Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-11-24
THE
Master of the Mine.
BY ROBERT BUCHANAN.

fsh miners; and since they could not starve
they must be left to trldge on with that grin
skeleton, Death, forever by their side!
Pondering thus, ] made my way slowly
along the crowded streets, gazing distracted
" at the sea OF faces surrounding me-. X
was Saturday afternoon, and the Strand wa:
thronged. The hun Of the busy crowd dis
traeted me. i turned, intending ~ pass dowr
one OF the side streets and gain the Embank'
ment, when suddenly ! stepped face to face
with n woman who was coming toward me
and uttered "A cry.
1T was my cousin Anniel
But so changed was sire that / scarcely
knew her. She was dressed as a lady, and
looked liks one; but her face was pale, he
eyes looked troubled and sad. She mus
have been walking quickly, for as | turned
70 face her she almost fell into nv arms.
The cry | gave attracted her; she looked
into my face, and knew me.
She paused, uncertain what 10 do. Ny
sudden appearance there, of all places on tho
earth, was so unexpected, that it completely
unneiyed her. For a moment she seemed
about to ifs; then, conquering herself, she
stood her ground.
"lIugh!' sine exclaimed. "You here"
"Yes"'I answered, sternly enough. II
am here!'
felt no JOY in meeting her. Had she come
To me poor, despised, with the faint OF sin
upon her, | should have taken her in my
arms, and said, You poor repentant child,
come home" but when she STOOD before me
In her fine raimcnt, my heart hardened: fol
i thought OF the heart.broken old people
whom she had left.
My appearance must have been strange,
for ! began to attract some attention. when
Annie took me by the arm and led me down
the side street | had intended 10 take. We
passed on. never ~uttering a word, until we
came TO the EmbankInent Then she let go
my arm and spoke.
''Hugh!' she said, did you come TO Lon
don TO loot; for me?'
mo. | came on other business, but I
promised 10 seek you and take YOU back
She was still white rs death and trembling
violently. As | uttered these words, she
shook her head, and her eyes filed with
tears.
Il cannot go home, Hugh; not yet" she
said. sadly.
Not yeti" | repeated. win 1t ever be
better for you than ii is now?'
Yes, Hugh; and soon, | hope, | shall be
able TO go-and cause them no trouble"
shrugged my shoulders and half turned
away, when she laid her hand upon ms arm
again and said:
Hugh, dear Hugh! you have never once
taken my hand; you have not looked at ms
as you would have done some months ago.
You think | have brought shame upon you
all; but, indeed, it is not so bad as that am
. lawful wife"
"A lawful wife? Whose wlfeg'
"Ah! do not ask me that. | cannot tel
you. But am a wife; and some day, very
soon, l shall be acknowledged. Hugh, will
y"u not take my hand, and say that you for.
give me%'
Il have nothing to forgive" | replied.
"YOu did me no wrong but yOI ruined the
happiness of your home, and YOU have brok.
Ell your father heart
"HughI
at is as well for you TO hear It. Annie"
continued. "When Your flight was discoy
cred, your father bore it bravely, we thought.
out il seems he hid the worst Of his trouble
from us, and pined in secret. II has been
like a canker- worm gnawiHg at his heart
and now he is weak and feeble, like a weary,
worn old man!'
/ ceased, Tor Annie had turned away and
was crying pite0usly. | went II her and
took her hand.
Annie" | said. tell me the name of the
man who has been the author OF all this
trouble, and | will ask no more"
She shook her head.
Il cannot tell YOU, Hugh. Why should
you wish 10 know? ! tell you | am his wife,
IF you are his wife, where Is the need OF
all this secrecy
"rhere are reasons why he cannot acknowl
edge me Just now: therefore, | have made q
solemn VOW never To tell his name MIL ht
gives me permission. Is It not enough foI
you to know that | have not ~disgraced you,
and that | am happy?'
She certainly did not look happy. Her
pale. palned face, which was turned to mine,
seemed to give the lie to every word she
spoke.
win you tell them at home" she said.
that you found me We'll, aEG that they must
not grieye; because some day soon | shall
come back to themy'
Where are you living nowy' | asked.
'Close by here" she replied, quickly. II
was on my way home when | met you. VIII
ypu JIM WIN hlS, AAu-A' 4 wa INV sDN
the rooms"
1 assented; and she led the way back to
ward the Strand. She walked quickly, and
paused before a house In Craven Street. En-
tering with a latcl-key which she carried,
she passed up n flight of stairs, and entered
q room.
This is where / live, Hugh" she said.
1t was a change indeed from the Cornish
kitchen in which she had lived all her life
The room was one which | could imagine
Madeline occupying, but which was singu
larry out Of place when coupled with Annie
Having looked about me, l prepared tc
leave.
where are you going, Hughg' she asked.
"Home?'
II don't know" l answered.
"Shall | see you AGAIN."
THAT / don't know. Since you say you
are Well cared for and happy, where is the
use III troubling you? Some day, perhaps,
when your sun begins to set, you'll find youl
way back to those who loved you long be-
fore this villain crossed your pathr'
1 opened the door, stepped across the
threshold, and-faced two strange men.
A hand was laid upon my shoulder, and a
voice said:
stop, young man! We want you fol
murderF'