
shoulders, and her dear face raised wistfully
to mine.
Mr.. Trelawney." she said, quietly. ais II
true that you have been dismissed from the
mine?'
Yes; It's quite true, Miss Graham"
"Oh, why will you not be as you were Just
now, and call me Madeline" she cried, pas
siOnately. WAY have all those years come
and gone since We were children, and left us
so far apart, Mr.. Ttelawney. Hugh, let us
be children againl l was your help and So
lace once. let me be so tonight
She had spoken truly-why should O few
years separate Us? Once before she had Of
fered me her friendship and | had accepted
II; why not now? took her hand and kiss
ed II.
You shall be the same to me now as you
Were then" ! answered, you shall be my
friendI'
! think she understood me-. She made no
reply, but for moment she turned her head
aside; when she looked at me again, she was
Is calm as the moonrays which lay all about
her. 4.
Tel me what has happened" she said,
land what you are going to do"
Very little has happened" | replied. II
have got the dismissal which have all along
expected, and | am going away"
Mr.. Trelawney, it was more than sympa-
thy which brought me here tonight. want
to ask you a question"
'Yes?'
"lf my cousin offers you the post again,
Will you take it?'
! saw In a moment what she meant; that
she would intercede for me; that tie fact OF
my being reinstated would give that villain
George Redruth, a stronger hold over her;
SO | answered, firmly:
we hA& AANNE va AVh W W
re, and II it was, / should refuse it."
Your uncle and aunt are dependent upon
you, are they not?"
Not entirely. My uncle is sufficiently re-
covered now to resume his work. For the
last week he has been employed at the mouth
OF tho mine. If my sins are not visited upon
his head, and he is allowed 10 remain, they
will do very well. As for myself, 1 am
young and strong; there Is no fear for me-"
She made no answer; and !, looking at
her, noticed. for the first time, how thinly
she was clad.
Madeline" l said, ''you will get your
des NV I I'M me .h ssEs y Yen haf abous ner .ncur-
ders, put her ha:d upon my arm, and led her
away.
"nugn." she SAID, presently, you have
not told me the cause Of all this trouble.
Why have you and my cousin disagreed so
terribly
The very fact that he was her cousin seal.
ed my lips.
There is nothing" / said, "but what had
best be kept between man and man."
Then you absolutely refuse To make any
concession%
Il refuse to receive any favor from George
Redruth."
.NOr from met"
From you. Madelineg'
"Yes. l am rich. you know-very rich,
and now that you are In trouble l might help
you."
No" | answered, quickly; .'don't think
of it. 1t is impossible"
''lmpossibleg' she replied; 'the word
friendship to you means nothing"
1T means that you may give ME your SYM
pathy. l am grateful for that, but l annot
accept money from YOU"
l walked with her as far rs the entrance to
the grounds surrounding Redruth House,
then l left her.
Her eyes were full of tears as she said
goodbye, and her little hand chung to mine
with a persistence which wellnigh unman-
ned me. i was too much beside myself to
return to the cottage, SO for about half a mile
j followed the road which led TO the mine.
Ii was late, there was not a living soul
abroad it seemed to me; yet, as turned to
retrace my steps, I came face TO face with a
man who had evidently been following close
upon my heels. 1t was Johnson.
Madeline's softening influence was still up
me. Yet at sight Of thus evil face ii SEEM
to fade, and there arose within me all that
was worst in my soul. He paused, blocking
my way, and sneeringly addressed me:
IL guess, young man" he said, you'll get
into worse trouble before you're done. Jest
you i1t the governor see you as / saw you
with Miss Graham to-nightv'
The mention of her name by his foul lips
reused me TO frenzy.
You scoundrelv p I cried. mention that
lady's name again and by Heaven I'll strike
you dead where you standV'
'Oh," he sneered, killings your game, Is
it? Repeat that tomorrow before witnesses
young man, and yeur doom's sealed"
He passed me by, and walked OF toward
the mine, while !, glad at heart to be safely
away from him, walked with some speed to-
ward home.
/ found my aunt alone; I asked for my
uncle.
He be gone back to the mine, Hugh" she
returned. but dawn't zee sit up for 'un,
lad. I daresay Jim Rivers III bring 'un
haIne."
As Knew I should have to be ready to
join John Rudd ut five o'clock in the morn
ing, l took my aunt's advice and went to
bed; and 50 soundly did l sleep, that l heard
whatever Of my uncle's return.
When / awoke IL was still pitch dark. /
q light, and found that IL was -four
l therefore got up and began to
prepare for my journey.
went about my work a quietly ~ posi-
bic, hoping to disturb no one; but shortly
N ffav I optaraI thu kl~ahar r~y u,.ia - =