Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1895-02-23

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Il remarkable change oyerspreads
land YOU see around you. and the title
besides"
Mrs. Talbot is still silent. She mere
~ bows her head in assent.
Then. you see, j mean kindly to-
ward him when | suggest that he
should marry some me calculated 10
sustain his rank in the world" contin-
ued D%ynecourt. AS | have said be-
fore. j know one who would fill the po-
eharmingly, if she would deign
to do So
And who?" falters Dora Talbot ner-
vously.
May | say TO whom I alludey" he
murmurs. Mrs. talbot. pardon me il
! have been impairment ia thinking OF
you as that woman
4 little Pickering smile adorns Dora's
lips for a moment. then. suddenly re-
membering that smiles do not become
her. She relapseS into her former calm.
You flatter me-" she says sWeetly.
Il never flatter." he responds. with
telling emphasis. Bot. ! "a see YOU
are not angry. and so | am embroidered
TO saw plainly. / would gladly see YOU
my cousins wife Is the idea not alto
gether abhorTent 20 YOU
No. Oh. no."
1T Is perhaps pardon me if | 90 too
far-eyen agreeable to your
Mr.. D~ynecourt.7 SAYS Mrs. Talbot.
suddenly glancing AT him and laying
her jeweled fingers on his arm. Il will
confess to YOU that | am tired of being
alOne-dcpcndent OS myself. ~ il were
thrown Oh my own judgment for the
answering of every question that
arises. would gladly acknowledge "a
superior head. | would have some one
help me now and then with 4 word of
advice: in short. ] would have a nus
band. And"-hcre She lays her fan
against her lips and glancps archly at
him confess too that | like Sir .Ad-
rian as-well--is well as any man |
know"
lie is a very fortunate man"-graye-
~. Il would he knew his happiness
Not f0r worlds SAYS Mrs. Talbot.
not ever hint 10 him such Il thing as
as" She >tOps, confused.
IL shall hint nothing-do nothing.
except what You wish. All. Mrs. Tai
bot"-with u heavy sigh-"you are SIT
premely happy, envy you. With your
destinations and inSinuatiuglY IA
word in season from me. | see no reason
why you should not claim rs your own
the man whom you-wrll, let rs say.
like: while /"
III ! can befriend Won in any way"
interrupts Dora quickly, command
me-"
She is indeed quite dazzled by the
picture he has painted before her eyes.
Can it be-is it-pOsSible. that Sir Adj
rian may some day be hers: Apart
from his "ealth. she regards him with
very tender feelings, and of late She
has been rendered at times absolutely
miserable by the thought that he had
fallen "A victim 10 the charms Of Flor
ence.
Now If. by means OF this man. her
rival can be- Kept ont of Adrian'S way.
all may yet he well. and her host may
he brought to her feet before her visit
comes 10 an end.
OF Arthur Dynecourt's infatustion
for Florence she is fully aware. and is
right in deeming that part of his admi-
ration for the beautiful girl has grown
Glt of his knowledge of her money
bags. Still. she argues to herself. his
love is true and faithful. despite his
knowledge of her dot. and he will in all
probability make hera as good Il husband
As she il likely to find.
MAY | command you:" asks Arthur.
in his softeSt tones. You know my
secret. | believe. Ever since that
last meeting at Brighton. when my
heart oveTcame me and made NE show
my sentiments openly and III your pres
ence. YOU have been aware Of the hope
less passion that is consuming me. |
may he mad. but | still think tia.
with opportunities and time. ! might
make myself at least tolerated 10y Miss
Delmaine. Will you help me in this
natter VIII You give me the chance
OF pleading my cause with her alone.
BY so doing-with "a meaning smile
'you will also give my cousin The happy
chance Of seeing you alone"
Dora only too we'll understood his in,
situation. Latterly Sir Adrian and
Florence have been almost inseparaDle.
To meet with one whose interest
1t Is To keep them asunder II very
pleasant 10 her.
Il will help you," She says in a low
tone.
Then try 10 induce Miss Delmaine
To give me a private rehearsal to-mor-
row in the north gallery lie whispers
h%urriedly. seeing Cart. Rlngwood and
Miss Nilliers approaching. Hush. Not
another word? | rely upon YOU. Above
all things. remember that what has oc-
Cured is only between YOU and me. 1t
is our little plot he SAYS. with "A cur
ious smile that somehow strikes 4 chill
10 Mrs. Talbot's heart.
She is faithful to her word neyerthe-
less. and late that night. when all have
gone To their rooms. she puts on her
dressing-gown, dismisses her maid. and
crossing the corridor. taps lightly at
the door of Florence's apartment.
Hearing some one cry Come in" she
opens the door. and. having fastened il
again, goes over to where Florence is
sitting while her maid is brushing her
long soft hair that reaches almost to
the ground as she sits.
Let me brush your hair tonight,
Flo" she says gayly. Let me be Your
maid for once. Remember how | used
to do ii for you sometimes when we
were in Switzerland last year"
Very well-you NAV" acquiesces
Florence, laughing. Goodnight, Pau
kfns. Mrs. Talbot has won you Your
release
Parkins having gladly withdrawn,
Dora takes up the ivory-handled brush
and gently begins To brush her cousins
hair.
After some preliminary conversation
leading up To the subject she has in
hand, she saws carelessly-
by the by, Flo, yoH are rather un-
civil to Arthur Dynecourt, don't you
Think
"Uncivil?"
"Well-yes. That is the word for
your behavior toward him. ! think. DO
you know. | am afraid Sir Adrian has
noticed il, and aren't YOU afraid he will
think it rather odd of you-rude. |
mean-considering he is his cousin!'
Net a very fayorite cousin. | fancy"
For all that, people don'tlike seeing
their relations sighted. once knew
a man who used TO abuse his brother
all day long, but, il any one else hap
pened to say II disparaging word OF
him in his presence, it put linn in "a
pretty rage. And. after I'LL. poor Ar
thur has done nothing to deserve act,l-
al ill-treatment at your hands,"
Il detest him. And. besides, il is a
distinct impertinence 10 follow any one
about from place To place as he has fol-
lowed me. l will not submit to il CAIN
ly. 1t is Il positive persecution.
My dear, you must not blame Sim IL
he has lost his head about YOU. That
Is rather a compliment, If anything"
Il shall always resent such compli-
ments."
lie is certainly very unman!y I'm all
other WAYS and I muSf coy 1ayntaN 10