Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-04-21
A DOUBLE TREACHERY.



Job looked about with keen, inquisitive
eyes. The increasing business and pros
perity OF the establishment were plainly
TO be seen. At the cashiers desk, behind
the grating, sat the wife of one Of the sons,
with an air Of authority on her fair young
face. The old man ground bis teeth with
rage rs he thought OF the difference at the
manufactory; but what most troubled
him was, In what way he could ask for
the money they owed without betraying
his masters pressing needs Business was
good, he began, with an air of indifference,
but he liked TO steal away sometimes and
see old friends. Then, catching glimpse
of concealed amusement in the faces Of his
hearers, he became confused, and took up
his hat TO go away. On the threshold he
stopped.
"Since am here.- he said, "you might
as well settle our old account"
The two brothers and the woman at the
desk exchanged look.
What account2" And they laughed at
jobs joke, as they considered II. He
laughed, too. but what laugh was his.
Then they explained to him that young
MIR. Speed had given them receipt in
full. and taken all the monev thew owed
the firm, SIX months before. Job had
hardly the strength TO stammer:
ITO be sure--I had forgotten, good
friends. I'm growing old, and losing my
memory"
And with these words the old man de-
parted The young people looked at each
other, and shook their heads sadly; for
they understood the affair perfectly.
job walked down the street as IL he
were in a dream. This then was the rea-
son why George never came to him now
for money. Evidently. wherever he might
go, he would find that George had preeed-
ed him. He would try, however. He went
10 another OF their customers; he half
opened the door.
"A thousand panlons" he cgjad .qe,t
last payment TO our housef forgot TO
enter il in my books"
They told him that five months previ-
ously they had paid everything. He
closed the door and persued bis weary
pilgrimage. At that moment Mrs. Speeds
carriage swiftly passed him; but Annie,
busy with her own miserable thoughts,
had no eyes for him.
The task she had undertaken was no
easy one 10 ask for large sum of mon
ey from a man who boasted loudly that
never in his life had he borrowed penny,
and who declared that while he lived no
member Of his family should receive any
thing from him. Trne TO his nature he
had given his daughter no dowry on her
marriage, and had always been more or
less annoyed that her husband had sue
ceeded in acquiring wealth without once
coming to him for assistance.
When he used 10 see his son-in law hap
py and successful the old man would say
with malicious smile, "Wait awhile, we
have not seen the end~ and sometimes. at
0aklands, would look at the house, the
stables, and conservatories, and say, IL
am consoled, when think Of dying that
no member of my family is rich enough TO
keep up this establishment when i am
gomez
Nevertheless, with certain tenderness
that Is not uncommon in grandfather
who is hard TO everyone else, old Gray
would have petted Annie; but she, even
when quite child, was afraid of him.
His roughness repelled and his SELFISH
ness disgusted her, SO that on her mar
riage, the old man said to his daughter,
Mrs. Speed:
"If your daughter wishes, she shall
have princely gift from me; but she
must ask me for it,"
lks
never would ask him for anything. There
fore the modification she was enduring
now, three years later, on her way 90 i'm
plore favor from him, is more easily
imagined than described. Poor Ann )!
her grandfather would certainly try her
temper and her patience by attacks ON
her husband; reproaches and sneers would
be lavished upon him. But the thought
OF defending the being she loved best in
the world gave her certain courage.
Ii was noon when she reached her des-
tination, and, as she had sent no intima-
tion Of her coming, the carriage was not
waiting at the station. She was therefore
obliged TO walk to the house.
The cold was excessive, the ground
frozen and uneven. The chill north wind
blew sharply through the bare and leaf
less woods; the little lake was black, re-
fecting the leaden skies above; the whole
scene was gloomy and discouraging, and
the creaking Of the weather. cock on the
stables seemed to say, Don't come here
don't come here"
Had poor Annie but listened TO this ad-
vice she might have preserved her peace
OF mind but she persevered in her object,
and was shown in the presence of her
grandfather, who was in small room that
he called his sauctum. Seeing his grand
daughter pale and shivering, in spite of
her handsome sealskin, the old man un-
derstood at once that some matter of grave
Importance required his attention.
"What is the matterf he said.
Annie went towards the fire. and, seat
ing herself without even lifting her veil,
proceeded at once 20 lay before the grand
Father the occasion OF her unexpected
visit. She dare not even attempt the or
dinary exchange Of courtesies, lest she
should lose all courage.
He did not interrupt her while she
spoke, but AN acute observer could have
seen in his eyes "a gleam of malicious Joy.
$50" he thought to himself. "these stuck
up Speeds are humbled at last, and have
felt the need Of old Gray" When she had
finished, he began, of course, with the
words:
II told you so! knew things must
come to this sooner or later" and then i'll
. hard, severe tone continued TO express
his'surprise that, when his sentiment were
so well known TO his family, she siiould
have ventured TO apply to him, finishing
by fatty refusing to lend her penny.
Then Annie spoke of her child who
would have to bear the dishonor OF her
fathers failure; but the old man renamed
unmoved. and even sought TO humiliate
her still further; for his was that hard,
vulgar nature that likes to leave the
marks OF his hob nailed shoes on the face
Of his fallen enemy.
.Ali can say, is my dear, that you can
have home at Oaklands. Your husband
may come, too, for need secretary, and
will pay him small salary; tell him so'
She rose in indignation. She came as
his grandchild, and he received her as il
she had been a beggar. God be praised!
She had not reached that point. And An
ME turned towards the door.
take cGfer' said the old man. "You
may come TO that yet! 1t is for your sake
have offered to receive your husband
here. You have no idea of the life he
leads in London. or You certainly would
not ask me to assist him with my money.
But am pretty well acquainted with the
scamp's doings. know where he passes
his DAYS and nights"